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Charlottesville Tomorrow

EIN 20-3013557 · Charlottesvle, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW DELIVERS IN-DEPTH, NON-PARTISAN REPORTING AND ANALYSIS THAT IMPROVES LOCAL DECISION-MAKING IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA. WE SEEK TO EXPAND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO FOSTER A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND INTERDEPENDENT COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
14
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$115,312, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $684,370 spent. COVER LOCAL NEWS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ALBEMARLE COUNTY: CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW'S STAFF PROVIDED IN-DEPTH REPORTING BY MEANS OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW WEBSITE AND WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF COORDINATED EVENTS AND ENGAGED READERS THROUGH EMAILS, NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
  2. MAINTAIN NEWS WEBSITE AND E-MAIL MAILING LIST: CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW'S WEBSITE AND ASSOCIATED SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS ARE USED ALONG WITH AN EMAIL MARKETING LIST TO AID IN THE BROAD DISSEMINATION OF CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW'S NEWS AND RESEARCH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THIS SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL TO DELIVER IN-DEPTH REPORTING AND ANALYSIS THAT IMPROVES LOCAL DECISION-MAKING. WE SEEK TO EXPAND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO FOSTER A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND INTERDEPENDENT COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.