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Salt Lake Tribune Inc

EIN 84-1878709 · Salt Lake Cty, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TRIBUNE IS UTAH'S INDEPENDENT VOICE. BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF COURAGEOUS, WATCHDOG JOURNALISM, WE STRIVE TO TELL STORIES THAT ARE INTERESTING, IMPORTANT AND INCLUSIVE. DEDICATED TO FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY, WE AIM TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER YOU - OUR READERS.

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
100
Highest pay
$353,191, ceo & exec e

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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, 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. $7.5 million spent. THE TRIBUNE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER UNMATCHED REPORTING ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT, RELIGION, SPORTS, CULTURE AND GROWTH. IT WILL ELEVATE SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED REPORTING AND IT WILL FOCUS ITS JOURNALISM ON THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE UTAH SPECIAL. AS A NONPROFIT, THE TRIBUNE'S EDITORIAL BOARD - WHICH OPERATES INDEPENDENT OF ITS NEWSROOM - DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE. THE TRIBUNE WORKS WITH PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO SEEK ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC. WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR GEOGRAPHICAL REACH, THROUGH THE MOAB TIMES-INDEPENDENT, THE SOUTHERN UTAH TRIBUNE AND THE UTAH NEWS COLLABORATIVE.
  2. $48,035 spent. GREAT SALT LAKE COLLABORATIVE: THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS INITIATIVE THE GREAT SALT LAKE COLLABORATIVE IS A GROUP OF 19 NEWS, EDUCATION AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER FOUR YEARS AGO TO BETTER INFORM AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRISIS FACING THE LAKE. THE COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES RIGOROUS JOURNALISM, INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FOCUSING ON HOW AGENCIES AND PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES FACING THE LAKE.

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 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 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 October 2019.

    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.

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