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Passes our checks

City Bureau NFP

EIN 81-1054499 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MEDIA EDUCATION ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CIVIC INFORMATION TO NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO, FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AROUND JOURNALISM AND MEDIA, AND DEVELOPING AND TESTING NEW MODELS OF CIVIC JOURNALISM.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
39
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$218,093, frmr exec dir

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (2)
  1. $4.0 million spent. CITY BUREAU CARRIED OUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC JOURNALISM AND EXPAND ACCESS TO RELIABLE PUBLIC INFORMATION. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED NEWSROOM TRAINING INITIATIVES, COLLABORATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE PARTICIPATORY JOURNALISM PRACTICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO DEVELOPED TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY, AND EDITORIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY REPORTING AND THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CIVIC INFORMATION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, CITY BUREAU CONTINUED TO EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, SUPPORT EMERGING JOURNALISTS, AND STRENGTHEN NETWORKS OF COMMUNITY-CENTERED MEDIA PRACTITIONERS.
  2. $774,255 spent. CONTINUED GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMED AT INFORMING RESIDENTS ABOUT CIVIC ISSUES THROUGH JOURNALISM AND MEDIA TRAINING. 12 EMERGING JOURNALISTS PARTICIPATED IN INTENSIVE TRAINING IN COMMUNITY REPORTING PRACTICES. TRAINED 191 RESIDENTS AS DOCUMENTERS TO TAKE NOTES AT PUBLIC MEETINGS. FACILITATED 654 DOCUMENTERS ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDING COVERAGE OF 295 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS. HOSTED 36 FREE WORKSHOPS SERVING 444 INDIVIDUALS. CONSULTED WITH MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY ON PARTICIPATORY JOURNALISM PRACTICES. SUPPORTED PARTNER ORGANIZATION IN LAUNCHING DOCUMENTERS PARTICIPATORY MEDIA PROGRAM IN COLUMBUS, KANSAS CITY, COLUMBIA GORGE, TULSA.

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 November 6, 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 May 2018.

    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 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.