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Sembramedia

EIN 47-5124565 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWER MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY TO SUPPORT EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE AND IMPACT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$115,000, until 5/24, then exec 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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 (5)
  1. $485,428 spent. PROJECT OASIS: PROJECT OASIS IS A RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT OF INDEPENDENT DIGITAL NATIVE NEWS ORGANISATIONS IN MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD. ITS GOAL IS TO BRING GREATER VISIBILITY TO DIGITAL NATIVE MEDIA ORGANISATIONS AND TO UNCOVER NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT THE TRENDS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
  2. $168,864 spent. GNI STARTUPS LAB: IT IS AN INDEPENDENT DIGITAL MEDIA ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATION IN SPANISH THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF JOURNALISTIC VENTURES AND PROMOTES THE PERSONAL GROWTH OF ITS MEMBERS. DURING THE PROGRAM, DIGITAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND MEDIA LEADERS CREATE STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR AUDIENCES, AND INNOVATE IN THEIR TEAM COLLABORATIONS.
  3. $137,311 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: SEMBRAMEDIA ALSO MANAGED SEVERAL SMALLER GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO JOURNALISTS, MEDIA LEADERS, AND ACADEMICS.
  4. $135,081 spent. MVA- MEDIA VIABILITY ACCELERATOR: PROGRAM AIMED TO STRENGTHEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA BY PROMOTING DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING, ACCESS TO FINANCING, AND COOPERATION. ITS GOAL WAS TO REINFORCE THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEDIA ECOSYSTEM IN THE FACE OF LARGE PLATFORMS AND DISRUPTIVE CHANGES.
  5. $119,424 spent. PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR JOURNALISTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

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 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 2024.

    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 July 2019.

    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.