Open Campus Media Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $191,446, chief revenue officer
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.3 million spent. OPEN CAMPUS LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK:WE COMBINE SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL FUNDERS TO CREATE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADVANCE SOPHISTICATED COVERAGE OF THE HIGHER ED BEAT. THROUGH THE OPEN CAMPUS LOCAL REPORTER NETWORK, WE COLLABORATE EVERY WEEK WITH REPORTERS IN PARTNER NEWSROOMS, COACHING THEM ON COVERAGE, PROVIDING STORY GUIDANCE, DOING BIG-PICTURE EDITING, AND CONNECTING THEM WITH NATIONAL DATA, SOURCES, AND CONTEXT. THEY BENEFIT FROM CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FROM MONTHLY OPEN CAMPUS REPORTING WORKSHOPS. THEY ARE EMPLOYED BY THEIR LOCAL NEWSROOMS, AND STORIES ARE PUBLISHED BY THE LOCAL NEWSROOM AND OPEN CAMPUS. OPEN CAMPUS STAFF EDITORS WORK WITH THE PARTNER NEWSROOMS TO PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY WORK. THEY ALSO SEND OUT (CONTINUED ON SCH O)NEWSLETTERS ABOUT THE WORK TO OPEN CAMPUS SUBSCRIBERS.
- $404,885 spent. OPEN CAMPUS NATIONAL REPORTING TEAM: OPEN CAMPUS COVERS ALL FACETS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. TO THAT END, WE HAVE A NATIONAL REPORTER ON STAFF WHO WRITES ABOUT POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INSIDE PRISONS AND HOW IT IS BEING TRANSFORMED BY NEW FUNDING AND NEW TECHNOLOGY. OUR SECOND NATIONAL REPORTER IS FOCUSED ON HOW HIGHER EDUCATION IS SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL RESIDENTS. IN 2023, WE ADDED A MANAGING EDITOR WHO FOCUSES LEADING COVERAGE OF ISSUES OF RACE AND EQUITY IN HIGHER ED. OPEN CAMPUS STAFF EDITORS WORK WITH THE NATIONAL REPORTERS TO PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY WORK, AND TO CO-PUBLISH THAT WORK WITH NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS.
- $285,260 spent. WORK SHIFT:WORK SHIFT IS A FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECT OF OPEN CAMPUS DEVOTED TO REPORTING ON THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND WORK. AS TRENDS IN CAREER TRAINING EVOLVE, WORK SHIFT, AND ITS COMPANION NEWSLETTER, THE JOB, INFORM HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS, EMPLOYERS AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY.
- $453,516 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: JOURNALIST TRAINING, COLLEGE INSIDE, AND CONSUMER TOOLS.
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
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.
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? 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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2022.
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.