Comma Journalism Labs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To perform community-centered journalism.
- Income
- $144,384
- Spending
- $262,693
- Reserves
- -5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 301% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 82% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $49,597 spent. Community Journalism: Comma's primary activity is performing acts of journalism, operating the community funded portion of Spokane's largest daily newspaper (The Spokesman Review), and providing support and resources to other community-owned newspapers via a community journalism lab. Initially our support for community-owed newspapers will focus on The Black Lens, a monthly publication that focuses on issues that are important to the city's African American Community, the student-published Gonzaga Bulletin publication, that serves the students and alumni of Gonzaga University and the Spokane Falls Communicator, that serves the students and alumni of Spokane Falls Community College Journalists write the stories, and talented professionals design and layout the paper and support the digital presence.
- $30,876 spent. Civic Engagement: Comma also hosts several community engagement events like Northwest Passages that support local papers and provide general community education and engagement. Approximately half of these events are in the nature of a book club where authors are interviewed live on stage by journalists to discuss the core message and themes of their books. Other events include political forums and debates, and cultural events (concerts, film screenings, sports stories). The events are conducted by a small staff of full-time, volunteer and contractors. The events are held at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center on Gonzaga Campus, the Chronicle Room at the Spokesman, The Bing Theater or at the Steam Plant in Spokane, Washington.
- Newsroom Education: Disseminating knowledge, information and training for other newsrooms. The programmatic educational elements are being developed in the second half of 2025 for launch in 2026.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.