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Underscore Media Collaboration FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Portland, OR501(c)(3)Arts & Culture EIN 83-3178910Revenue $382K in FY2021

On file with the IRSunderscore.news610 Sw Alder St Ste 1111, 97205-3612 · Portland, ORTax-exempt since Feb 2021Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Underscore produces indigenous-centered journalism that illuminates the intersections of sovereignty and justice and portrays the rich diversity of Native communities in the Pacific Northwest.

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

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
3 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $65K a year · 11% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
Looks good: 93% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
12
named funders · $667K
Looks good: 12 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$50
0.02% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$382K
Spent
$330K
To programs
93%
Net assets
$203K
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$382K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$382K
FY2022$422K
FY2023$697K
FY2024$917K
Expenses
$330K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$330K
FY2022$459K
FY2023$630K
FY2024$739K
Net assets
$203K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$203K
FY2022$166K
FY2023$233K
FY2024$411K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2021.

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% · $307K Management & general 5% · $16K Fundraising 2% · $7K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Edward Hershey
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Bryan Denson
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Marcella Miller
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Phil Busse
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Stone Hudson
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Underscore Media Collaboration executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Produces indigenous journalism highlighting Native sovereignty, justice, and diversity in the Pacific Northwest.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $307K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

- Underscore received its 501(c)3 letter and transitioned away from Fiscal sponsor INN - Received start up funding from American Journalism Project - Initiated a shared reporter agreement with Indian Country Today (national publication) - Hired a Manging Editor - Conducted Strategic Planning and Executive Director succession planning

$307Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Meyer Memorial TrustFY2024$179K
The Miami Foundation INCFY2024$125K
Ford FoundationFY2024$100K
Group Health FoundationFY2024$92K
M J Murdock Charitable TrustFY2024$68K
The Oregon Community FoundationFY2024$36K
Institute for Nonprofit NewsFY2024$20K
The Collins FoundationFY2024$15K
Total grants receivedfrom 12 funders$667K
See all 12 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$382K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$382K
Investment incomeLn 3$142
Money outPt IX
$330K
Ln 25
Programscol B$307K
Managementcol C$16K
Fundraisingcol D$7K
Owns and owesPt X
$203K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$201K
Total assetsLn 16$203K
LiabilitiesLn 26$50
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$382K
Government grantsLn 1e$5K
Investment incomeLn 3$142
Total revenueLn 12$382K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$201K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$201K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Total assetsLn 16$203K
LiabilitiesLn 26$50
Net assetsLn 32$203K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 58
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$201K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Total assetsLn 16$0$203K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$50
Net assetsLn 32$0$203K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Management feesLn 11a$193K$174K$14K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K$241
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$103K$103K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$306$306
Office expensesLn 13$2K$2K$161$69
OccupancyLn 16$5K$4K$336$144
TravelLn 17$455$455
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$189$189
InsuranceLn 23$14K$13K$977$419
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$8K$7K$478$188
Total functional expensesLn 25$330K$307K$16K$7K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $917K$739K$178K$411K 990 PDF
FY2023 $697K$630K$67K$233K 990 PDF
FY2022 $422K$459K−$37K$166K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $382K$330K$53K$203K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $382,298 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$382,156
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$142
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenue$382,298
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$0
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expenses$329,667
I-18 Total expenses$329,667
I-19 Revenue less expenses$52,631
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $382,298 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$5,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$377,156
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$382,156
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $142$142
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $142 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$382,298
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $329,667 across 10 lines filed
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $174,125 · Management $13,543 · Fundraising $5,804$193,472
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $3,199 · Management $241$3,440
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $103,233$103,233
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $306$306
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,076 · Management $161 · Fundraising $69$2,306
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $4,320 · Management $336 · Fundraising $144$4,800
IX-17 TravelPrograms $455$455
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $189$189
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $12,559 · Management $977 · Fundraising $419$13,955
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $6,845 · Management $478 · Fundraising $188$7,511
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $307,307 · Management $15,736 · Fundraising $6,624$329,667
Part X · Balance sheet $202,965 assets, 7 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearing$201,260
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$1,705
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $0$202,965
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$50
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$50
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $0$202,915
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $0$202,965
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $202,915 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$382,298
XI-2 Total expenses$329,667
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$52,631
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$150,284
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$202,915

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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