FERN Annual Report 2015 · 2016-08-25 · Wri\en by Lisa Hamilton, the story appeared with original...
Transcript of FERN Annual Report 2015 · 2016-08-25 · Wri\en by Lisa Hamilton, the story appeared with original...
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Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetworkAnnualReport
2015
MISSIONSTATEMENT
TheFood&EnvironmentRepor2ngNetwork(FERN)isthefirstandonlyindependent,
non-profit,non-par2sannewsorganiza2onthatproducesin-depthandinves2ga2ve
repor2ngonfood,agriculture,andenvironmentalhealththroughpublica2onpartnershipswithrespectedlocaland
na2onalmediaoutlets.
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TheFood&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetworkispleasedtopresentourfourthAnnualReport,followingourfourthfullyearofopera0ons.
In2015,weproduced24stories,includingeightinterna0onalstories,onsubjectsrangingfromtheimpactofpes0cidesonCalifornia’sLa0nocommuni0estothehiddentollofWorldBank-financeddevelopmentprojectsonsomeoftheplanet’spoorestpeople.Weaddednewpartnershipsforatotalof34mainstreammediapublishingpartners,includingtheTheGuardian,Sunset,FastCompany,Harper’sandmore.
Weweregra0fiedtolearninMay2015thatFERNwonasecondJamesBeardFounda0onAwardforourstory,“TheQuinoaQuarrel:WhoOwnsTheGreatestSuperfood?”Wri\enbyLisaHamilton,thestoryappearedwithoriginalphotography,alsobyHamilton,inHarper’sMagazine.FERN,Harper’sandHamiltontookhometheawardforbestrepor0nginthecategoryofFoodPoli0cs,PolicyandtheEnvironment.Inaddi0on,ourstory“FieldsofToxicPes0cidesSurroundtheSchoolsofVenturaCounty,”byreporterLizaGrossforTheNa2onwonaninves0ga0verepor0ngawardfromtheAssocia2onofHealthCareJournalists.
Forthefullyearof2015,weraised$850,000,ourhighesttotalever(a16%annualincrease)withgrantsfromtheWoodcockFounda0on,EmersonCollec0ve,the11thHourProject,theTomKatFounda0on,theMcKnightFounda0on,GaiaFund,theSorosFundCharitableFounda0on,theDorisDukeFounda0on,andtheClaneilFounda0onamongothersandincluding$310,000fromindividualdonors.Wealsoearned$49,000infeesin2015.Ourexpensesfortheyearwere$730,000.Wehaveseta2016budgetof$945,000andhave$805,000incommi\edfundsandanother$170,000inprospec0vefunding.
Thebudgetincreasesallowedustoincreaseourrepor0ngcapabili0es,includinghiringphotographersandcrea0nggraphicsandexplainerstoaccompanystories.Wealsowereabletoaddafull-0meSocialMediaEditorandfull-0meDevelopmentCoordinatortostaffaswellasdevelopingourdailynewsle\er,theAgInsider,intoapaidsubscrip0onservice.
InMaywehostedourfourthannualfundraiserinSanFrancisco,asit-downdinnerpreparedbySylvanMishimaBracke\ofRintaroatthehomeofKatTaylorandTomSteyer.Theeventwasco-hostedbyStuartDavidson.InOctober,2015,weheldourannualfundraiserdinnerforatHaven’sKitcheninNewYorkCity,hostedbyboardmemberAlisonCayne,whichfeaturedatalkbyMichelNischan,co-founderandCEOofWholesomeWave,andamealofsustainably-caughtseafoodbychefCamilleBecerraofNavy.
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EngagementandBusinessLineDevelopments
In2015,FERNrevampeditssocial-mediastrategytoexpandtheimpactofitsrepor0ng,includingincreasingandrou0nizingthepos0ngofcontenttooursocial-mediaaccountsandusingpopularTwi\erhashtags(suchas#FollowFriday)to“join”social-mediaconversa0onsandincreasethereachofourtweetseachweek.
InJanuary2015,FERNEditor-in-ChiefSamFromartztookpartinthe2015FoodTankSummitaspartofthe“TellingtheStoryofFood”panel,andspokeaboutwhatmakesFERNuniqueaswellasofferingadviceforjournalistscoveringfoodandagriculture.
OurApril2015deepdiveintotheissueoffarmworkerhealth“FieldsofToxicPes0cidesSurroundtheSchoolsofVenturaCounty,”byreporterLizaGrossinpartnershipwithTheNa2on,revealedhowCalifornia’sLa0nocommuni0es—andtheschoolstheya\end—getdispropor0onatelydosedwithpes0cides,manyofwhicharelinkedtoarangeofhealthproblems.ThestorybegantoaccrueimpactinMayandJune.Star0ngMay28inSacramento,theCaliforniaDepartmentofPes0cideRegula0on(DPR)heldfiveworkshops,geqngpublicinputonnewstandardstoimproveschoolpes0cideno0fica0onproceduresandreducetheriskofexposure.Therewerefourothermee0ngsinkeyfarmingcommuni0es,includingVenturaCounty,whichhasmoreschoolswithhighconcentra0onsofnearbypes0cideusethananyothercountyinthestate.TheDPRworkshopsfollowedabriefingonpes0cideusenearschoolsforlegisla0vestaffinSacramentolastmonth,hostedbytheadvocacygroupPes0cideAc0onNetworkNorthAmerica.Grosswasinvitedtoleadoffthebriefingbysharingtheprincipalfindingsofherstory,inwhichshereviewedsixyearsofdatafor66pes0cidesiden0fiedbyhealthofficialsasmostlikelytodrisandcauseharm.
GrosssaysanacquaintanceatEPAtoldherconfiden0allythatthestorywasremarkableforhavingputenvironmentaljus0cebackintotheframeworkofcivilrights,andthatstaffersattheagencywhoareonthe“rightside”oftheEnvironmentalJus0ceprogramaretryingtofigureouthowtocapitalizeonthewaythestory“movedthediscourse”inawaytheyhadn’tseenbefore.Gross’sar0cleins0gatedapoten0allegisla0vesolu0onandhascausedfederalregulatorstopressuretheCaliforniaDPRtoexplainhowthisinequalitypersistedforsolong.Statepes0cideregulatorsfinallysaidtheywillseektostrengthenrestric0onsonpes0cideusenearschools.
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FromJunethroughDecember,2015,weearnedover680,000impressionsonFacebook,150%increaseovertheprevioussixmonths.FERNFacebookpagefollowersincreasedto7,000,33%jump.OnTwi\erbetweenJuneandDecember2015,weearnedatotalof2.5millionimpressions,animpressive178%increaseovertheprevioussixmonths.FERN’sTwi\erfollowerswentfrom16,500to20,000,anincreaseof22%,inthatperiod.
InSeptember2015,welaunchedFERN’sFridayFeednewsle\er,a.k.a.the#FFF,aweeklysurveyofthestoriesinourareasofinterestthathavebeenpublishedbyotheroutlets.Someselec0onsareatthetopofthenewswhileothersareprescientorin-depthfeaturesthatwethinkourreadersshouldknowabout.Wesendthisnewsle\erweeklytoasubscriberbaseof3,100asawaytoenhanceengagementwithanaudiencethatismostlydis0nctfromoursocial-mediaaudience.Thisini0a0veisdesignedtoestablishFERNasasourceforcura0onandguidanceinnaviga0ngfoodmedia,andnotonlyaproduceroforiginaljournalism.
InOctober2015,wereleased“WithNoU.S.Standards,PotPes0cideUseIsRisingPublicHealthThreat,”byreportersEricaBerryofFERNandKa0eWilcoxofRockyMountainPBSI-News,whichexploredtheglaringabsenceofoversightonthelegalmarijuanaindustry.Ourcollabora0vepot-and-pes0cidestorywasthetopstoryofarolling30-dayperiodsurroundingitspublica0onontheI-Newssiteintermsoftraffic.
RockyMountainPBSI-Newsdistributesstoriestoitsnewspartnersandotherins0tu0ons,includingallmembersoftheColoradoPressAssocia0on,publicradioandcommercialTVsta0ons,someschoolsanduniversi0es,andseveralfounda0onsandbusinesses.Thestoryreceivedstronginterestandengagementfromthisaudience.Itwastheleadstoryintheirnewsle\er,RockyMountainPBSI-NewsWeekly,anopt-insubscrip0onlistofRMPBSmemberswhichhas1,100subscribers.Thestoryalsowasfeaturedonitsweeklypublic-affairstelevisionshow,ColoradoStateofMind,onOct.2.Itdrewanaudienceof5,557households.
Inthewakeofthestory,JimJones,whoheadstheEPA’sofficeofChemicalSafetyandPollu0onPreven0on,reachedouttoI-News.Hesaidhisofficehadgo\enspecificapprovalfromtheJus0ceDepartmenttobeginworkingwithstatesthathadlegalizedmarijuanacul0va0ontotestwhichpes0cidescanbeusedsafelyonmarijuana.
During2015,wealsoaddedanewbusinesslinetodiversifyrevenue,introducingapaid"professional"product.Originallylaunchedasafreeemailnewsle\erin
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early2014,FERN’sAgInsiderincludesdailypolicyrepor0ng,analysis,andaggrega0onbylong-0meagriculturereporterChuckAbbo\.Theproductisaimedatanaudienceofpolicymakers,advocates,andfood-industryrepresenta0ves.Thefreenewsle\eracquiredanimmediatefollowingwithten-foldsubscribergrowth.
GiventheAgInsider’svaluetoitsaudience,inthefallof2015were-launcheditasapaidsubscrip0onproduct.Forasmallannualfee,subscribersgainaccesstorepor0ng,includingafullarchiveonourwebsite,withasubject-taggedorganiza0on.Theemailnewsle\er,nowincludingonlysummariesofthefullstories,remainsfree.Withaminimalmarke0ngeffort,wehavegainedover150paidsubscribersandmadeseveralsalestouniversitylibraries,includingStanfordUniversityandNewYorkUniversity.WeseeFERN’sAgInsider,par0cularlyins0tu0onalandcorporatesales,asasignificantareaforearnedrevenuegrowth.
Wealsohavebeguntoexpandourrepor0ngteamforAgInsider.WerecentlyaddedKris0naJohnsonasourWesternstatescorrespondent.Andtwofreelancecorrespondentsa\endedtherecentParisclimatetalks,fromwheretheyfiledanumberofpiecesforAI.Weintendtodomoreofthisinthefuture,leveragingourrepor0ngcontactstoaugmentAgInsidercoverage.Inaddi0on,webegansyndica0ngcontentfromAgInsidertootheroutlets,suchasAgriculture.com,thatserveasimilaraudience,bothasarevenuestreamandamarke0ngopportunity.Wewillleverageexis0ngwriterrela0onshipstogeneratethesemoderate-lengthstories,andbringinfographicstothecolumnaswell.
Finally,weexpandedourboardtoincludetwoaddi0onalmembers.NaomiStarkmanwasafoundingboardmemberandsubsequentlyservedasFERN’sstrategiccommunica0onsadviserfrom2011un0l2015.SheisafounderandtheEditor-in-ChiefofCivilEats,adailynewssourceforcri0calthoughtabouttheAmericanfoodsystem,andtheJamesBeardFounda0on’s2014Publica0onoftheYear.Shealsoisa2015-16JohnS.KnightJournalismFellowatStanford.
SusanWestwasexecu0veeditorofFERNfrom2011to2015.AsaprincipalofWestGoldEditorialconsul0ng,shehashelpedlaunchmagazinessuchasDwellandadvisedpublica0onsandwebsitesfromCookingLighttoWebMD.Sheco-foundedHealthmagazine,whichwonfourNa0onalMagazineAwardsduringhertenure.Shewasthefoundingeditor-in-chiefofthetravelmagazineAFARandexecu0veeditorofSmithsonianmagazine.
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ImpactVisualized
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OurWork
Ourstoriesfrom2015include:
■ SevenWaysClimateChangeCouldKillYou(Really),anotherpiecefromourpartnershipwithTheGuardian,deliveredadisturbingroundupofallthehealthproblemsthatresearchershaveconnectedtoclimatechange—fromdeadlybugbitesandasthmatoobesityanddepression.
■ EverythingYouNeedToKnowAboutNanopes0cidesprovidesafascina0nglookattheunder-reporteddarkersideofthepromiseofusingnanotechnologyinagriculture.ThisappearedinModernFarmer,whichdraws2millionreaderseachmonth.
■ LeaveItToBeavers,whichappearedinOnEarth,themagazineoftheNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil,examinesanunexpectedtwistintheCaliforniadroughtcycle:Beavers,longreviledasanuisance,areactuallyhelpingmi0gatethewaterwoesthatpitfarmeragainstfisherman.
■ UnravelingTheGluten-freeTrendseparatesfactfromfic0onintheragingdebateabouttheroleofgluteninarangeofmaladies,fromskinrashesandjointpaintogastrointes0naldistressanddepression.ItappearedinEa2ngWell,whichhasnearly2milliontotalreadersofeachissue.
■ TheLethalLegacyOfTheVietnamWarisofoneofourmost-successfulpiecestodatein2015:GeorgeBlack’spowerfulcoverstoryinTheNa2onshowedhowthetonsofunexplodedordnance,herbicides,anddefoliantstheUSdroppedonVietnamduringthewarplaguefarmers,andagriculture,theretoday.TheNa2onhas1.3millionmonthlyreadersinprintandonline.Prominentandlong0mepoli0calac0vistTomHaydenwasamongthemanywhosentTheNa2onle\erspraisingBlack’swork.
■ ClimateChangePosesSeriousThreatsToFoodDistribu0onintroducedanewandtroublingframetotheconversa0onaboutclimatechange,agriculture,andaccesstogoodfood.PublishedMarch4,2015,bytheEarthIslandJournal,itwassharedonsocialmedia5000mesandthe1,500(andcoun0ng)folkswhoreaditontheJournal’ssitespentanaverageoffiveminuteswiththepiece—pre\ygoodengagementinourclick-and-flitdigitalworld.
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■ TheFisherman’sDilemmaisastoryaboutaradicalexperimentthatcloseshundredsofmilesofCaliforniacoastlinetofishing.ItwasfeaturedinCaliforniaSunday,whichhasareadershipof700,000.
■ AsHimalayanGlaciersMelt,TwoTownsFaceTheFalloutwasastoryforwhichreporterDanielGrossmantraveledtotheremotemountainsofnorthernIndiatodescribethelivesofpeoplelivingattheedgeofglobalwarming.HisstoryappearsintheonlinemagazineYaleEnvironment360.Wealsoproducedastunningvideoofthisvalleyatthetopoftheworld,ourfirstshortdocumentary.
■ Ba\lingDroughtOnACaliforniaFarmwasaprofileofCannonMichael,aCentralValleyfarmerwhodevisedawater-sharingschemetohelphisstrugglingneighborscopewiththeepicdrought.Asermorethan60,000viewsonEnsiaanditssyndica0onpartners,BusinessInsider,Quartz,andClimateCentral,ithadnearly2,000social-mediashares.Twi\erhighlightsincludeEnsia(30.3Kfollowers);SunsetMagazine(62.6Kfollowers)andNPRFood(48Kfollowers).MichaelalsobeganappearinginstoriesaboutthedroughtinoutletslikeTheNewYorkTimesandNPR.
■ FieldsOfToxicPes0cidesSurroundTheSchoolsOfVenturaCounty,withinfographicwhichwaspublishedinTheNa2on.AsofApril15,thestory--whichwasonlineonly—hadmorethan8,000viewsatTheNa2on’swebsiteandnearly5,000social-mediashares.
■ BorderlandsFoodBank:CuqngFoodWasteAtTheBorderisastoryaboutawomanwhosinglehandedlychangedthegameonthesprawlingandcomplexproblemoffoodwaste.ThisstoryestablishedanimportantpartnershipwithLa2noUSA,whichairson141NPRsta0onsna0onwide,wasfeaturedonNPR’sTheSaltblog,andwaspickedupbyGeorgiaPublicBroadcas2ngandcitedonTheHuffingtonPost’sWhat’sWorkingblog.
■ UrbanFarmingIsBooming,ButWhatDoesItReallyYield?exploreswhethercommunitygardensandroosopfarmscanreallyplayaroleinfeedingourburgeoningpopula0on.ItwaspublishedwithEnsia.
■ Scorched,ournewestCaliforniadrought-relatedstoryinwhichreporterLaurenMarkhamfocusesherlensonthehumancostofthisslow-mo0onenvironmentalcrisis.Thestorywaspublishedonlineandinprintwithanewpartner,PacificStandard.
■ Zambia:WildlifePoachersTradeGunsforGardensaboutanan0-poachingstrategythatputshunterstowork.Wri\enbyBridgetHuberandpublishedwithAlJazeeraAmerica.
■ ALi\leFishwithBigImpactInTroubleonU.S.WestCoastinves0gatesthedevasta0ng90-percentdeclineinthePacificsardinestockfroma
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daun0nglistofculprits,fromclimatechangetoaquaculturetoburgeoningdemandforfishoilandothersupplements.Itcouldbedisastrousformarineanimalsfartherupthefoodchain.ForYaleEnvironment360.
■ HeartofAgavewhichappearedinMotherJones,tellsthestoryofanoptometristwhoistryingtoweantheMexicantequilaindustryfromagrochemicals--andisdis0llingasuperiorproductintheprocess.
■ TheForgo\enFilipino-AmericansWhoLedthe'65DelanoGrapeStrikebyLisaMorehouseincollabora0onwithKQED’sTheCaliforniaReportuncoveredali\le-knownstoryabouttheoriginsofthemostsignificantlaborac0onofthemodernera,thefarmworkers’grapestrikethatdraggedonforfiveyearsinthe1960s.
■ Unchartedwaspublishedincollabora0onwithCaliforniaSundayMagazine.WriterandphotographerLisaM.HamiltontravelledtooneofthemostremotecornersofAustraliawithagroupofplantgene0cistssearchingforwildrela0vesofrice.
■ MeettheScien0stsHun0ngandSavingWildSunflowerSeedspublishedinModernFarmer’sfallissue,NelsonHarveytakesacloselookatsunflowers,whicharena0vetoNorthAmerica.Theyareavitaloil-seedcrop,adietarystapleinChina,andthesecond-most-cul0vatedhybridintheworldasercorn.
■ WithNoU.S.Standards,PotPes0cideUseIsRisingPublicHealthThreatbyreportersEricaBerryofFERNandKa0eKuntzofI-News,foundaglaringabsenceofoversightonthelegalmarijuanaindustry.
■ ChildrenLesVulnerableByWorldBankAmidPushForDevelopmentbyJocelynZuckermanandMichaelHudsonforTheHuffingtonPostinpartnershipwiththeInterna0onalCenterforInves0ga0veJournalistspartof"EvictedandAbandoned,"ayear-longinves0ga0onintothehiddentollofWorldBank–financeddevelopmentprojectsonsomeoftheplanet’spoorestpeople.
■ AllanSavoryandtheScienceofTrackingwherewepartneredwithDiscoverMagazinetosendwriterJudithSchwartztoZimbabwetotalktoSavory,aglobalguruofsustainableland-use,aboutthelostartofanimaltracking.TravelforthisstorywassupportedbythePulitzerCenteronCrisisRepor0ng.
■ 10WaysBigFoodisChangingtoMeetConsumerDemandpublishedwithEa2ngWellmagazine,wasasmart,end-of-yearroundupofhowthefoodindustryhasbeguntorethinkwhatitserves.
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AuditedFinancialStatementForYearEndedDecember31,2015
StatementofFinancialPosi0on
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December 312015 2014
ASSETSCash $ 547,054 $ 433,417Accounts receivable 10,951 51,568
Total Assets $ 558,005 $ 484,985
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSLiabilities
Accounts payableAccrued expenses $ 11,944 $ 15,958
35,442 23,584
Total Liabilities $ 47,386 $ 39,542
Net AssetsTemporarily Restricted 50,000Unrestricted 510,619 395,443
Total Net Assets 510,619 445,443
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 558,005 $ 484,985
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Year EndedDecember 31
2015 2014CHANGES IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETSRevenues and Other Support Contributions $ 738,848 $ 669,887 Net assets released from restrictions 50,000 - Editorial revenue 44,927 22,619 Subscription revenue 19,421 - Sponsorship revenue - 11,500 Other revenues 2,476 4,372
Total Revenues and Other Support 855,672 708,378
EXPENSESProgram Services
Payroll and related 177,406 77,775Consultant fees
Writers 99,713 96,090Editors 58,900 66,818Ag Insider Service 52,200 -Design/Development 51,426 53,275Communications 44,188 36,139Project manager 20,762 50,400Multimedia 17,638 14,052Photographer 13,070 15,600Digital Engagement - 33,402Other - 37,811
Travel and meetings 25,682 11,450Administrative and general 7,418 3,821
Total Program Services 568,403 496,633
Supporting Services Management and general
Payroll and related 84,667 77,775Travel and meetings 28,315 29,622Professional fees 23,950 21,222Insurance 13,218 11,494Administrative and general 14,068 10,709
Fundraising 7,875 95,653Total Supporting Services 172,093 246,475Total Expenses 740,496 743,108
Increase (Decrease) Increase in Net Assets 115,176 -34,730
CHANGES IN TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETSContribution - 50,000Net assets released from restrictions - unrestricted (50,000) -
(Decrease) Increase in Temporarily Restricted Net Assets (50,000) 50,000
Increase in Net Assets 65,176 15,270
Net assets, beginning of year 445,443 430,173
Net assets, end of year $ 510,619 $ 445,443
StatementofAc0vi0esandNetAssets
StatementofCashFlows
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Year EndedDecember 31
2015 2014CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESIncrease in Net Assets $ 65,176 $ 15,270Adjustments to reconcile increase in net assets to net cash provided (used) by operating activities Changes in Assets and Liabilities
Decrease (Increase) in accounts receivable 40,617 (48,568)(Decrease) Increase in accounts payable (4,014) 13,350Increase in accrued expenses 11,858 4,108
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities 113,637 (15,840)
Cash, beginning of year 433,417 449,257
Cash, end of year $ 547,054 $ 433,417
OurPublishingPartners
AlJazeeraAmerica
CaliforniaSundayMagazine
DiscoverMagazine
EarthIslandJournal
Ea2ngWell
Ensia
KQED’sTheCaliforniaReport
La2noUSA
ModernFarmer
MotherJones
OnEarth
PacificStandard
RockyMountainPBSI-News
TheGuardian
TheHuffingtonPost
TheNa2on
YaleEnvironment360
Personnel
SamuelFromartz,Editor-in-ChiefTomLaskawy,Execu0veDirectorBrentCunningham,ManagingEditorChuckAbbo\,Editor,AgInsiderDanaDugan,SocialMediaEditorDennisChamberlin,DirectorofPhotography
CourtneyEshleman,DirectorofDevelopmentGeorgeBlack,Editor-at-LargeElizabethRoyte,Contribu0ngEditorKris0naJohnson,AssistantEditor
Board
DanPullman,BoardChairandTreasurerMichaelRankowitzNathanielBrownAlisonCayneLeslieWilliamsSamuelFromartzSusanWestNaomiStarkman
EditorialAdvisors
RuthReichlCharlesWilsonKatrinaHeronBrianHalweilElizabethRoyte
MajorFoundaNonSupporters:
The11thHourProjectDorisDukeFounda0onMcKnightFounda0onWoodcockFounda0onClarenceE.HellerFounda0onTomKatCharitableTrustClaneilFounda0onSandDollarFundBetsyandJesseFinkFounda0onJoyceandIrvingGoldmanFounda0onZegarFamilyFund
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