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Spotlight Pa

EIN 92-0577182 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SPOTLIGHT PA IS TO HOLD POWERFUL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FORCES, ESPECIALLY GOVERNMENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUSINESSES, AND SPECIAL INTERESTS, TO ACCOUNT THROUGH URGENT AND COMPELLING INVESTIGATIVE AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM THAT DRIVES CHANGE AND STRENGTHENS OUR DEMOCRACY, THE STATE, AND ALL WHO LIVE HERE.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
28
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$264,934, ceo & president

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 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 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    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. $2.5 million spent. SPOTLIGHT PA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN NEWSROOM DEDICATED TO HIGH-QUALITY INVESTIGATIVE AND PUBLIC-SERVICE JOURNALISM ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE GOVERNMENT AND URGENT STATEWIDE ISSUES, INCLUDING ELECTIONS, VOTING, THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE, RURAL COMMUNITIES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, AND MORE. SPOTLIGHT PA WAS FOUNDED TO ADDRESS A CRISIS IN JOURNALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA: THE ONGOING AND RAPID DECLINE OF CORPORATE-OWNED LEGACY NEWS OUTLETS, WHICH IS GREATLY DIMINISHING ACCESS TO TRUSTED, CONTEXTUAL, AND FACTUAL REPORTING ACROSS THE STATE. SPOTLIGHT PA IS UNCOVERING STORIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNTOLD AND CUTTING THROUGH PARTISANSHIP AND MISINFORMATION TO DELIVER TRUSTED, RELIABLE JOURNALISM AT NO COST TO ALL IN PENNSYLVANIA. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)WE MAKE OUR JOURNALISM AVAILABLE AT NO COST VIA SPOTLIGHTPA.ORG, SEVERAL EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND VIA MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY NEWS PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEWSPAPERS, PUBLIC RADIO, AND DIGITAL OUTLETS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 November 2022.

    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 October 21, 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.