Media Matters for America
Media Matters for America reported $21.9 million in revenue and $27.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.59 went to program services, $8.98 to management and general costs and $8.43 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $412,578 (PRESIDENT). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 54% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $27MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $412,578 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.50% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 0.9 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 8 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMedia Matters for america works to notify activists, journalists, pundits and the general public about instances of misinformation, providing them with the resources to rebut false claims and take direct action against offending media institutions
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 71.00 hrs/week | $394,162 | $0 | $18,416 | $412,578 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $323,776 | $0 | $25,668 | $349,444 |
| DIRECTOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 30.00 hrs/week | $237,354 | $0 | $12,815 | $250,169 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH & POLICY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,119 | $0 | $22,277 | $233,396 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $191,664 | $0 | $24,426 | $216,090 |
| SENIOR FELLOW Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,102 | $0 | $25,830 | $210,932 |
| EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,620 | $0 | $21,002 | $189,622 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,000 | $0 | $14,609 | $189,609 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Media Matters for America (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.2M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b8 · 6 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5106
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ELIAS LAW GROUP Legal services | $3,017,466 |
| BONNER GROUP INC Professional fundrasising services | $2,160,000 |
| GIBSON DUNN AND CRUTCHER LLP Legal services | $1,128,301 |
| CIVITAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP Strategic planning services | $210,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
46 private foundations reported grants to Media Matters for America totaling $4.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Media Matters for America's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Media Matters for America, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Media Matters for America spent in 2024, $82.59 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Aeci Charter Schools NetworkBronx, NY · revenue $22M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
- Renbrook SchoolWest Hartford, CT · revenue $22M · programs 78.4% · FY2025
- San Jose Charter AcademyWest Covina, CA · revenue $22M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
- League SchoolBrooklyn, NY · revenue $22M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
- The Harley SchoolRochester, NY · revenue $22M · programs 85.0% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Media Matters for America's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Media Matters for America reported that 82.6% of its $27.4 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 8.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Media Matters for America pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Media Matters for America reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $412,578, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Media Matters for America get its money?
Of $21.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 94.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Media Matters for America a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-0928008 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502549349301020 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402759349301200 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323199349322872 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349323883 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113199349312741 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349300246 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-0928008: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.