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Trans Journalists Association Ltd

EIN 93-2276958 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TJA'S CENTRAL CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RIGOROUS, RESPECTFUL REPORTING ON TRANS COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUTREACH TO NEWSROOMS, AND TO INCREASE TRANS JOURNALISTS' OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY.

Income
$684,056
Spending
$370,615
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
3
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$26,262, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $45,880 spent. Level Up - Designed to help journalists achieve their career development goals, this program covers small, one time costs (via $250 and $500 stipends) for journalists seeking to attend a conference, participate in a skills workshop, or take career-enhancing training. We also prioritized applicants who are particularly invested in covering gender justice or speaking to the broader journalism industry, which furthers TJA's coverage goals. For our inaugural round, we set aside stipends specifically for student journalists and early-career journalists who never attended a formal journalism program. In total across two rounds, we directly invested $27,000 into the careers of 53 members. Additional expenses went to marketing, promotion, and program management.
  2. $44,775 spent. Coverage outreach - Our coverage outreach efforts happened in partnership with or at meetings, events, and conferences hosted by organizational partners. The partners include the National Press Club, the National Association of Science Writers, ACES: The Society for Editing, the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Education Writers Association, the New England Scholastic Press Association, and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY among others. We also continued to publish, at least once a month, a newsletter with timely coverage guidance and reporting resources.
  3. $33,839 spent. Member training - Our newly launched membership system grew to almost 600 people, a mix of longtime members and new faces joining the fresh, updated website. In response, the organization continued to develop timely and relevant professional development and training opportunities, including session on coping with stress, trauma, and burnout; filing public information requests; digital safety and security; and best practices for covering extremism and political violence.

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 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 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 June 2024.

    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.