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Sentient Media

EIN 83-0804345 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SENTIENT MEDIA ("SENTIENT") (SENTIENTMEDIA.ORG) IS AN INDEPENDENT AND NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ILLUMINATING THE IMPACTS OF FACTORY FARMING ON CLIMATE, ANIMALS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORE. THROUGH FACT-CHECKED, SCIENCE-BASED JOURNALISM, WE UNCOVER INJUSTICES, HIGHLIGHT SOLUTIONS, AND INFORM COMMUNITIES, LAWMAKERS, NEWSROOMS AND CONTENT CREATORS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
19.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
8
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$100,000, executive 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (animals, $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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $324,653 spent. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT - SENTIENT WORKS TO ENSURE IMPORTANT HEADLINES AND STORIES REACH A BROAD AUDIENCE. SENTIENT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWSROOMS TO ENSURE OUR STORIES HAVE A WIDE AND DIVERSE REACH.
  2. $265,628 spent. REPORTING AND INVESTIGATIONS - IN FY2024, SENTIENT PUBLISHED MORE THAN 200 ARTICLES ON THE IMPACTS OF FACTORY FARMS. SENTIENT'S JOURNALISM FALLS INTO FOUR AREAS: SOLUTIONS; ACCOUNTABILITY; DISINFORMATION DEBUNKING; AND POLICY AND SCIENCE-DRIVEN EXPLAINERS.
  3. $158,054 spent. PARTNERSHIP AND TRAINING SENTIENT'S APPROACH IS TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER NEWS OUTLETS TO COREPORT, COPUBLISH, AND REPUBLISH STORIES ON FACTORY FARMING. SENTIENT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OTHER NEWSROOMS TO REPORT ACCURATELY ON THE VARIED IMPACTS OF FACTORY FARMS.
  4. $191,544 spent. DIGITAL SERVICES - OPTIMIZING EXPLAINER ARTICLES TO ENSURE THE VISIBILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY, INFORMATIVE CONTENT IN SEARCH ENGINES. FELLOWSHIPS - EDITORIAL FELLOWS WORK WITH THE EDITORIAL TEAM ON ARTICLES, FACT-CHECKING AND NEWSLETTERS.

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 February 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.