The Hidden World of Nonprofits
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Gary Cohn presents "The Hidden World of Nonprofits," modified from Ronald Campbell's presentation of the same name, for the Reynolds Center workshop, "Investigating Private Companies and Nonprofits."For more information about free training for business journalists, please visit BusinessJournalism.org.
Transcript of The Hidden World of Nonprofits
Ron is a staff writer for The Orange County Register where he pioneered the paper’s computer-assisted reporting program. He has investigated charities, penny stocks, immigration and the buying and selling of human body parts.
CampbellRONALD
Gary is an investigative reporter and adjunct professor at USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism. He has reported for The Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times and other newspapers and magazines.
CohnGary
Nonprofits are everywhere – in health care, education, culture,
the economy – everywhere except the news.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
www.guidestar.org• Free access 3 years of 990s• Premium ($300 for IRE members) unlimited access
FOLLOW THE MONEY
• Tiny charities ($25k/$50k) file 990-N “e-postcards”• … or nothing at all (churches)
THE MONEY TRAIL
Filing thresholds for 990 vs. 990-EZ
2008 2009 2010
Receipts $1 mill. $500k $200k
Assets $2.5 mill. $1.25 mill. $500k
THE MONEY TRAIL, CONT.
• Pages 3-4: Preview of coming attractions
• Pages 5-6: Catchall
• Pages 7-8: Pay!!!
INSIDE THE 990
• Page 9: Revenue
• Page 10: Expenses
• Page 11: Balance sheet
• Schedules
INSIDE THE 990, CONT.
Lets look at some 990s: USC, the LA Opera Company, the Getty Museum and Orange
County Performing Arts Center
Case studies
The president or the football coach?
At USC, who made more in 2009?
Could be retitled: Hey reporter! Come look at
me –
Transactions with interested parties
Case study: LA Opera Company
Big piece of art
LA Opera Company: A $7 million deficit in 2009
Case study
The Getty: Perks and Pictures
Big piece of art
It started with a lima bean field, became “an international shopping destination,” and then …
CASE STUDY:ORANGE COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER
Performing Arts Center, opened August 1986
• Founded 1979.
• Opened 3,000-seat hall 1986.
• Opened 2,000-seat concert hall and theater 2006.
• Privately funded for 20 years.
CASE STUDY: OCPAC
Concert hall, opened September 2006
Before the fall …
Big piece of art
O.C. Performing Arts Center finances, 2005-2009
$-$10,000,000$20,000,000$30,000,000$40,000,000$50,000,000$60,000,000$70,000,000$80,000,000$90,000,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Programs
Other
Donations
Expenses
OCPAC’s board members and donors represent the power structure of the nation’s fifth-largest county. They include the billionaire co-founder of Broadcom and owner of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team (right), a former ambassador to Spain, many millionaires and corporate executives, even a onetime aide to former President Nixon.
CentralHeavy hitters
http://emma.msrb.org• Created by Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
• Links to offering statements, other documents
A NEW TOOL
Big piece of art
EMMA search
$240 million bond issue
Chapman University revenue, 2005-2009
One product of Chapman’s boom: a new library
990 for 2010 still not available
Big piece of art
Nonprofits play a huge role in our society – yet have been
under-reported by news organizations
Review
---- Great stories, Good jobs
What covering nonprofitscan do for you
