Solutions Journalism Network Inc
Solutions Journalism Network Inc is a New York, NY public charity formed in 2013. It supports rigorous reporting about responses to social problems through training, editorial and research support, and grants to newsrooms and individual journalists.
Solutions Journalism Network Inc at a glance
In short: Solutions Journalism Network Inc gave $524K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), top state Michigan. 80% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $523,675
- -46.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- -6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,456
- -43.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,604,646
- +9.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (24 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Solutions Journalism Network Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 405 Lexington Avenue Suite 819, New York, NY 10174
Phone: (646) 719-1443
Website: https://solutionsjournalism.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Solutions Journalism Network Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Local Media Foundation (On Behalf of NY & Michigan Solutions Journalism CO) ($139K). Together the top 10 received $336K.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 192 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its work as global. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Michigan (30%), California (11%), Oklahoma (11%), Idaho (7%), and Washington, DC (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Solutions Journalism Network Inc open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 24 of 30 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $524K (2024) to $1.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $524K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Local Media Foundation (On Behalf of NY & Michigan Solutions Journalism CO) Lake City, MI | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $139,175 |
| Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, OK | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $38,000 |
| Sentient Media San Francisco, CA | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $25,000 |
| Mongabay Org Corp DBA Mongabayorg Corporation Atherton, CA | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $20,000 |
| Public Media Network (On Behalf of SW Michigan Journalism Collaboration) Kalamazoo, MI | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $20,000 |
| States Newsroom Washington, DC | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $20,000 |
| The Osage Nation Pawhuska, OK | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $20,000 |
| Boise State University Boise, ID | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $18,000 |
| Shoshone Bannock Tribes DBA Sho-Ban News Fort Hall, ID | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $18,000 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Agency, SD | To support the training and production of solutions journalism | $18,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Solutions Journalism Network Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,604,646 | $8,747,904 | $7,952,137 | $523,675 | 30 | $323,205 |
| 2023 | $7,843,197 | $4,934,513 | $9,456,535 | $980,137 | 32 | $218,602 |
| 2022 | $12,663,318 | $8,110,721 | $10,318,567 | $1,713,845 | 41 | $58,743 |
| 2021 | $14,817,664 | $5,853,972 | $7,874,519 | $848,344 | 35 | $3,292 |
| 2020 | $17,089,816 | $14,691,261 | $7,388,850 | $1,068,920 | 54 | $2,115 |
| 2019 | $9,483,374 | $9,421,041 | $5,750,226 | $563,059 | 19 | $2,133 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to define, legitimize, and spread solutions journalism: rigorous, unbiased reporting about credible responses to social problems, conducted to high standards of independence and accuracy. Its website describes solutions journalism as reporting that examines a response to a social problem, what can be learned from it, evidence of its effectiveness or lack thereof, and its limitations.
The organization provides training, webinars, research and editorial consulting, and other learning resources. Its filing says it also supports longer-term newsroom projects and maintains a searchable collection of reviewed solutions journalism stories. Grants go to newsrooms, individual journalists, and other organizations for journalism content aligned with its mission.
Examples from 2024 illustrate the variety of recipients. Sentient Media, which received $25,000, describes its work as independent, nonpartisan journalism on factory farming’s impacts, including reporting that highlights solutions. The Kansas Leadership Center, which received $17,500, says it works to transform civic life by encouraging people to exercise leadership on difficult challenges. The Philadelphia Citizen, which received $10,000, describes a mission of producing journalism that emphasizes solutions and encouraging civic participation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the organization reported 30 grants totaling $523,675. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $139,175, with a median of $10,000. The stated purpose for the largest listed grants was to support the training and production of solutions journalism.
The largest 2024 grant was $139,175 to Local Media Foundation on behalf of the NY & an individual recipient Other notable grants included $38,000 to Cherokee Nation; $25,000 to Sentient Media; and $20,000 each to Mongabay.org Corporation, Public Media Network on behalf of the SW Michigan Journalism Collaboration, States Newsroom, and the Osage Nation.
The filing says staff evaluate proposals from newsrooms, individual journalists, and other organizations for alignment with solutions journalism. After approval, the organization monitors financial reporting and journalism produced during the grant period for compliance with grant agreements; it keeps grant budgets and deliverables in a central database. For foreign grantees, the filing describes documentation and sanctions-list screening, plus periodic financial and program reporting.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David N. Bornstein as CEO/co-founder and Tina Rosenberg Varenik as secretary/co-founder. Listed directors and officers also include Trabian Shorters, chair; David Boardman, vice chair; Barnaby Marsh, treasurer; and board members Israel Balderas, Marsha Cooke, Morgan Dixon, Chris Gee, and Maurisse Johnson.
Solutions Journalism Network Inc is led by David N. Bornstein, CEO & Co-Founder since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 21 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David N. Bornstein
CEO & Co-Founder
CEO, Co-Founder & Director → CEO & Co-Founder, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$208K (2019) → $254K (2024)
Trabian Shorters
Chair
Director → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Shaw
Director Beacons & Advance Practice
Director of Beacons & Advanced Practice → Director of Beacons & Advanced Pra, 2023
Director of Beacons & Advanced Pra → Director Beacons & Advance Practice, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$107K (2020) → $127K (2024)
Amy Maestas
Director of Collaboratives
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $103K (2024)
Cherelle Jackson
Climate Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024)
Elizabeth Ann Share
Chief of Strategic Relations
Director of Strategic Relation → Director of Strategic Relations, 2021
Director of Strategic Relations → Chief of Strategic Relations, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $198K (2024)
Maurisse Johnson
Board Member
Chief Financial Officer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$156K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Tina Rosenberg Varenik
Secretary & Co-Founder
Co-Founder & Director → Secretary & Director, 2020
Secretary & Director → Secretary & Co-Founder, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$159K (2019) → $186K (2024)
Sara Catania
Chief Program Officer
Director of Journalism School → Director of Journalism School Partnerships, 2021
Director of Journalism School Partnerships → Chief Program Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $192K (2024)
Jefferson Cuevas
Chief Financial Officer
Controller → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$116K (2022) → $163K (2024)
Ambika Samarthya-Howard
Chief of Innovation
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$144K (2023) → $163K (2024)
Francine Huff
Vice President of Program
Director of Training & Curriculum → Vice President of Program, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$109K (2023) → $112K (2024)
Corinna Myers
Controller
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024)
Barnaby Marsh
Treasurer
Director → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Martin
Board Member & Co-Founder
Co-Founder & Director → Board Member & Co-Founder, 2021
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Boardman
Vice Chair
Chairman & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2020
Vice Chair & Director → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marsha Cooke
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Morgan Dixon
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Nixon
Board Member
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Gee
Board Member
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Israel Balderas
Board Member
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Dean Furbush (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Samantha McCann (2019–2023) — Chief Operating Officer · Filing note: Thru 52023
- Former: Fara Warner (2022–2023) — Vice President of Practice Change
- Former: Jefferson Cuevas Cfo Eff (2023) — Controller
- Former: Maria Elisa Gross (2019–2022) — Senior Adviser Collaboratives
- Former: Carolyn Robinson (2020–2022) — Broadcast Director & Midwest
- Former: Keith H. Hammonds (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Susan Davis (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Julia Power Burns (2019) — CFO & General Manager
- Former: Nathalie Laidler-Kylan (2019) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Nicco Mele (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $254K, to David N Bornstein (CEO/Co-Founder). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Solutions Journalism Network Inc
How much does Solutions Journalism Network Inc give each year?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc gave $524K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $980K across 32 grants.
What is Solutions Journalism Network Inc's typical grant size?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,456, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Solutions Journalism Network Inc that year got $19K on average.
Where does Solutions Journalism Network Inc give grants?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc's top state is Michigan, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (11%) and Oklahoma (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does Solutions Journalism Network Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Solutions Journalism Network Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Solutions Journalism Network Inc's largest grantees?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Local Media Foundation (On Behalf of NY & Michigan Solutions Journalism CO) ($139,175), Cherokee Nation ($38,000) and Sentient Media ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Solutions Journalism Network Inc?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc reported $8.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.7M.
What does Solutions Journalism Network Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to define, legitimize, and spread solutions journalism: rigorous, unbiased reporting about credible responses to social problems, conducted to high standards of independence and accuracy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Solutions Journalism Network Inc?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check solutionsjournalism.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Solutions Journalism Network Inc's EIN?
Solutions Journalism Network Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2265729. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Solutions Journalism Network Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/solutions-journalism-network-inc-morg_7337d130d2c046219f409665d8cdf33f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462265729_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Solutions Journalism Network Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/solutions-journalism-network-inc-morg_7337d130d2c046219f409665d8cdf33f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Solutions Journalism Network Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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