The Center for Investigative Reporting
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, CIRs GOAL HAS BEEN TO PRODUCE, IN THE WORDS OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, REVELATORY JOURNALISM THAT IN ITS POWER AND REACH INFORMS AND INSPIRES A MORE JUST AND DEMOCRATIC WORLD. (Continued on Schedule O)
- Income
- $27.5 million
- Spending
- $25.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 132
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $285,744, dc bureau chief
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 61% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 134% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $20.4 million spent. Program service accomplishment #1 Investigative ReportingThreats to Democracy:Mother Jones was the first national outlet to report on voter suppression regularly and deeply, exploring how the push for minority rule may be the greatest threat to our democracy. We are seeing critical stories playing out at the state and local level, where our team has built expertise. In Arizona, we reported on the slate of election deniers who nearly captured the states top offices, and on the regular citizens who worked tirelessly to stop them. In Georgia and Pennsylvania, we explored how voter intimidation and disinformation, and election denial shaped the midterms. And in Galveston County, Texas, we reported on how political operatives were working to ensure there would be no representation by people of (Continued on Schedule O)
- $749,869 spent. Program service accomplishment #2 Fellowship ProgramSince 1980, Mother Jones has placed an emphasis on creating opportunities for aspiring journalists through the Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program. While there are a number of general journalism and reporting internships available for students or recent college graduates, only Mother Jones puts such an emphasis on investigative reporting. Among the largest training programs in the independent media community, the Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program gives aspiring journalists intensive training in what it takes to publish outstanding, independent journalism, to meet deadlines, and to work as part of a professional team. It is a rare opportunity for new journalists to work alongside some of the top reporters and journalists in the business, and to learn the inner workings of multimedia (Continued on Schedule O)
- Corruption:During this fiscal year, we devoted significant journalistic resources to exploring how shadowy wealth distorts public policy, most potently in our recent package How Private Equity Looted America. In it, we explored how private equity has become one of the most powerful hidden forces in our economy, touching nearly every sector of our lives, but is barely covered outside the business pages. We set out to change that, rallying the newsroom to produce a formidable online and print package of 15 stories, including in-depth features, first-person accounts, and a video investigating the fleecing of the American economy. The package galvanized activists, led to media appearances, and received an honorable mention from the Association of Business Journalists. (Continued on Schedule O)
- Program service accomplishment #1 Investigative Reporting(continued from Form 990 Page 2)color in a county that is 45 percent non-white. Corruption: During this fiscal year, we devoted significant journalistic resources to exploring how shadowy wealth distorts public policy, most potently in our recent package How Private Equity Looted America. In it, we explored how private equity has become one of the most powerful hidden forces in our economy, touching nearly every sector of our lives, but is barely covered outside the business pages. We set out to change that, rallying the newsroom to produce a formidable online and print package of 15 stories, including in-depth features, first-person accounts, and a video investigating the fleecing of the American economy. The package galvanized activists, led to media appearances, and received an honorable mention from the Association of Business Journalists. Gender Justice and Reproductive Rights: For as long as abortion rights have been at risk, Mother Jones has covered this story deeply. When other newsrooms dismissed the possibility of a post-Roe future, we turned a clear-eyed gaze to the issue and showed how conservatives were stripping away a womans right to choose her own reproductive path. After the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in 2022, our reporters went to work covering the story from every angle to ensure this crushing blow to reproductive rights did not go unanswered. We delivered haunting dispatches from Southern abortion clinics facing the aftermath of the ruling, which provided a window into the immediate disruptions and despair. We also provided historical context on how the Supreme Court arrived at this moment. Stories on this beat routinely capture the attention of audiences outside our regular followers, bringing new readers to our work. Climate Crisis: Environmental reporting has always been a core concern for Mother Jones, and in fiscal year 2023, our team is turned its gaze to a project we call the Great Decarbonization. We launched the opening salvo in our reporting on this topic with our Electrify Everything package. The reporting strikes straight to the heart of the tendency towards no, calling for a YIMBY movement to help save our planet by building the infrastructure we need: factories, mines, denser housing. Its a manifesto for this moment and an important call to action for both friends and foes.
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
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 2025.
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 June 1975.
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.