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California Black Media

EIN 46-2808252 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN EFFORT TO BALANCE REPORTING OF IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITITES, CBM FACILITATES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THESE UNDERSESRVED COMMUNITIES, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, AND POLICY MAKERS BY CULTIVATING AND DISTRIBUTING FACT-BASED REPORTING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 30 MEDIA OUTLETS ON LEADING PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $1,123 spent. THE JOE C. HOPKINS INITIATIVE NOW REFLECTS SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY INDEPENDENTLY OWNED MEDIA, INCLUDING ETHNIC MEDIA. THE PROGRAM HELPS THE INDUSTRY DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE REVENUE MODELS TO ENSURE THAT HIGH-QUALITY, FACT-BASED JOURNALISM IS PRODUCED LOCALLY IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. STOP THE HATE OUTREACH AND MESSAGING EFFORTS ARE BEING TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR ETHNIC MEDIA OUTLETS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THESE EFFORTS AIM TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY, AND ENSURE ACCURATE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT INFORMATION REACHES DIVERSE AUDIENCES.
  3. $225,550 spent. THE CALIFORNIA BLACK HEALTH JOURNALISM PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO SUPPORT A JOURNALISM PROJECT THAT WILL REPORT ON CALIFORNIA'S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND HOW ITS IMPACTING BLACK CALIFORNIANS, AND EXPLORE PROPOSED POLICY SOLUTIONS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CALIFORNIA'S BLACK COMMUNITIES.
  4. $1.5 million spent. SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM, MEDIA EQUITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2016.

    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 October 2016.

    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.