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Oregon Journalism Project

EIN 99-4200915 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO INFORM, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER OREGONIANS WITH THE KIND OF DATA-DRIVEN AND SOLUTION-SEEKING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING THAT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS - SERVING NO AGENDA OTHER THAN A PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH

Income
$720,249
Spending
$364,109
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$32,645, president

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $197,834 spent. IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, OJP'S STATEWIDE INVESTIGATIVE NEWSROOM PUBLISHED 121 STORIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN READ BY OREGONIANS EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. OUR JOURNALISM HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT CIVIC IMPACT: OUR STORIES HAVE LED CONSERVATION GROUPS TO PETITION THE GOVERNOR TO ASSESS AN UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGY, THE STATE DEQ TO PAUSE ENFORCEMENT OF A CONTROVERSIAL REGULATION, AND A MAJOR STATE AGENCY TO HOLD ITS LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FIRST-YEAR IMPACTS.
  2. $14,141 spent. OJP BUILT A ROBUST NETWORK OF PUBLISHING PARTNERS, RANGING FROM FAMILY-OWNED NEWSPAPERS STARTED IN THE 19TH CENTURY TO DIGITAL STARTUPS FOUNDED BY RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES. OUR PUBLISHING NETWORK NOW INCLUDES 45 PARTNERS, SEVEN OF WHOM HAVE PUBLISHED AT LEAST A DOZEN OF OUR STORIES. THESE PARTNERS RECEIVE OUR JOURNALISM FOR FREE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.