The Groundtruth Project Inc
The GroundTruth Project Inc is a Boston-based public charity that supports journalism and local newsrooms. In 2025, it rebranded as Report Local and said it would focus fully on scaling Report for America and Report for the World, its flagship programs.
The Groundtruth Project Inc at a glance
In short: The Groundtruth Project Inc gave $2.3M across 151 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), top state New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,296,508
- -41.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 151
- -18.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,209
- -28.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $12,160,461
- +103.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (13% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Groundtruth Project Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 68 Harrison Ave Ste 605 Pmb 46837, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 412-6130
Website: https://thegroundtruthproject.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Groundtruth Project Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Associated Press ($175K). Together the top 10 received $463K.
Grant Size Distribution
337 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 331 grants of 337 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s programs have reached local journalists and newsrooms in the United States and internationally. It reported supporting journalists in 21 countries, 49 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam in 2023; in 2022, it reported support in nine countries, 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Among 2024 grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were New York (13%), California (9%), Texas (9%), North Carolina (8%), and Illinois (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 151 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Groundtruth Project Inc gives
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 $58K (2021) to $3.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 151 grants totaling $2.3M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Associated Press New York, NY | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $175,078 |
| The Texas Tribune Austin, TX | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $42,992 |
| Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee, WI | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $35,194 |
| Chicago Sun-Times Chicago, IL | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $32,530 |
| Investigate West Seattle, WA | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $31,925 |
| NJ Spotlight News New York, NY | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $30,621 |
| Wisconsin Watch Madison, WI | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $30,477 |
| Mississippi Free Press Jackson, MS | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $29,174 |
| Kosu Radio Oaklahoma City, OK | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $28,058 |
| Buffalo's Fire Halliday, ND | To host newsrooms to support report for America corps members | $27,398 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,160,461 | $16,111,232 | $9,685,824 | $2,296,508 | 151 | $5,496 |
| 2023 | $5,980,000 | $7,537,345 | $10,186,968 | $3,939,713 | 186 | $11,329 |
| 2022 | $9,332,666 | $9,104,580 | $12,665,341 | $134,201 | Total only | $4,968 |
| 2021 | $12,977,835 | $12,726,930 | $11,263,930 | $58,166 | Total only | $7,089 |
| 2020 | $11,133,030 | $7,773,897 | $8,483,771 | — | — | $14,198 |
| 2019 | $11,170,353 | $8,894,727 | $4,335,841 | $91,452 | Total only | $9,930 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to support the next generation of journalists through field reporting in under-covered communities in the United States and around the world, with an emphasis on journalism training and accountability reporting. It says its programs support journalists’ careers as fellows, corps members, and alumni; since its 2012 incorporation, it has supported more than 800 emerging journalists through Report for America and Report for the World.
Its 2024 filing describes grants to fellows and corps members following an application process, with periodic evaluations and review of performance and deliverables. The filing also says corps members and host newsrooms contract to support journalists’ education, training, and mentoring. Separately, 2024 grants to newsrooms were described as supporting their hosting of Report for America corps members.
The grantees include a range of news and media organizations. For example, the Salt Lake Tribune describes its mission as Utah’s independent voice, focused on watchdog journalism, fairness, and accuracy. Documented says it reports with and for immigrant communities, while Sahan Journal says it provides free, fair, and responsive journalism to immigrants and communities of color. The Current, another 2024 grantee, describes itself as a community arts and education nonprofit.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the organization reported 151 grants totaling $2,296,508. Grants ranged from $5,168 to $175,078, with a median of $12,500. The largest listed award was $175,078 to The Associated Press in New York to host Report for America corps members. Other large awards included $42,992 to The Texas Tribune, $35,194 to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and $32,530 to the Chicago Sun-Times, each for the same stated purpose.
Other 2024 recipients included The Salt Lake Tribune ($23,601), Fort Worth Report ($22,265), Documented ($19,739), and Sahan Journal ($18,967).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joanne Heyman as Director & Chair and Christopher Bake and Robin D’Alessandro as Directors & Chair Emeritus. Other directors listed are Dinesh Balliah, Dean Baquet, Jim Bildner, Mark Contreras, David Feinberg, Amy Guggenheim Shenkan, and Alan Khazei.
The Groundtruth Project Inc is led by Robert Benjamin Zeaske, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Benjamin Zeaske
Chief Executive Officer
Director → President & CEO, 2023
President & CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$122K (2020) → $301K (2024)
Kimberly Dawn Kleman
Executive Director & Rfa
Senior Vice President & Rfa → Executive Director & Rfa, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$132K (2020) → $156K (2024)
Joanne Heyman
Director & Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maggie Wong
Director of Deve Operations
Director of Development Operations → Director of Deve Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $118K (2024)
Alan Khazei
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Davis Vaughan
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Calvin Sims
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David H. Feinberg
Director
Clerk → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Bildner
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Dalessandro
Director & Chair Emeritus
Director → Director & Chair Emeritus, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Whitaker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Toulon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Contreras
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dean Baquet
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anya Schiffrin
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Bake
Director & Chair Emeritus
Director → Director & Chair Emeritus, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dinesh Balliah
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Meranus
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maribel Perez Wadsworth
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Guggenheim Shenkan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dahni Tsuboi
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garciela Mochkofsky
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles M. Sennott
Editor in Chief
CEO, Eic, Cofounder & Director → Co-Founder & Editor in Chief, 2023
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief → Editor in Chief, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$219K (2019) → $266K (2024)
Steven Waldman
Ex-Officio
President of Rfa → President, Cofounder & Rfa, 2020
President, Cofounder & Rfa → Ex-Officio, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$186K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Howard Earl Johnson
Vice President of Recrt, Administrator & Alumni Eng
Director of Admissions at Rfa → Vice President of Recruitment, Admissions & Alumni Engagemen, 2023
Vice President of Recruitment, Admissions & Alumni Engagemen → Vice President of Recrt, Administrator & Alumni Eng, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$126K (2022) → $139K (2024)
Rachel Nava Rohr
Vice President of Program Development
Rfa Vice President of Program Development → Vice President of Program Develpoment, 2023
Vice President of Program Develpoment → Vice President of Program Development, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $113K (2024)
Stephanie Ann Schmidt
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer & Vice President of Finance → Vice President Finance & Treasurer, 2023
Vice President Finance & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$67K (2022) → $173K (2024)
Katherine Edmondson
Controller
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2024)
Former officers (18)
- Former: Kevin Grant (2019–2023) — Chief Development & Partnerships Officer
- Former: Susan Leath (2020–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Graciela Mochkosfsky (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Steven Silvers (2022–2023) — Controller
- Former: Nicole Mastrangelo (2023) — Director of Institutional Giving
- Former: Chris Bake (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Vivian Schiller (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Todd Franko (2020–2022) — Rfa Director of Local Sustainability & Development
- Former: Scott Joseph Callan (2022) — Associate Director for Individual Giving
- Former: Anna Lin Mitchell (2019–2021) — Chief Financial Officer · Filing note: Until 12/2021
- Former: Susie Trees (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Alison Bethel McKenzie (2020–2021) — Vice President of Corps Excellence & Rfa
- Former: Lauren McKown (2020–2021) — Vice President of Development & Communications
- Former: David Reed Fox (2021) — Director of Operations & Rfa
- Former: Louie Torres (2021) — Director of Information & Technology
- Former: Linda Mason (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Norman Parish (2020) — Recruitment Director & Rfa
- Former: Rob Zeske (2019) — Chief Operating Officer
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 $301K, to Robert Benjamin Zeaske (Chief Executive Officer). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Groundtruth Project Inc
How much does The Groundtruth Project Inc give each year?
The Groundtruth Project Inc gave $2.3M across 151 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.9M across 186 grants.
What is The Groundtruth Project Inc's typical grant size?
The Groundtruth Project Inc's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $15,209, across 151 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Groundtruth Project Inc give grants?
The Groundtruth Project Inc's top state is New York, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (9%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Chapel Hill, NC (5 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants) and Dallas, TX (3 grants).
Does The Groundtruth Project Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 151 grants with a stated purpose on The Groundtruth Project Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Groundtruth Project Inc's largest grantees?
The Groundtruth Project Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Associated Press ($175,078), The Texas Tribune ($42,992) and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ($35,194), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Groundtruth Project Inc?
The Groundtruth Project Inc reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.1M.
What does The Groundtruth Project Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to support the next generation of journalists through field reporting in under-covered communities in the United States and around the world, with an emphasis on journalism training and accountability reporting. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Groundtruth Project Inc?
The Groundtruth Project Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thegroundtruthproject.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Groundtruth Project Inc's EIN?
The Groundtruth Project Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0908502. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 25, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Groundtruth Project Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-groundtruth-project-inc-morg_f955271d451d433baa03dccb75234f57
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460908502_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Groundtruth Project Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-groundtruth-project-inc-morg_f955271d451d433baa03dccb75234f57},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Groundtruth Project 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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