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Illini Media Company

EIN 37-0341210 · Champaign, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

ILLINI MEDIA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN UNSURPASSED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS STUDENT EMPLOYEES AND TO KEEPING THIS MISSION AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OUR INTERNAL DECISION-MAKING. OUR WELL-RUN, SUCCESSFUL COMPANY ALLOWS US TO OFFER A PROFESSIONAL, HANDS-ON, STUDENT-RUN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY COMMUNICATION VEHICLES FOR READERS, LISTENERS AND VIEWERS THROUGHOUT OUR CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY.BY OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, PROVIDING CURRENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES, AND CREATING A CHALLENGING, FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT, ILLINI MEDIA HELPS CREATE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER JOURNALISTS, BROADCASTERS, AND MANAGERS. WHILE OUR STUDENTS LEAD OUR DAILY MEDIA OPERATIONS, THEY LEARN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING INDEPENDENT DECISIONS AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR CHERISHED FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PRINCIPLES AND ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES.

Income
$761,208
Spending
$923,265
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
130
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$101,802, business director

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

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 128% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% 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

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 July 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 (1)
  1. $725,686 spent. EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION AND SALES CONSISTING OF A STUDENT NEWSPAPER, RADIO BROADCASTING, YEARBOOK AND A QUARTERLY STUDENT MAGAZINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 July 1955.

    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.