Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Latino Media Collaborative

EIN 85-4098339 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Latino Media Collaborative's mission is to leverage the power of Latino and community news media to impact policy, change narratives, and promote civic engagement, while also supporting advancement of the sector through capacity building, research, and advocacy. The Organization envisions a future where Latino media thrives across the Southwest, challenges the dominant narrative using a Letino lens, and provides high quality, culturally responsive content that promotes civic engagement.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
10
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$169,750, president

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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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 (4)
  1. $717,132 spent. NEWS CONTENT DEVELOPMENT:This year, CAL refined its editorial strategy, expanded its newsroom across the Southwest, and forged new partnerships to amplify Latino voices. Our coverage remained rooted in the lived experiences of our reporters, earning trust and engagement, peaking at over 200,000 pageviews in July. We prioritized community-centered stories that inspire civic action, highlight culturally nuanced solutions, and showcase underrepresented triumphs. This approach resonated deeply, fueling rapid growth: Instagram followers surged to 27,000 (a tenfold increase), TikTok reached 18,200, and Facebook grew to 6,200. Our email subscriber base now exceeds 42,000. By blending compelling visuals with actionable insights, weve strengthened our role as a vital platform for Latino communities in a crowded media landscape.
  2. $398,895 spent. ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH:The Latino Media Collaborative (LMC) expanded its advocacy and research efforts, conducting in-depth analyses of Latino media across the Southwest. Our work maps the sectors current state, identifies emerging trends, and highlights critical challenges and opportunities. These insights inform LMCs programs and provide funders, policymakers, and media outlets with data-driven strategies to ensure long-term sustainability for Latino and community media. By bridging gaps in representation and resources, we empower stakeholders to make informed decisions that strengthen the ecosystem for Latino-led journalism and storytelling.
  3. $350,522 spent. TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING:To foster a more cohesive network, LMC revamped its programming, introducing monthly network calls and six capacity-building training sessions, branded Voces Fuertes: Latino Media Empowerment Lab. Topics included legal protections, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships, equipping members with actionable tools. The goal of Voces Fuertes is to empower small to mid-sized Latino-serving newsrooms to build resilience through digital engagement, funding diversification, and organizational effectiveness. Over the year, 96 attendees joined our network calls, and 56 participated in the training series. These refined efforts enhanced transparency for funders and ensure our collaborations deliver measurable impact.
  4. $116,729 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNSLATINO MEDIA COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPS HIGH-IMPACT MEDIA AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LATINO MEDIA SECTOR TO ADVANCE AN INFORMED AND HIGHLY ENGAGED LATINO COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASE PUBLIC AND POLITICAL WILL FOR POLICIES THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND RACIAL EQUITY WITH A MAJOR FOCUS LAST YEAR ON THE STOP THE HATE INITIATIVE. WE WORK WITH SEVERAL PARTNERS WITHIN OUR NETWORK OF OVER 25 PRINT, DIGITAL, AND BROADCAST LATINO MEDIA OUTLETS - INCLUDING A COMBINATION OF SMALLER, HYPERLOCAL OUTLETS, AS WELL AS STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL PARTNERS. OUR SMALLER, ETHIC MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDE LA NUEVA VOZ AND HISPANIC LA, LLC (GREATER LOS ANGELES), EL POPULAR AND VIDA EN EL VALLE (CENTRAL VALLEY), EL LATINO (SAN DIEGO), VIDA NEWSPAPER (VENTURA COUNTY), EL INFORMADOR DEL VALLE (COACHELLA / INLAND EMPIRE), AND EL TMPANO AND ALIANZA NEWS (SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA), AMONG OTHERS. OUR STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL PARTNERS INCLUDE THE RADIO BILINGUE, SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM, NBC/TELEMUNDO, AND UNIVISION. THESE PARTNERS HAVE STRENGTH IN ORIGINAL CONTENT CREATION IN ENGLISH AND / OR SPANISH ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND BROADCAST TELEVISION AND RADIO. THE MAJORITY OF PARTNER OUTLETS SERVE LATINO/LATINA/LATINX, IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE, AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP) COMMUNITIES. COMBINED, OUR PARTNERS HAVE AN ESTIMATED REACH OF OVER 3 MILLION IN PRINT, RADIO, TV, AND ONLINE IMPRESSIONS.

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 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 June 2021.

    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.