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Passes our checks

Area 58 Community Access Media Inc

EIN 04-3413403 · Carver, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE WILL BE TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING TO THE INTERESTED STUDENTS, CITIZENS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND TO OPERATE AN EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY STUDIO. AFTER LEARNING THECAPABILITIES AND POTENTIALS OF A PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL ON ACABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM AS A FORUM FOR EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND EXPRESSION, THE MEMBERS ARE THEN PROVIDED ACCESS ON AFIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS ON THE PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNELON THE CABLE SYSTEM.

Income
$609,384
Spending
$506,755
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$99,739, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $382,105 spent. BY BEING AN EXEMPT ORGANIZATION, CCAT IS ABLE TO PURCHASE STUDIO/CABLE EQUIPMENT TO OUTFIT THE CARVER STUDIO AND PROVIDE LOCAL ACCESS PROGRAMMING, IN ADDITION TO EMPLOYING A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE STUDIO. CCAT IS PROVIDING ITS OWN LOCAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING TELEVISING SELECTMAN'S MEETINGS, SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TOWN MEETING, AND OTHER MUNICIPAL ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, A NUMBER OF CITIZEN PROGRAMS WERE SHOWN, AND SOME PUBLIC DOMAIN MOVIES. CLASSES IN PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION WERE ALSO PROVIDED. THERE ARE OVER 3,300 SUBSCRIBERS IN TOWN, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 9,000 PEOPLE WHO HAD ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS AIRED. NO GRANTS WERE AWARDED OR UTILIZED DURING THIS YEAR. PROGRAM EXPENSES WERE INCIDENTAL AND TYPICAL OF LOCAL ACCESS PRODUCTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.