Local Media Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION IS INTENSELY FOCUSED ON HELPING MEDIA COMPANIES DISCOVER NEW AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS. THE FUTURE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM DEPENDS ON THIS.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $314,802, co-ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $578,888 spent. THE LMA LAB FOR JOURNALISM FUNDING IS A COHORT LEARNING PROGRAM THAT TEACHES LOCAL NEWSROOM STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINING THEIR JOURNALISM IN PART THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2020, THE LAB HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 200 NEWSROOMS, ENABLING THEM TO RAISE MORE THAN $38 MILLION TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL LOCAL REPORTING. THE LAB FOR JOURNALISM FUNDING IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUSTAINED SUPPORT FROM GOOGLE NEWS INITIATIVE AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION.
- $243,691 spent. BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS PROVIDE PUBLISHERS WITH ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE THEIR SUCCESS. THROUGH DIRECT FUNDING, TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION, AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, LMA IS HELPING PUBLISHERS OF COLOR NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, BUILD SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS, AND EXPAND THEIR REACH. BY UNITING DIVERSE MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN A SHARED MISSION, WE DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND ENSURE THAT THESE VITAL VOICES REMAIN A CORNERSTONE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM.
- $152,999 spent. LATIDOBEAT IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT STRENGTHENS HISPANIC MEDIA. LATIDOBEAT BRINGS TOGETHER AN INITIAL COHORT OF SEVEN OF THE LEADING SPANISH-LANGUAGE PUBLISHERS, LEVERAGING THEIR CREDABILITY, REACH, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ROOTS TO CREATE A UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR LATINO VOICES. LATIDOBEAT IS BEING DEVELOPED AS A SHARED ENGINE FOR INNOVATION - OFFERING NEW PATHWAYS FOR GROWTH, REVENUE, AND COLLABORATION. IT IS GROUNDED IN FOUR STRATEGIC PILLARS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM: EQUITY, ENGAGEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND VISIBILITY.
- $315,080 spent. ACCELERATE LOCAL, BRANDED CONTENT, BROADCAST LAB, DIGITAL CLUB, DIGITAL INNOVATION, FIMS LAB, LMA FEST, LMIA, NEWSLETTER WEBSITE, NEWS IS OUT, NON-OPERATING INCOME, SOLVING SACRAMENTO COLLABORATIVE, WINTER SUMMIT, WORD IN BLACK COMMERCIAL
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.