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Ipswich Local News Inc

EIN 84-3780597 · Ipswich, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE, FULL, AND FAIR COVERAGE OF THE NEWS IN IPSWICH AND ROWLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, AS WELL AS NEWS OF INTEREST FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

Income
$525,586
Spending
$562,164
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
7
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$65,388, treasurer

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 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

    12 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, 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 (1)
  1. $369,383 spent. PROVIDE A PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATION OF A LOCAL NEWSPAPER TO THE TOWNS OF IPSWICH AND ROWLEY, AS WELL AS REPORT ON NEWS OF INTEREST FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE PAPER IS MAILED FREE TO RESIDENTS, REACHING 9,400 HOUSEHOLDS IN A COMMUNITY OF 20,000 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO THE WEEKLY EDITION, AN ONLINE VERSION OF THE PAPER INCLUDES 180,000 PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH, UP 5,000 VIEWS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.THE PAPER HAS INCREASED ITS LEVEL OF READER ENGAGEMENT BASED ON LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, EMAILS TO NEWSPAPER STAFF, AND DISCUSSION AT NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS. IT HAS BECOME THE GO-TO SOURCE FOR LOCAL IPSWICH NEWS. THE PAPER HAS SEEN STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THE SEMI-ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DRIVE, AND THE MANY HANDWRITTEN NOTES OF THANKS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL NEWS AND THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORING TOWNS OF TOPSFIELD AND BOXFORD, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED FREE EVERY WEEK AROUND THOSE COMMUNITIES. READERSHIP IN THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES IS IN THE LOW THOUSANDS.

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 February 2020.

    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.