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New Jersey Civic Information Consortium

EIN 85-3522347 · Montclair, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSORTIUM IS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN THE FIELD OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY TO BENEFIT THE STATE'S CIVIC LIFE AND EVOLVING INFORMATION NEEDS.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
3
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$120,105, chair/interim 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $4.3 million spent. THE CONSORTIUM PROVIDES GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS. IMPROVE THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CIVIC INFORMATION IN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES. GIVE RESIDENTS ENHANCED ACCESS TO USEFUL GOVERNMENT DATA AND PUBLIC INFORMATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS, PLATFORMS, AND TECHNOLOGIES. TRAIN STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY STORYTELLING, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA PRODUCTION. NURTURE BETTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE INSIDE AND BETWEEN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES. BETTER MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED BY THE MEDIA. INVEST IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP MEDIA OUTLETS BECOME MORE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THEIR AUDIENCES AND MORE SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

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 2025.

    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 January 2022.

    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.