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Civic News Company

EIN 90-0915846 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDING DEEP LOCAL COVERAGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

Income
$10.2 million
Spending
$13.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
97
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$350,460, co-founder and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    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 June 30, 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. $9.7 million spent. CIVIC NEWS COMPANY EXISTS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICA WORKS SO THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK BETTER. OUR MISSION IS REALIZED THROUGH RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM ACROSS THREE VERTICALS: CHALKBEAT (EDUCATION), VOTEBEAT (ELECTION ADMINISTRATION), AND HEALTHBEAT (PUBLIC HEALTH). TOGETHER, THESE NEWSROOMS SERVE AS ESSENTIAL PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, EQUIPPING CIVIC CATALYSTS - TEACHERS, ELECTION OFFICIALS, HEALTH ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS - WITH TRUSTWORTHY INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR REPORTING IS FREE AND NOT BEHIND A PAYWALL, AVAILABLE TO ALL AUDIENCES AND COMMUNITIES REGARDLESS OF INCOME.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF CHALKBEAT'S ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION REPORTING VERTICAL:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO EDUCATION, WITH A FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS. THE MAJORITY OF ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ACTIVITY IS CONDUCTED ON A DAILY BASIS IN OUR BUREAUS IN NEW YORK, COLORADO, INDIANA, TENNESSEE, DETROIT, CHICAGO, NEWARK, AND PHILADELPHIA. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION'S NATIONAL EDUCATION COVERAGE KNITS TOGETHER REPORTING FROM LOCAL BUREAUS AND SITUATES LOCAL STORIES WITHIN THE BROADER NATIONAL CONTEXT.TO FURTHER EXPAND AND DEEPEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT EDUCATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE FEATURES A NEW CHALKBEAT IDEAS INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS DRIVEN NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBER GROWTH AND EXPANDED OUR AUDIENCE. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSES BY EDUCATING A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF THE PUBLIC ON PRESSING ISSUES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CHALKBEAT PUBLISHED 1,774 STORIES, GENERATED 8,414,724 PAGEVIEWS, AND INSPIRED 468 PROVEN INSTANCES OF INFORMING DEBATE OR GENERATING INFORMED ACTION.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF VOTEBEAT'S ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ORGANIZATION'S ELECTION ADMINISTRATION REPORTING VERTICAL:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO VOTING AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, WITH A FOCUS ON THE STATES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: THE VOTEBEAT PROGRAM PROVIDES INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN COVERAGE OF ELECTION INTEGRITY IN ARIZONA, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, TEXAS, AND WISCONSIN. WE ALSO COVER NATIONAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TOPICS. VOTEBEAT'S REPORTING INFORMS DEBATES AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE LEVELS AND HAS GENERATED DISCUSSION AMONG OFFICIALS ABOUT ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND VOTING IN FIVE STATEWIDE BUREAUS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, VOTEBEAT PUBLISHED 375 STORIES, GENERATED 1,159,137 PAGEVIEWS, AND INSPIRED 241 PROVEN INSTANCES OF INFORMING DEBATE OR GENERATING INFORMED ACTION.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF HEALTHBEAT'S ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ORGANIZATION'S PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTING VERTICAL:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH, WITH A FOCUS ON GLOBAL ISSUES, NATIONAL ISSUES, AND THE PLACES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: NEW YORK AND ATLANTA. HEALTHBEAT'S REPORTING INFORMS DEBATES AND HAS INSPIRED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BODIES.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, JUST AFTER ITS LAUNCH IN 2024, HEALTHBEAT PUBLISHED 354 STORIES, GENERATED 163,227 PAGEVIEWS, AND INSPIRED 42 PROVEN INSTANCES OF INFORMING DEBATE OR GENERATING INFORMED ACTION.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF CIVIC NEWS COMPANY'S ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:TO REACH AND ENGAGE A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THE ORGANIZATION'S EDITORIAL STAFF OVERSEES THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT TO DECISION-MAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT NO COST. THROUGH OUR WEBSITES, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIPS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES, THE ORGANIZATION ENSURES THAT ITS CONTENT REACHES AS DEEP AND BROAD AN AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS AND PARTICIPATES IN EVENTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR READERS TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH OUR CONTENT, OUR EDITORIAL STAFF, AND ONE ANOTHER.DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE, UPDATING AND UPGRADING OF THE ORGANIZATION'S NEWS WEBSITES (INCLUDING RELATED PRODUCTS LIKE MOBILE PLATFORMS AND DATABASES), WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTENT DELIVERY, ENSURES THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE IS USER-FRIENDLY, EMPLOYS THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CONTENT DELIVERY AND IMPACT MEASUREMENT, AND ATTRACTS AND RETAINS READERS. OUR STAFF WORKS CONSTANTLY ON MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES. KEEPING THE WEBSITE RUNNING SMOOTHLY ENSURES THAT CONTENT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO USERS ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS (MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS, PCS) AND IS PRESENTED COMPELLINGLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2015.

    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 June 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 March 2016.

    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.