2025-05-15T20:35:36-05:00 2024-06-30 331374517 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC 245 PARK AVENUE 12TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10167 990 2023-07-01 900915846 CIVIC NEWS COMPANY CIVI 9173889035 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 ELIZABETH GREEN CO-FOUNDER AND CEO 9173889035 2025-05-15 1 1 EVA MRUK P00543254 2122862600 2025-05-15 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z ELIZABETH GREEN 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 15886849 0 X CIVICNEWS.ORG X 2012 DE AT CIVIC NEWS COMPANY, OUR MISSION IS HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICA WORKS SO THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK BETTER. WE DO SO BY PROVIDING DEEP LOCAL COVERAGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 9 8 93 9 187782 17897 14517183 15491638 0 0 1115 21506 278649 106853 14796947 15619997 0 0 0 0 10781110 9318437 21000 36000 1275107 2119484 2299851 12921594 11654288 1875353 3965709 11154349 15050777 1281843 1212562 9872506 13838215 X PROVIDING DEEP LOCAL COVERAGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 0 0 8660360 0 0 THROUGH UNBIASED REPORTING, OUR REPORTERS HELP THE PUBLIC EXAMINE HOW THE CIVIC INSTITUTIONS OF SCHOOLS AND ELECTIONS ARE OPERATING, SCRUTINIZE KEY POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAPPEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND GAIN ACCESS TO IMPORTANT DATA AND CONTEXT THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE MADE TRANSPARENT. BY BUILDING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENTS, INNOVATIONS, AND CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT STUDENT OUTCOMES, WE CAN IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE STUDENTS BETTER - WHETHER THROUGH THEIR WORK AS PRACTITIONERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND LAWMAKERS, OR THROUGH THEIR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AS PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND VOTERS. BY BUILDING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANICS OF VOTING AND ELECTIONS, WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND OUR SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN STRENGTHENING IT. THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES IN ITS EDUCATION REPORTING PROGRAM:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO EDUCATION, WITH A FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: THE VAST MAJORITY OF ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ACTIVITY IS CONDUCTED ON A DAILY BASIS IN OUR BUREAUS IN NEW YORK, COLORADO, INDIANA, TENNESSEE, DETROIT, CHICAGO, NEWARK AND PHILADELPHIA. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION DOES NATIONAL EDUCATION COVERAGE, WHICH KNITS TOGETHER REPORTING FROM LOCAL BUREAUS AND SITUATES IT WITHIN THE BROADER NATIONAL CONTEXT. THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EDITORIAL STAFF TIME IS DEDICATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.TO FURTHER EXPAND AND DEEPEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT EDUCATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE INCLUDES A "FIRST PERSON" SECTION, FEATURING OP-ED PIECES AND COMMENTARIES FROM A DIVERSE ASSORTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF OPINIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSES BY EDUCATING A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF THE PUBLIC ON PRESSING ISSUES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, CHALKBEAT'S WEBSITE PUBLISHED 1,800 STORIES, GENERATED 6,596,466 PAGEVIEWS, AND HAD 4,191,740 UNIQUE VISITORS.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES IN ITS ELECTIONS REPORTING PROGRAM:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO VOTING AND ELECTIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON THE STATES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: THE VOTEBEAT PROGRAM PROVIDES INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN COVERAGE OF ELECTION INTEGRITY IN ARIZONA, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS, AS WELL AS NATIONAL REPORTING. VOTEBEAT'S REPORTING INFORMS DEBATES AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE LEVELS, AND HAS GENERATED DISCUSSION AMONG OFFICIALS ABOUT ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND VOTING IN FOUR STATEWIDE BUREAUS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, VOTEBEAT'S WEBSITE PUBLISHED 190 STORIES, GENERATED 231,822 PAGEVIEWS, AND HAD 156,739 UNIQUE VISITORS.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES THROUGH BOTH CIVIC NEWS COMPANY AND VOTEBEAT:REACHING AND ENGAGING A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE ORGANIZATION'S EDITORIAL STAFF OVERSEES THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT TO DECISION-MAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT NO COST. THROUGH OUR WEBSITES, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIPS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES, THE ORGANIZATION ENSURES THAT ITS CONTENT REACHES AS DEEP AND BROAD AN AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS AND PARTICIPATES IN EVENTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR READERS TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH OUR CONTENT, OUR EDITORIAL STAFF, AND ONE ANOTHER.DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE, UPDATING AND UPGRADING OF THE ORGANIZATION'S NEWS WEBSITES (INCLUDING RELATED PRODUCTS LIKE MOBILE PLATFORMS AND DATABASES), WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTENT DELIVERY: TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE IS USER-FRIENDLY, EMPLOYS THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CONTENT DELIVERY AND IMPACT MEASUREMENT, AND ATTRACTS AND RETAINS READERS, OUR STAFF WORKS CONSTANTLY ON MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES. KEEPING THE WEBSITE RUNNING SMOOTHLY ENSURES THAT CONTENT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO USERS ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS (MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS, PCS) AND IS PRESENTED COMPELLINGLY. 8660360 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 49 0 93 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 9 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AL AR CA CO FL GA HI IL KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NY NC OH OR PA RI SC TN VA WV WI X X X ELIZABETH GREEN 9173889035 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 X ELIZABETH GREEN CO-FOUNDER AND CEO 50.00 X X 298306 0 45829 GIDEON STEIN CHAIRPERSON 2.50 X X 0 0 0 KAREN WISHART SECRETARY/TREASURER THRU NOV 2023 2.00 X X 0 0 0 ANN SARDINI TREASURER/DIRECTOR THRU NOV 2023 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JILL BARKIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHANI HILTON DIRECTOR THRU DEC 2023 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID ROUSSEAU DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA VAN DYCK DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KANG-XING JIN DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERTO YANEZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KENDRA IRVING SECRETARY & CFO THRU APR 2024 50.00 X 226987 0 29602 AMY ROSENBLUM CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER 50.00 X 193244 0 45714 JENNIFER BRAMBLE CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER THRU AUG 2023 50.00 X 126165 0 5093 EBA HAMID DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE 40.00 X 150889 0 14623 CARLOS JOHN ORTUNO VP OF PHILANTHROPY 40.00 X 173922 0 8081 SARAH DARVILLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40.00 X 143056 0 11174 CAROLYN MELAGO MANAGING EDITOR, LOCAL NEWS 50.00 X 140886 0 5798 CHAD LORENZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VOTEBEAT 40.00 X 137178 0 32637 1590633 0 198551 21 0 1 0 PYXISCX SAS BULEVAR ESPANA 2323 MONTEVIDEO UY TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING 194843 VOX MEDIA LLC PO BOX 200064 PITTSBURGH PA 15251 CONTENT AND MEDIA SERVICES 120000 2 15491638 15491638 20876 20876 4128 4128 180000 266852 -86852 -86852 -86852 630 0 630 630 630 ADVERTISING 541800 104651 104651 JOBS BOARD 561000 83131 83131 OTHER INCOME 900099 1295 1295 500 500 189577 15619997 0 187782 -59423 843950 340250 244811 258889 7056010 5907846 461568 686596 227858 193526 13488 20844 593709 498292 44841 50576 596910 549331 20422 27157 35000 35000 186054 52708 117418 15928 40320 11422 25446 3452 36000 36000 864515 394846 368989 100680 9008 6355 2653 145011 95867 32745 16399 727432 544234 160755 22443 79769 79769 71491 17557 34948 18986 10246 3702 5678 866 3918 3918 35012 35012 UBI TAX 721 721 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT 46990 24707 8694 13589 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 20837 7529 12221 1087 RECRUITING 15312 4338 9663 1311 8215 7850 61 304 11654288 8660360 1718821 1275107 505383 594396 2040658 973867 7576423 7497408 231811 192382 121196 100053 0 5270400 678878 422271 11154349 15050777 267681 435588 189400 239821 250000 200000 574762 337153 1281843 1212562 X -2109465 576865 11981971 13261350 9872506 13838215 11154349 15050777 3965709 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 7314781 10356192 12484474 14517183 15491638 60164268 7314781 10356192 12484474 14517183 15491638 60164268 7662540 52501728 13218 32775 21432 90503 205004 362932 0 3924 21265 8220 17897 51306 5241 4695 1502 5254 1795 18487 60596993 15755 0.86640 0.88940 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: OTHER INCOME - 2019 AMOUNT: $ 82. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 1,297. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,502. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 4. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 1,295. CREDIT CARD REWARDS - 2019 AMOUNT: $ 5,159. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 298. HONORARIA FEES - 2020 AMOUNT: $ 3,100. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 5,250. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 500. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 LEASE LIABILITY 337153 337153 X 16056985 170136 266852 436988 15619997 0 15619997 12091276 170136 266852 436988 11654288 0 11654288 PART X, LINE 2: CIVIC NEWS COMPANY RECOGNIZES THE EFFECT OF INCOME TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT OF BEING SUSTAINED. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT CIVIC NEWS COMPANY HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE. TAX YEARS SINCE 2021 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: RENTAL EXPENSES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 6B 266,852. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: RENTAL EXPENSES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 6B 266,852. X X X X X 1 NEWS REVENUE HUB 302 WASHINGTON STREET 150-5977 SAN DIEGO CA 92103 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN SUPPORT SERVICES 0 123278 34000 89278 123278 34000 89278 AL AR AZ CA CO FL GA HI IL IN KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NY NC ND OH OR PA RI SC TN TX UT VA WV WI SCHEDULE G, PART I, LINE 2B, COLUMN (V) THE AGREEMENT WITH NEW REVENUE HUB PROVIDES FOR THE PAYMENT OF FUNDRAISING SERVICES AT AN HOURLY RATE UP TO A MONTHLY MAXIMUM, AND ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF REASONABLE EXPENSES TIED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED WITH APPROVAL BY THE ORGANIZATION AS NEEDED. X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ELIZABETH GREEN CO-FOUNDER AND CEO 298306 0 0 0 0 0 10288 0 35541 0 344135 0 0 0 KENDRA IRVING SECRETARY & CFO THRU APR 2024 226987 0 0 0 0 0 8930 0 20672 0 256589 0 0 0 AMY ROSENBLUM CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER 193244 0 0 0 0 0 8394 0 37320 0 238958 0 0 0 CARLOS JOHN ORTUNO VP OF PHILANTHROPY 173922 0 0 0 0 0 6700 0 1381 0 182003 0 0 0 CHAD LORENZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VOTEBEAT 137178 0 0 0 0 0 5472 0 27165 0 169815 0 0 0 EBA HAMID DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE 150889 0 0 0 0 0 5905 0 8718 0 165512 0 0 0 SARAH DARVILLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 143056 0 0 0 0 0 5132 0 6042 0 154230 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 3 THE ORGANIZATION HAS AN AGREEMENT FOR CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONSULTING SERVICES WITH RA ADVISORS LLC. THE SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FISCAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION, OVERSIGHT OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND THE CREATION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION INCURRED $35,000 FOR SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. NO ONE LISTED IN PART VII OR SCHEDULE J OF THE RETURN RECEIVED COMPENSATION FROM THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE CPA FIRM. THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY INTERNAL MANAGEMENT, UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR REVIEW THE FORM 990 IS CIRCULATED TO CIVIC NEWS COMPANY'S BOARD MEMBERS AND IS REVISED FOR ANY CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE FILING WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION HAS A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY THAT APPLIES TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS. THE BOARD REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND ALL OFFICERS MUST SIGN AN ANNUAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, WHERE THEY ARE ASKED TO DISCLOSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO AFFIRM THE CODE OF ETHICS, INCLUDING THE CONFLICTS SECTION, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT ARISES, THE INTERESTED PARTY IS ASKED TO DISCLOSE ALL RELATED DETAILS TO THE BOARD OR CONFLICTS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. AFTER MAKING A PRESENTATION REGARDING HIS OR HER FINANCIAL INTEREST, THE INTERESTED PERSON LEAVES THE MEETING WHILE THE COMMITTEE OR BOARD DISCUSSES AND VOTES ON THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE COMMITTEE OR BOARD RECOMMENDS WHETHER THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTION OR AGREEMENT. THE DECISION OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE ORGANIZATION HAS A SET OF COMPENSATION STANDARDS, WHICH INCLUDES SALARY GUIDANCE FOR THE CEO, OTHER OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES. THESE STANDARDS SALARY RANGES BY POSITION AND DIFFERENTIATION BASED ON GEOGRAPHICAL REGION. THE STANDARDS ARE DETERMINED THROUGH A REVIEW OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS' COMPENSATION DATA, AND ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, AN INDUSTRY-WIDE COMPENSATION BENCHMARKING STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY A THIRD-PARTY COMPENSATION CONSULTANT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE COMPENSATION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WERE ALIGNED WITH THE MIDPOINT OF INDUSTRY PEER COMPENSATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE RETURN IS POSTED ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, CHALKBEAT.ORG, AS WELL AS GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART I, QUESTION 5, AND PART V, QUESTION 2A: THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION (PEO) FOR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAYROLL, TIMEKEEPING, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HR ADMINISTRATION AND WORKFORCE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NEEDS. AS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD FOR TAX PURPOSES, FORMS W-2 AND W-3 ARE ISSUED BY THE PEO AND FILED UNDER THE PEO'S FEDERAL EIN. IN THIS CO-EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE COMMON LAW EMPLOYER AND, ACCORDINGLY, COMPENSATION IS REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VII, SECTION A AND PART IX, LINES 5-10. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.