Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

Media Research Center

CharityWatch rating issued
January 2025

Top-Rated Charity
B+
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
73%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$25
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

Media Research Center
2340 Dulles Corner Blvd
Suite 1000
Herndon, VA 20171

Other Names

Business & Media Institute
CNSNews.com
Conservative News Service
MRC Business
MRC Culture
MRCtv.org
NewsBusters.org

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.mrc.org

Stated Mission

Educating the public & the media on bias in the media. To create a media culture in America where truth & liberty flourish.

View similar charities

Ratings & Metrics

Learn more about Ratings & Metrics
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 73%

The percentage of Media Research Center's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$16,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $25

How many dollars Media Research Center spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$13,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Media Research Center's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
77% $20
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Media Research Center Audited Financial Statements 54-1429009
Media Research Center IRS Form 990 54-1429009
Entity: Media Research Center
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 54-1429009
Entity: Media Research Center
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 54-1429009

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about Governance & Transparency
CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Media Research Center
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Media Research Center
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

Top Salaries

Learn more about Top Salaries
  Name Title Compensation
1 David Martin Executive VP / Assistant Treasurer $547,000
2 L. Brent Bozell III President / Director $318,308
3 Edward Molchany Senior VP $280,776
1
Name: David Martin
Title: Executive VP / Assistant Treasurer
Compensation: $547,000
2
Name: L. Brent Bozell III
Title: President / Director
Compensation: $318,308
3
Name: Edward Molchany
Title: Senior VP
Compensation: $280,776

Analysts' Notes

Learn more about Analysts' Notes
CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Media Research Center (MRC) does not include the financial activities of  America, Inc. (tax ID #27-3352652), a related 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit; of American Movement Foundation (tax ID#87-3862697), a related 501(c)(3) public charity; of American Movement ) tax ID#87-3752555), a related 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit; or of American Movement Association (Tax ID#87-3888616), a related 501(c)(6) business league or membership nonprofit. 

CharityWatch does not provide separate ratings of these organizations at this time. 

According to the fiscal 2023 IRS Tax Form 990 of Media Research Center, Part XII, Financial Statements and Reporting, the organization's financial statements were audited on a separate, not consolidated basis. Meaning, CharityWatch is unable to provide a combined rating that includes the financial activities of the related 501(c)(3) public charity entities. Should Media Research Center publish consolidated audited financial statements in the future that include the financial activities of both organizations, CharityWatch may update our rating to include such information at that time. 


CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when their financial activities are included together in a consolidated audit, due to their differing treatments under the IRS tax code. For more information on this topic, please see our sections on Types of Non-Profits, Tax Status, and Treatment of Related Organizations, which can be found on the Our Process page.

For more information about things to consider when donating to organizations that have related public charity and social welfare entities, read "Sorting Out Nonprofit Pairs."

According to the Media Research Center audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 18, Small Business Administration Loan):

"In 2021, the Center obtained a loan of $149,900 under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program ('EIDL') from the Small Business Administration. The loan is secured by all tangible and intangible assets of the Center and is payable over 30 years at an interest rate of 2.75% per annum. As of December 31, 2023, the balance on the loan is $133,234..."