Spotlight PA FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Harrisburg, PA501(c)(3)Since 2022EducationEIN 92-0577182

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

The mission of Spotlight PA is to hold powerful public and private forces (continued on sch o) especially governments, elected officials, businesses, and special interests to account through urgent and compelling investigative and public service journalism that drives change and strengthens our democracy, the state, and all who live here.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$417K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.5M a year · 51% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$417K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $250
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$69K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.7M
×12 vs prior year
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$4.7M
By yearFY2022–FY2024
Revenue
$7.7M
FY2023▲ ×12
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$659K
FY2023$7.7M
FY2024$6.3M
Expenses
$3.2M
FY2023▲ +560%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022$482K
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.5M
Net assets
$4.7M
FY2023▲ ×26
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$177K
FY2023$4.7M
FY2024$7.5M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Nov 2022.

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

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $2.2M Management & general 14% · $430K Fundraising 16% · $516K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Request edit privileges.

Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $417K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & Director
$189,825Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Editor, Investigations
$119,028Pt VII · Sec A
$107,689Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (eff 7/23)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (eff 1/23)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (eff 4/23)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Christopher Baxter’s $217K as CEO & President is at the 86th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023
Christopher Baxter$217,499$189,825
Matthew Dempsey$130,137$119,028
Carlana Johnson$119,364—
Sarah Anne Hughes$119,199—
Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein$113,418$107,689
Michelle Mertz$102,448—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Spotlight PA executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Request edit privileges.

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Investigative journalism holds powerful forces accountable, strengthening democracy and communities.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Spotlight PA claims this page.

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program service account for $2.2M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2023.
01

Spotlight pa is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to high-quality investigative and public-service journalism about the pennsylvania state government and urgent statewide issues, including elections, voting, the governor, the legislature, rural communities, criminal justice, economic development, health, human services, and…

$2.2Mprogram expense

Run this program? Claim this org to tell your story

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$250

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$17K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$430K
Fundraisingcol D$516K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$69K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Investment incomeLn 3$17K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$13
Total revenueLn 12$7.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$250K
SavingsLn 2$2.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$69K
Net assetsLn 32$4.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 523
VolunteersI 62
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$49K$2.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$10K
Total assetsLn 16$184K$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6K$69K
Net assetsLn 32$177K$4.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$226K$45K$113K$68K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$1.5M$82K$240K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$29K$23K$2K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$206K$168K$11K$27K
Payroll taxesLn 10$193K$149K$17K$28K
Legal feesLn 11b$102K$14K$88K
Accounting feesLn 11c$42K$42K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$254K$182K$16K$56K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$37K$19K$374$17K
Office expensesLn 13$65K$27K$4K$34K
Information technologyLn 14$31K$31K
OccupancyLn 16$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$62K$47K$6K$8K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$4K$198$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$64K$28K$4K$32K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.2M$430K$516K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $6.3M$3.5M$2.8M$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $7.7M$3.2M$4.5M$4.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $659K$482K$177K$177K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2023 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $7,681,904 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,657,904
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,401
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,657,904
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,000$7,000
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $17,013$17,013
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$13−$13
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $17,000$7,681,904
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,180,709 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $45,106 · Management $112,767 · Fundraising $67,661$225,534
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,527,737 · Management $81,846 · Fundraising $240,237$1,849,820
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $23,131 · Management $1,530 · Fundraising $3,903$28,564
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $168,323 · Management $10,761 · Fundraising $26,674$205,758
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $148,546 · Management $16,783 · Fundraising $28,030$193,359
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $14,049 · Management $88,024$102,073
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $41,585$41,585
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $181,599 · Management $16,464 · Fundraising $55,947$254,010
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $19,050 · Management $374 · Fundraising $17,406$36,830
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $26,880 · Management $4,145 · Fundraising $33,777$64,802
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $30,980$30,980
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,900$1,900
IX-17 TravelPrograms $46,684 · Management $6,413 · Fundraising $8,475$61,572
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,801 · Management $198 · Fundraising $1,384$5,383
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,567$1,567
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $12,572$12,572
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $27,973 · Management $4,219 · Fundraising $32,208$64,400
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,234,779 · Management $430,228 · Fundraising $515,702$3,180,709
Part X · Balance sheet $4,746,499 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $48,600$249,668
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$2,110,043
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $135,000$1,164,118
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$5,710
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$9,718
X-12 Other securities$1,207,242
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $183,600$4,746,499
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $6,459$69,154
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,459$69,154
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $42,141$3,131,572
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $135,000$1,545,773
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $177,141$4,677,345
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $183,600$4,746,499
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,677,345 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,681,904
XI-2 Total expenses$3,180,709
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,501,195
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$177,141
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$756
XI-7 Investment expenses−$235
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,677,345

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.
Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.