Local Media Foundation

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The purpose of the Foundation is to ensure a healthy future for Local journalism, which is essential to a strong democracy, by reinventing business models for news.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $961K a year · 16% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
Looks good: 93% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $200
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$9.4M
+43% vs prior year
Spent
$6.6M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$5.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$9.4M
FY2024▲ +43%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.5M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$5.8M
FY2023$6.6M
FY2024$9.4M
Expenses
$6.6M
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$6.6M
Net assets
$5.0M
FY2024▲ +124%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$828K
FY2021$457K
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$5.0M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2003.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 93% · $6.1M Management & general 7% · $491K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
First Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Local Media Foundation executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Reinvents business models for local news publishers to ensure the sustainability of local journalism and support a strong democracy.

Questions for Local Media Foundation

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Your first name shows with your question. Local Media Foundation answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $4.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Word in black is a collaboration with 10 of the nation's leading black publishers. Industry collaboration is one of LMF'S core pillars; wib focuses on content sharing, research, and publisher sustainability.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Local News Fund

Supports journalism projects in communities accross the country focused on important issues such as education, poverty, health, and more. Several dozen local and national media companies are clients.

$1.3Mprogram expense
03

Knight X Lma Bloomlab

One of several labs focused on driving sustainability for local news publishers.

$802Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$200
Grants paid · 138 grants · $7.4M · 2021–2024
The Columbian Publishing CompanyFY2024$394,720
Amnews Corpdba New York Amsterdam NewsFY2024$155,631
Ad-Mast Publishing Cothe Dallas WeeklyFY2024$143,774
The Washington InformerFY2024$133,305
Lee Publishing Company INCFY2024$129,839
Voice News Network INCGA · FY2024$125,683
Afro American Co Baltimore CityFY2024$122,544
Seattle Medium - Tiloben Publishing Co INCFY2024$120,669
American Publishing Company DBA St Louis American NewspaperFY2024$119,145
Houston Defender Newspaper INCFY2024$119,036
Michigan Chronicle Publishing CoFY2024$115,851
Lambda Publications Incdba Windy CityFY2024$107,496
Indian County Media LLCFY2024$95,000
Verified News NetworkFY2024$88,350
Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia INCFY2024$85,666
Bar Media INCFY2024$70,903
Masco CommunicationsFY2024$69,750
See all 138 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$9.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$166K
Money outPt IX
$6.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.1M
Managementcol C$491K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.7M
Total assetsLn 16$6.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$166K
Total revenueLn 12$9.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$110K
SavingsLn 2$5.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$20K
Total assetsLn 16$6.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$5.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.1M$5.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2K$6K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$0
Total assetsLn 16$4.3M$6.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.1M$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.2M$5.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$3.6M$3.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$250K$250K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$885K$767K$118K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$44K$28K$16K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$97K$65K$32K
Payroll taxesLn 10$89K$63K$26K
Legal feesLn 11b$589$589
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$65K$54K$11K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20K$20K
Office expensesLn 13$15K$8K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$9K$6K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$159K$156K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$8K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K$398
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$1.3M$3K
All other expensesLn 24e$9K$5K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.6M$6.1M$491K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 $9.4M$6.6M$2.8M$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2024 $6.6M$6.0M$597K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 10, 2023 $5.8M$4.6M$1.2M$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $2.0M$2.4M−$369K$457K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Oct 20, 2021 $5.5M$4.9M$579K$828K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $9,394,019 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,103,584$5,880,336
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,417,786$3,347,760
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $67,553$165,923
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,588,923$9,394,019
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,598,306$3,617,095
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,303,683$1,364,674
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,089,766$1,625,196
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,991,755$6,606,965
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $597,168$2,787,054
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $9,394,019 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $436,778 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,880,336
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,880,336
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,910,982$2,910,982
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $165,923$165,923
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,347,760 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $165,923$9,394,019
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,606,965 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $3,617,095$3,617,095
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $249,665$249,665
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $767,429 · Management $117,738$885,167
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $27,699 · Management $16,268$43,967
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $65,263 · Management $31,984$97,247
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $62,952 · Management $25,676$88,628
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $589$589
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $15,738$15,738
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $54,097 · Management $10,943$65,040
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $20,259$20,259
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,190 · Management $7,230$15,420
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,595 · Management $3,893$9,488
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,178$3,178
IX-17 TravelPrograms $156,472 · Management $2,737$159,209
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $8,125$8,125
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,752 · Management $398$3,150
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,312,629 · Management $3,226$1,315,855
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $4,722 · Management $4,423$9,145
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,116,457 · Management $490,508 · Fundraising $0$6,606,965
Part X · Balance sheet $6,345,849 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $340,725$109,829
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,799,305$5,562,148
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $195,701$647,715
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,150$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,579$6,402
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,050$19,755
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,341,510$6,345,849
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $274,030$510,860
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,660,034$800,185
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $159,696$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,093,760$1,311,045
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,434,505$3,022,158
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $813,245$2,012,646
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,247,750$5,034,804
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,341,510$6,345,849
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,034,804 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$9,394,019
XI-2 Total expenses$6,606,965
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,787,054
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,247,750
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,034,804

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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