CalMatters

EIN: 472474086 501(c)(3) Civil Rights & Advocacy

Sacramento, CA

Total Revenue
$12,263,996
Total Expenses
$11,716,479
Total Assets
$10,306,582
Net Assets
$8,686,487
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2014
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
Neil Chase
Phone
9165029986
Tax Period
2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

CalMatters, founded in 2014, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $12.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue decreased 6% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $11.7M left a modest 4% surplus.

Mission

Our team of experienced journalists, with the time and resources to dig deep, is committed to meaningfully informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests that shape the issues that affect their lives.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $9,881,424 Revenue: $537,993

Editorial/Reporting: CalMatters was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism venture focused on California politics and policy. Our target audience is civically engaged Californians...

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Editorial/Reporting: CalMatters was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism venture focused on California politics and policy. Our target audience is civically engaged Californians, including voters and those who might be motivated to vote, along with civic leaders, state legislators and their staffs, lobbyists, academics and activists. Our mission is to fill the void in state government coverage caused by the decline of traditional journalism organizations and to improve Californias democracy by increasing government transparency, holding politicians accountable, and empowering Californians to participate meaningfully in their own governance. We do that by informing and engaging Californians about state government and public policy that affects their lives, with a focus on education, environment, economy, health and the

Program 2

environment.Environmental regulation, education, health care, criminal justice, economic inequality the debates on these issues and others have a profound impact on the lives of 38 million...

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environment.Environmental regulation, education, health care, criminal justice, economic inequality the debates on these issues and others have a profound impact on the lives of 38 million Californians and beyond. Yet, mirroring trends across the country, there has been a significant decline in the number of journalists covering the Capitol in Sacramento. This has meant fewer eyes on decision makers, and a public that feels disconnected from its state government.Our team of experienced journalists, with the time and resources to dig deep, is committed to meaningfully informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests that shape the issues that affect their lives. To ensure we reach many Californians, we work with more than 180 media partners throughout the state that

Program 3

have long, deep relationships with their local audiences.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $11,384,655
Program Service Revenue $537,993
Investment Income $234,708
Other Revenue $106,640
TOTAL REVENUE $12,263,996

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $8,968,817
Fundraising Expenses $1,466,202
Program Expenses $9,881,424
Other Expenses $2,747,662
TOTAL EXPENSES $11,716,479

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $12,263,996 $13,034,694 -0.1%
Expenses $11,716,479 $9,368,469 +0.3%
Net Income $547,517 $3,666,225 -0.9%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Financial Health Indicators

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Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
14
Independent Members
14
Employees
88
Volunteers
10

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$399,362
Total Directors
14
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Neil Chase CEO 40.00
Officer
$359,274 $40,088 $399,362
Katherine Looby Chief Development 40.00
$218,102 $19,888 $237,990
David Lesher Senior Editor 40.00
$216,300 $7,479 $223,779
Vicki Haddock Managing Editor 40.00
$149,644 $36,403 $186,047
Kristen Go Gipner Editor in Chief 40.00
$140,874 $28,177 $169,051
Sang Foon Rhee Deputy Managing Ed 40.00
$143,626 $16,340 $159,966
John Boland Board Chair 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Hema Sareen Mohan Vice-Chair 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Chris Boskin Secretary 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Gregory Favre Treasurer 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Dean Baquet Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Janet Clayton Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Simone Coxe Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Robert Hernandez Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jeff Klein Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
David Masumoto Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Efran Escobedo Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Leo Wolinsky Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Brian Jaffe Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jack Mosbacher Board Member 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $12,263,996 $11,716,479 $10,306,582 $547,517
2022 $13,034,694 $9,368,469 $9,493,501 $3,666,225
2021 $9,388,614 $8,360,302 $5,920,509 $1,028,312
2020 $5,508,947 $6,743,669 $5,560,473 $-1,234,722
2019 $5,787,517 $4,550,329 $5,101,127 $1,237,188
2018 $3,565,526 $2,918,086 $3,710,129 $647,440
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