READER INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM INC (EIN 843670420) - Form 990 Financial Analysis & Trantor Score

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2019

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

SOLOMON LIEBERMAN

Phone

3123922970

Tax Period

2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

READER INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM INC, founded in 2019, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $3.4M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 23% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $3.8M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 12% operating deficit.

Mission

READER INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM, INC. (RICJI) IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED TO EDUCATE, ADVANCE, AND INFORM PUBLIC DISCOURSE THROUGH LOCAL, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM IN THE GREATER CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA. RICJI OPERATES AND PUBLISHES THE CHICAGO READER, AN ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER, WHICH CREATES AND CURATES POLITICAL AND CULTURAL COVERAGE BY AND FOR CHICAGO, INCLUDING HIGHLIGHTING UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND STORIES. DURING 2023, RICJI ALSO OPERATED THE CHICAGO INDEPENDENT MEDIA ALLIANCE (CIMA).

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,477,404

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $770

Other Revenue $1,881,850

TOTAL REVENUE $3,360,024

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $2,176,578

Fundraising Expenses $306,520

Program Expenses $2,054,397

Other Expenses $1,581,051

TOTAL EXPENSES $3,757,629

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$3,360,024	$2,731,613	+0.2%
Expenses	$3,757,629	$2,780,003	+0.4%
Net Income	$-397,605	$-48,390	+7.2%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$126,923

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
EILEEN RHODES	BOARD CHAIRWOMAN	5.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MONIQUE BRINKMAN-HILL	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JULIETTE BUFORD	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT REITER	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAKE MIKVA	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRISTINA STEED	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DANIEL DEVER	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MATT DOUBLEDAY	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
REESE MARCUSSON	TREASURER	5.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
TORRENCE GARDNER	SECRETARY	5.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
KIM HUNT	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ALISON CUDDY	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
VANESSA FERNANDEZ	DIRECTOR	5.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SOLOMON LIEBERMAN	CEO AND PUBLISHER	40.00	Officer	$126,923	$0	$126,923
TRACY BAIM	FORMER PUBLISHER	40.00		$69,491	$4,109	$73,600

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$3,360,024	$3,757,629	$580,510	$-397,605
2022	$2,731,613	$2,780,003	$578,290	$-48,390
2021	$1,079,427	$859,724	$419,159	$219,703
2020	$290,964	$116,775	$174,189	$174,189

READER INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM INC