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Hacks Hackers

EIN 45-5351484 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO BRING TOGETHER JOURNALISTS (HACKS) AND TECHNOLOGISTS (HACKERS) WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR SECTORS TO ADVANCE MEDIA INNOVATION AND FOSTER PUBLIC TRUST IN THE INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM. WE DO THAT BY A)CONVENING SUMMITS, HACKATHONS, IDEATHONS AND WORKSHOPSTHAT BRING TOGETHER TALENT FROM CROSS-DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING JOURNALISM, TECHNOLOGY AND ACADEMIA TO IDEATE AND INNOVATE. B) CREATE INNOVATION LABS WHERE WE DIRECTLY WORK WITH JOURNALISTS TO PROTOTYPE AND TEST NEWTECHNOLOGIES, C) SPREAD KNOWLEDGE THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTERS, WEBINARS AND OTHER FORUMS FOR LEARNING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA, (D) SOLICIT AND RECEIVE FUNDS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOVE PURPOSES, AND (E) PURSUE ANY OTHER PURPOSE PERMITTED TO BE PURSUED BY A CHARITY (OR, BY A PRIVATE FOUNDATION SHOULD THIS ORGANIZATION EVER BECOME A PRIVATE FOUNDATION), AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN 26 USC 501(A) AND (C)(3) AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS, AS EACH MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE AMENDED.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
11
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$138,914, researcher-at-large

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
  1. $2.2 million spent. ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TOOLKIT FOR TRUST: SUPPORTING PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS THAT BUILD TRUST BY HELPING PEOPLE WORK THROUGH DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND INFORMATION, HELPING TO SUPPORT TRUSTED, EXPERT SOURCES. BUILDING TOOLS TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ENGAGING IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER ONLINE FORUMS.
  2. $293,804 spent. INFORMATION INTEGRITY: STRENGTHENING THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF ONLINE INFORMATION THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION. WE BRING TOGETHER JOURNALISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, RESEARCHERS, AND CIVIC LEADERS TO DEVELOP AND SCALE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT ENHANCE CONTENT QUALITY AND CREDIBILITY ACROSS THE DIGITAL MEDIA ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH CAREFULLY DESIGNED CONVENINGS AND TARGETED SUPPORT, WE HELP SURFACE PROMISING APPROACHES TO BUILDING TRUST IN MEDIA, FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES, AND CONNECT INNOVATORS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.
  3. $54,310 spent. MEDIA INNOVATION: BRINGING TOGETHER CROSS-DISCIPLINARY TALENT FROM JOURNALISM, TECHNOLOGY, ACADEMIA, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO SPARK AND SCALE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY'S MEDIA CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ACCELERATING MEDIA INNOVATION THROUGH STRATEGIC CONVENING, SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING. WE DESIGN AND HOST GATHERINGS THAT DELIBERATELY MIX DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPERTISE - JOURNALISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, DESIGNERS AND RESEARCHERS - CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROSS-POLLINATION OF IDEAS AND NEW COLLABORATIONS THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN OTHERWISE. THROUGH STRUCTURED SUPPORT AND RESOURCES, WE HELP TEAMS MOVE FROM CONCEPT TO PROTOTYPE, TRANSFORMING THEORETICAL SOLUTIONS INTO PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 2014.

    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 October 21, 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.