Passes our checks

Press on South Inc

EIN 84-3775642 · Atlanta, GA

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

What it says it does

PRESS ON IS A SOUTHERN MEDIA COLLECTIVE THAT CATALYZES CHANGE AND ADVANCES JUSTICE THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF MOVEMENT JOURNALISM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 516% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $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.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$160,697 spent. THE SOUTHERN MOVEMENT MEDIA FUND (SMMF) PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE GRANTS TO SOUTHERN MEDIA MAKERS AND JOURNALISTS WHO PRACTICE MOVEMENT JOURNALISM. THESE GRANTS SUPPORT RECIPIENTS IN WORKING ALONGSIDE THEIR COMMUNITIES, COLLABORATING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH MOVEMENT PARTNERS, TO PRODUCE THE NEWS AND INFORMATION PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
$81,562 spent. MOVEMENT BUILDING FOSTERS NETWORKS BETWEEN ORGANIZERS AND JOURNALISTS TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH STORYTELLING AND NARRATIVE.
$55,786 spent. COMMUNICATIONS WORKS TO AMPLIFY THE LONG HISTORY OF SOUTHERN STORYTELLING AND DESIGNED FOR JOURNALISTS, STORYTELLERS, AND ORGANIZERS IN THE U.S. SOUTH WHOSE WORK ADVANCES JUSTICE.
$115,416 spent. LEVEL UP IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS JOURNALISTS AND COMMUNITY MEDIA MAKERS WITH THE ANALYSIS, SKILLS, AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO TRANSFORM THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM AND EXPAND THE PRACTICE OF SOUTHERN MOVEMENT JOURNALISM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 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 January 2020.
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 October 21, 2026.

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