BARN RAISING MEDIA INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

BARN RAISING MEDIA INC

EIN 88-2659178 · Media & Communications (A30)

What they do

THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES INDEPENDENT NEWS, ANALYSIS and INFORMATION to SUPPORT DIVERSE, CIVICALLY ENGAGED and DYNAMICALLY CONNECTED RURAL and SMALL TOWN COMMUNITIES. WE CHAMPION THE FREE EXCHANGE of PUBLIC DIALOGUE BY BRINGING TOGETHER UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES and PERSPECTIVES ON THE INTRACTABLE ISSUES FACING COMMUNITIES and POLICYMAKERS. WE SEEK to CONVENE A SPACE WHERE BIG QUESTIONS and BOLD IDEAS ENLIVEN PROXIMATE CONNECTIONS, WHERE DARING CRITICISM, RATIONAL DEBATE and COMPASSIONATE CARE WILL RENEW THE SOCIAL IMAGINATION to BUILD COMMON GROUND, ENCOURAGE DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION and INSPIRE CHANGE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $75.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders4 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

64.28%of revenue went to mission work75.5% of expenses · Program services

7.90%of revenue went to fundraising9.3% of expenses

$85.19spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

13.00%of revenue went to management and office costs15.3% of expenses

$0.30in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

99.5%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $95,668 for JOEL BLEIFUSS (PRESIDENT). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$488,435

Mission workProgram services$313,99064.28% of revenue75.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$63,49213.00% of revenue15.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$38,5977.90% of revenue9.3% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$72,35614.81% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$416,07985.19% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 75.5% mission · 15.3% management · 9.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 85.19% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 71.5% mission · 13.2% management · 15.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 117.41% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 82.5% mission · 10.6% management · 6.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 66.27% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$488,435

Expenses$416,079

Annual surplus $72,356 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$313,990 · 75.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$63,492 · 15.3% of expenses

Fundraising$38,597 · 9.3% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$488,435

Expenses$416,079

Assets$123,957

Income$488,435

Contributions$485,951

Mission work (program services)$313,990

Fundraising$38,597

Management and general$63,492

Accounting fees$12,939

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

JOEL BLEIFUSSPRESIDENT · 40 hrs/week $95,668

JUSTIN PERKINSCLERK · 40 hrs/week $73,677

ANNE MOLLO-CHRISTENSENCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · 20 hrs/week $72,180

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (4)

JOEL BLEIFUSSPRESIDENT

JUSTIN PERKINSCLERK

ANNE MOLLO-CHRISTENSENCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LAURA ORLANDOTREASURER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2023
Location: 550 W BRIAR PL 3A, CHICAGO, IL 606574695
County: Cook
In care of: JOEL BLEIFUSS
Primary officer: JOEL BLEIFUSS, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@barnraisingmedia.com Phone(773) 562-1887

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: April 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: KENNETH FREED & COMPANY PC
NTEE classification: Media & Communications (A30)
IRS tax category: Media & Communications