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Center for Media and Democracy Inc

EIN 39-1777402 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY, INC. (CMD) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INVESTIGATING AND PUBLICIZING THE HIDDEN INFLUENCE OF POWERFUL SPECIAL INTERESTS ON AMERICA'S MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY, AND ITS IMPACT ON PUBLIC OPINION, PUBLIC POLICY, LAW, AND ELECTIONS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
25.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
6
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$239,727, director of operations

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 (1)
  1. $751,501 spent. THE CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY (CMD) IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WATCHDOG THAT LEADS IN-DEPTH, AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CORRUPTION THAT UNDERMINES OUR DEMOCRACY, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THE CENTER PUBLISHES EXPOSEDBYCMD, PRWATCH AND SOURCEWATCH. SOURCEWATCH PROFILES THE ACTIVITIES OF FRONT GROUPS, PR SPINNERS, INDUSTRY-FRIENDLY EXPERTS, INDUSTRY-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THINK TANKS TRYING TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION ON BEHALF OF CORPORATIONS OR THE GOVERNMENT IN AN ENCYCLOPEDIC FORMAT THAT INCLUDES COMPILATION OF OUR ORIGINAL REPORTING. EXPOSEDBYCMD AND PRWATCH PROFILE THESE SAME TOPICS IN THE FORMAT OF DAILY ORIGINAL REPORTING INCLUDING REFERENCES TO RESEARCH COMPILED IN SOURCEWATCH ENTRIES. TOPICS COVERED IN EXPOSEDBYCMD, PRWATCH, AND SOURCEWATCH INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, ECONOMIC, AND PRIVACY ISSUES. TOPICS COVERED ON EXPOSEDBYCMD, SOURCEWATCH, AND PROJECT WEBSITES IN 2025 INCLUDED VOTING RIGHTS, HATE GROUPS, DISINFORMATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, ECONOMIC, LABOR, EDUCATION, AND OTHER DEMOCRACY ISSUES.

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 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 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 September 1994.

    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.