RFE-RL INC
Donations deductibleRFE-RL INC's network
9 people5 organisationsi9 people and 5 organisations on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (9). Violet dotted lines (6) are likely: the same full name sits on the current board of another organisation in the same register and region. Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK. It may be a different person.The board
9 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations in the tables. The network map shows same-name matches as likely links only, never as confirmed.Time served and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed time served is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 9 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI, which matches the board listed here.| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Kornbluh Chair | Chairperson | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Jackson Diehl | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Kristin Lord | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Lisa Curtis | Director | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Margaret Hoover | Vice Chairperson | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Michael Kempner | Director | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Scott Carpenter | Director | 2024 | 2 yrs |
| Stephen Allan Capus | President & CEO, (From 2/24) | 2024 | 2 yrs |
| Tom Malinowski | Director | 2024 | 2 yrs |
Under 5 years5 to 6 years6 years or more
Officers and senior leadership
29 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| Abdul Qadir Habib | Service Director | since 2021 |
| Benjamin Herman | General Counsel & Secretary | since 2018 |
| Celeste Defiore | Director, Data Science | 2021 |
| Christine Fetzko | Head of Operations | since 2021 |
| Daisy Sindelar | VP, Editor in Chief | since 2020 |
| Daisy Sindelar VP EIC Trans to | Acting Pres. (From 12/18-07/19) | 2019 |
| Employee | Sr. News Editor | since 2023 |
| Employee 1 | Managing Editor | since 2018 |
| Employee 2 | Senior Editor | since 2018 |
| Employee 3 | Senior Editor | since 2018 |
| Employee 4 | Journalist | since 2018 |
| Employee 5 | Senior Editor | 2020 |
| Guy Genovese | Director, Corporate Security | since 2018 |
| James Landis | Head of Corporate Security | 2024 |
| Jamie Fly | President | 2020 |
| Jeff Gedmin | Acting Pres. & CEO, (From 7/23) | 2024 |
| Karen Johnsen | Comptroller | since 2023 |
| Kiryl Sukhotski | Regional Director | 2024 |
| Mark Kontos | Vice President, CFO, Treasurer | since 2021 |
| Marylin Alma Keating | Head of Human Resources | since 2019 |
| Nenad Pejic | VP/Editor-in-Chief (Through 07/19) | since 2018 |
| Nicola Careem | VP & Editor in Chief, (From 9/23) | 2024 |
| Pamela Goodnow | VP, CFO & Treas. (Until 08/18) | 2018 |
| Sardy Joseph Bernard JR | Chief Technology Officer | since 2018 |
| Scott Baker | Director of Finance | since 2018 |
| Stephanie Schmidt | Dir. Fpa, Asst. Treasurer | since 2018 |
| Susan Reed Jackson | Dir. of Tv and Video Production | since 2018 |
| Tanya Youngerg | Ass. Secretary and Dep. Gc | 2024 |
| Thomas Kent | President (Through 09/18) | 2018 |
Pay and hours
year to 30 September 2025iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Allan Capus | President and CEO | 40 | $272k | $33k | |
| James Landis | Head of Corporate Security | 40 | $228k | $13k | |
| Karen Johnsen | Acting CFO, Asst. Treasurer, Dir. Fp&a | 40 | $202k | $33k | |
| Nicola Careem | Vice Pres. and Editor in Chief | 40 | $202k | $26k | |
| Benjamin Herman | General Counsel & Secretary | 40 | $195k | $56k | |
| Guy Genovese | Deputy Head, Corp Security | 40 | $191k | $24k | |
| Employee | Journalist | 40 | $189k | $19k | |
| Diane Zeleny | Vice Pres. and Head of Ext. Affairs | 40 | $188k | $15k | |
| Employee | Broadcast Service Dir. | 40 | $182k | $19k | |
| Employee | Senior Editor | 40 | $181k | $9k | |
| Marylin Alma Keating | Head of Human Resources | 40 | $178k | $29k | |
| Tanya Youngberg | Asst. Secretary and Deputy Gen. Counsel | 40 | $176k | $14k | |
| Christine Fetzko | Head of Operations | 40 | $172k | $21k | |
| Employee | Chief Technology Officer | 40 | $164k | $22k | |
| Joseph Lataille | VP, Treasurer, CFO (From 9/24) | 40 | $74k | $18k | |
| Lisa Curtis | Board Chair | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Jackson Diehl | Vice Chairperson | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Michael Kempner | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Jeff Gedmin | Director (End 11/24) | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Kristin Lord | Director (End 01/25) | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Margaret Hoover | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Usha Chaudhary | Director (End 06/25) | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Tom Malinowski | Director | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Vance Serchuk | Director | 0.5 | $0 |
About
- Legal name
- Rfe-Rl Inc
- EIN
- 521068522
- Address
- 1250 Connecticut Ave Nw Ste 450, Washington, DC, 20036-2666
- State
- District of Columbia
- Mission
- Rfe/rl's mission is to promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is under threat. (see schedule o) (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- A34Z Arts, culture and humanities
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Size band
- 9 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 1976
- Principal officer
- Stephen Capus (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 September 1976
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 7, latest 2024
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Related organisations (Schedule R)
RelatedPROVIDE OBJECTIVE AND ACCURATE NEWSMiddle East BroadcastingRelatedPROVIDE ACCURATE AND TIMELY NEWSRadio Free AsiaRelatedPROVIDE RETIREE MEDICAL AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITSRferl Inc Welfare Benefit Plan for RetireesRelatedAID IN THE CAUSE FOR FREEDOMFreedom Broadcasting Foundation Inc
Longest observed on the filings
≥8years on the filingsKaren Kornbluh
≥8years on the filingsMichael Kempner
≥3years on the filingsJackson Diehl
≥3years on the filingsKristin Lord
Latest return
year to 30 September 2025iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 30 September 2025. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $224m
- Total liabilities
- $227.6m
- Net assets or fund balances
- Minus $3.6m
- Contributions and grants received
- $125.7m
- Program service revenue
- $3.2m
- Employees
- 177
- Volunteers
- 27
Filed finances
1 yeariTotals as filed on the IRS Form 990 (revenue and expenses), by tax year.| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $156.5m | $157m | Deficit $442k |
As filed on the IRS Form 990. US dollars.