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CalMatters
CalMatters reported $18.3 million in revenue and $16.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.84 went to program services, $2.87 to management and general costs and $9.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 93.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $394,792 (CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 216% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$93.14 $17M
- Program service revenue$6.37 $1.2M
- Investment income$0.49 $89,300
Other revenue was negative: −$27,872. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 93.3% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.4% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $394,792 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.41% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.8 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEditorial/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…
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…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $322,900 | $0 | $71,892 | $394,792 |
| Editor in Chief Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $296,358 | $0 | $84,675 | $381,033 |
| Chief Impact Offic Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $303,893 | $0 | $18,022 | $321,915 |
| Chief Development Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,058 | $0 | $56,870 | $281,928 |
| Senior Editor Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,756 | $0 | $26,438 | $211,194 |
| Project Director Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,230 | $0 | $13,894 | $191,124 |
| Product Director Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,285 | $0 | $15,995 | $184,280 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from CalMatters (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $508K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b16 · 16 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5106
- Volunteers Part I, line 616
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| 10up Inc Website Development | $402,578 |
| Cal Poly Corporation Digital Democracy | $210,000 |
| Foaad Khosmood Digital Democracy | $108,683 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
41 private foundations reported grants to CalMatters totaling $6.9M 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 CalMatters's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for CalMatters, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 CalMatters spent in 2025, $87.84 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · revenue $17M · programs 94.3% · FY2025
- Students for Life of AmericaFredericksburg, VA · revenue $18M · programs 81.4% · 2025
- The Voter Project FundPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $17M · programs 98.6% · 2024
- Arise Child & Family ServiceSyracuse, NY · revenue $18M · programs 87.5% · FY2024
- Women's Business Enterprise National CouncilWashington, DC · revenue $17M · programs 86.3% · 2024
All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of CalMatters's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, CalMatters reported that 87.8% of its $16.4 million in expenses went to program services, 2.9% to management and general and 9.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does CalMatters pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation CalMatters reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $394,792, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does CalMatters get its money?
Of $18.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 93.3% came from contributions and grants and 6.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is CalMatters a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-2474086 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632309349301888 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533169349304738 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443139349303229 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342499349301724 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233079349302943 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133069349302903 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042899349302554 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-2474086: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.