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Ocean State Media Group

EIN 22-2859005 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OCEAN STATE MEDIA IS RHODE ISLAND'S TRUSTED PUBLIC MEDIA ORGANIZATION, AMPLIFYING ALL VOICES THROUGH THOUGHT-PROVOKING STORYTELLING, ORIGINAL JOURNALISM, LIFELONG LEARNING, AND ENGAGING LIVE EVENTS. WE FOSTER HOPE, CONNECTION, AND EDUCATION THAT STRENGTHENS AND INSPIRES OUR SHARED COMMUNITY.

Income
$12.1 million
Spending
$16.9 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
78.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 43%
Employees
122
Volunteers
88
Highest pay
$306,760, co-ceo(thru sep 2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 78.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $10.1 million spent. WE ARE OCEAN STATE MEDIA. AND WE ARE LISTENING.IN A TIME OF NOISE, WE ARE CHOOSING TO LISTEN. IN AN ERA OF DIVISION, WE ARE BUILDING CONNECTION. IN A RAPIDLY SHIFTING MEDIA LANDSCAPE, WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON PLACE -ON THE PEOPLE, STORIES, QUESTIONS AND CULTURES THAT DEFINE RHODE ISLAND.WE ARE REIMAGINING WHAT PUBLIC MEDIA CAN BE WITH, FOR AND ABOUT YOU.- DEEPLY LOCAL: ROOTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.- WIDELY AVAILABLE: WHEREVER YOU ARE, WE'RE THERE WITH YOU.- RELEVANT: KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES AND MEETING THEM WITH PURPOSE.- DISTINCTIVE: CONTENT THAT FEELS LIKE RHODE ISLAND AND COULDN'T COME FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.- COMMUNITY-CENTERED: DRIVEN BY LISTENING, LEARNING, AND CONNECTION.OCEAN STATE MEDIA ISN'T JUST A SERVICE - IT'S A RELATIONSHIP. AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE ARE CREATING A LOCAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE THAT INFORMS, CONNECTS AND REPRESENTS US ALL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 March 1988.

    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.