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Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc

EIN 46-0781654 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To strengthen the local news industry by helping independent news publishers build more sustainable businesses.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
18
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$252,118, executive director

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.5 million spent. Membership Services & LION Awards: We completed the successful Sustainability 360 pilot and launched our first full S360 cohort, providing members with hands-on back-office support and strategic coaching. In parallel, we piloted a new Back Office support program focused on helping early-stage members build strong HR and finance foundations for long-term sustainability. We partnered with Press Forward on a new program that offers Audits and strategic business coaching to the 205 news outlets awarded Closing Local Coverage Gaps grants in 2024. This marks the first time in LION history that a program serves more non members than members. We also launched the members-only LION Growth Grant program, reviewing over 220 applications from members in 48 states, and distributing $750K of a planned total $1.5M to 15 publishers for operational funds to strengthen their business operations. Finally, we piloted and expanded direct consulting services in our Back Office and Sustainability 360 programs, which both included consulting hours with HR and/or Finance experts to provide publishers with hands-on support for strengthening their operations.
  2. $790,775 spent. Membership Education: More than 150 LIONs participated in peer-led learning groups, culminating in an in-person session at the 2025 Summit. Across the network, the LION community continued to provide a trusted space for publishers to exchange ideas, challenges, and resources during a difficult year for many newsrooms. Year round, LION members and other industry colleagues make up the community of 1600 members in the News Entrepreneur Community Slack. Participants have focused discussion spaces for peer learning and specific LION programs, as well as place-based and other channels that any member of the Slack can contribute to.
  3. $650,564 spent. Data & Evaluation: We launched the self-serve Audit, transforming a cohort-based, highly customized program into a scalable product available to any LION member at any time. In its first six months, members completed 402 Audits, nearly matching the 450 completed over the programs previous three-year history.
  4. $353,822 spent. Policy & Advocacy: LION strengthened its member advocacy efforts, shifting from reactive responses to proactively mobilizing members to engage in policy conversations affecting independent news organizations.

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 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 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 August 2019.

    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.