Mountain State Spotlight Inc

EIN: 851154363 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

Charleston, WV

Total Revenue
$1,196,121
Total Expenses
$1,277,366
Total Assets
$695,621
Net Assets
$578,949
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2020
Legal Domicile
WV
Principal Officer
Sara Crickenberger
Phone
3042206080
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

Mountain State Spotlight Inc, founded in 2020, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $1.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 23% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum.

Mission

To serve the general public as an independent, civic news organization that tells stories of importance to West Virginians about issues and challenges facing their communities.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $881,354

Operation of digital news room serving universally-accessible information focused on major issues facing West Virginians, including public health threats, economic development challenges, environment...

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Operation of digital news room serving universally-accessible information focused on major issues facing West Virginians, including public health threats, economic development challenges, environment issues, and government accountability. In 2024, the organization published stories covering various critical issues affecting West Virginia and traveled over 10,000 miles to all 55 West Virginia counties during the election cycle. Through conversations with more than 500 voters, the organization developed a "Citizens Agenda" that identified issues residents wanted candidates to address during their campaigns. The organization created comprehensive voter guides for both primary and general elections that were accessed by voters across the state, with county-specific general election voter guide pages receiving 26,240 page views and primary election guide county-specific pages receiving 30,623 page views. Election results coverage generated 34,729 page views. By the end of 2024, Mountain State Spotlight achieved a median monthly website readership of 38,293 people and maintained 10,247 email newsletter subscribers, all of whom received the organization's nonprofit journalism at no cost.

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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 (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,179,051
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $17,070
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $1,196,121

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $939,343
Fundraising Expenses $38,292
Program Expenses $881,354
Other Expenses $338,023
TOTAL EXPENSES $1,277,366

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $1,196,121 $973,619 +0.2%
Expenses $1,277,366 $1,080,972 +0.2%
Net Income $-81,245 $-107,353 -0.2%
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

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

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Governance

Voting Members
5
Independent Members
5
Employees
N/A
Volunteers
N/A

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
$222,779
Total Directors
5
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
SARA CRICKENBERGER Executive Dir. 40.00
Officer
$103,012 $13,411 $116,423
Ken Ward Jr President 40.00
Officer
$105,582 $774 $106,356
BENJAMIN L BAILEY Chairman 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SUZANNE M WEISE Secretary 0.25
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
STEVEN D CANTERBURY-end 5-2024 Director 0.25
Director
$0 $0 $0
AMAR RAJWANI Treasurer 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Elizabeth Mobley Director 0.25
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 $1,196,121 $1,277,366 $695,621 $-81,245
2023 $973,619 $1,080,972 $877,429 $-107,353
2023 $973,619 $1,080,972 $877,429 $-107,353
2023 $973,619 $1,080,972 $877,429 $-107,353
2022 $1,123,213 $955,903 $1,039,145 $167,310
2022 $1,123,213 $955,903 $1,039,145 $167,310
2022 $1,123,213 $955,903 $1,039,145 $167,310
2021 $1,166,792 $591,695 $714,001 $575,097
2020 $325,091 $216,876 $108,215 $108,215
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