City Report Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CITY REPORT, INC. serves the people of New York through independent journalism that answers their information needs and holds the powerful to account.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $323,134, 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.9 million spent. THE CITY IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT, NEWSROOM BUILT ON THE CONVICTION THAT GREAT LOCAL NEWS IS INDISPENSABLE IN A GREAT CITY. WE PUBLISH INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT, EXPLANATORY REPORTING THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX PROCESSES, AND CONSISTENT, GROUND-UP COVERAGE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. OUR APPROACH WE BELIEVE ALL NEW YORKERS HAVE A RIGHT TO TRUSTWORTHY, FREE JOURNALISM THAT SUPPORTS PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC LIFE AND FOSTERS BETTER GOVERNANCE. OTHER OUTLETS SERVE UP A DAILY DRUMBEAT OF CRIME STORIES AND CITY HALL PRESS RELEASES. THERE ARE PLENTY OF STORIES ABOUT THE WEALTHIEST ZIP CODES, AND IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND PARTISAN COVERAGE OF LOCAL ISSUES PLAYING TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE. WE BELIEVE NEW YORK CITY DESERVES BETTER. AT THE CITY WE ARE DEDICATED TO RIGOROUS ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING WITH A FOCUS ON SYSTEMIC ISSUES, THE REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF POLICY CHOICES AND THE CONDUCT OF THOSE WHO EXERCISE POWER. BUT WE DON'T JUST REVEAL WRONGDOING. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE EMPOWERED BY OUR JOURNALISM. THAT'S WHY WE INVEST IN REPORTING THAT IS ACTIVELY HELPFUL, OFFERING BOTH PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDES AND DATA-DRIVEN APPS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE, ACCESS PUBLIC SERVICES, OR JUST MAKE SENSE OF COMPLEX ISSUES. AND WE LISTEN, ASKING COMMUNITIES ONLINE AND IN PERSON TO HELP GUIDE OUR JOURNALISM BY FLAGGING THEIR CONCERNS, GIVING US FEEDBACK, AND SHARING IDEAS. OUR IMPACT WE WANT OUR JOURNALISM TO RESULT IN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK. THAT MEANS WRONGDOING IS CALLED OUT AND HALTED; THAT BETTER POLICIES ARE IMPLEMENTED; AND THAT RESOURCES ARE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND FAIRLY ALLOCATED. THE CITY'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING HAS RESULTED IN CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS, POLITICAL RESIGNATIONS AND ETHICS INQUIRIES. IT HAS INSPIRED NEW LAWS, INFLUENCED BUDGET CHOICES AND REVERSED INJUSTICES. FULL ACCESS TO TRUSTED JOURNALISM ALSO MEANS THAT THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION IS BETTER INFORMED AND MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE EXPERIENCES OF ALL WHO LIVE HERE - AND THAT LEADS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BEING MORE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THE CITY'S STORIES ARE REPUBLISHED FOR FREE BY SCORES OF COMMUNITY OUTLETS AND FREQUENTLY CITED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, ADVOCATES AND LOCAL LEADERS. FINALLY, OUR WORK AIMS TO HELP INDIVIDUAL READERS MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND FEEL CONNECTED TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TO NEW YORK. THE CITY'S EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM HAS HELPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS TO VOTE, KEEP THEIR APARTMENTS WARM, STAY SAFE IN DANGEROUS WEATHER, AND ACCESS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. OUR TEAM THE CITY'S REPORTERS AND EDITORS KNOW NEW YORK CITY AND ARE COMMITTED TO ITS FUTURE. THEY BRING KNOWLEDGE, PASSION AND A DIVERSE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES TO THE TASK OF COVERING OUR SHARED HOME. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS PROVIDE DEEPLY INFORMED COVERAGE ON CRUCIAL BEATS LIKE HOUSING, THE ECONOMY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LABOR, MIGRATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND CITY HALL IN COLLABORATION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIALISTS, DATA REPORTERS AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS. OUR TEAM INCLUDES VETERANS FROM NEW YORK'S STORIED TABLOIDS AND REPORTERS FROM NATIONAL AND HYPER-LOCAL PUBLICATIONS ALIKE. THEY BRING A WIDE-RANGE OF EXPERIENCE AND A PASSION FOR INNOVATION TO THE TASK OF COVERING NEW YORK IN JOURNALISM'S FAST- CHANGING LANDSCAPE. OUR FUNDING QUALITY JOURNALISM IS EXPENSIVE - AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING JUST ISN'T LUCRATIVE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR IT. BECAUSE WE WANT OUR REPORTING TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, WE HAVE NO PAYWALL. INSTEAD, THE CITY IS SUPPORTED BY OUR READERS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, AND CORPORATE SPONSORS. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR DONORS AND GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO FUND OUR WORK WITH NO EXPECTATION OF INFLUENCING OUR COVERAGE.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 2026.
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