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States Newsroom
Also known as Arizona Mirror
States Newsroom reported $27.5 million in revenue and $29.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $84.33 went to program services, $14.91 to management and general costs and $0.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $259,101 (PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR). 43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 293% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $29MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 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 $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $259,101 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.88% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 43 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.3 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 6 | 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 expenseStates Newsroom is the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporting from every capital. States Newsroom journalists shine a light on policy and politics in state capitals around the nation and provide that coverage for free; no pop-ups, paywalls or ads. States Newsroom has launched thirty-nine state newsrooms, plus a bureau in washington, dc, and partnered with eleven nonprofit news outlets in order to cover all fifty states. States Newsroom's websites receive over 150 million annual page views combined, and their content is frequently reprinted and cited in…
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 Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $238,813 | $0 | $20,288 | $259,101 |
| STATELINE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,809 | $0 | $38,490 | $225,299 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,134 | $0 | $37,039 | $173,173 |
| STATELINE MANAGING EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,349 | $0 | $28,339 | $171,688 |
| DC BUREAU CHIEF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $134,131 | $0 | $28,971 | $163,102 |
| STATELINE DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,516 | $0 | $15,815 | $155,331 |
43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from States Newsroom (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $259K (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–1b6 · 5 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aNo
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5256
- Volunteers Part I, line 65
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CAPITOL OPERATIONS LLC Finance, hr and operations | $463,050 |
| THE TEXAS TRIBUNE Content producer | $225,000 |
| VARDOT Web development, design and growth strat | $136,977 |
| MG REDESIGN LLP Marketing | $107,533 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to States Newsroom totaling $144K 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 States Newsroom's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for States Newsroom, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 States Newsroom spent in 2024, $84.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Venetoulis Institute for Local JournalismBaltimore, MD · revenue $27M · programs 88.0% · 2024
- The Society for the Promotion of Japanese AnimationCorona, CA · revenue $27M · programs 88.2% · 2025
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra SocietyCharlotte, NC · revenue $27M · programs 80.7% · FY2025
- Skirball Cultural CenterLos Angeles, CA · revenue $27M · programs 88.0% · FY2025
- Miami City BalletMiami Beach, FL · revenue $27M · programs 82.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of States Newsroom's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, States Newsroom reported that 84.3% of its $29.4 million in expenses went to program services, 14.9% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does States Newsroom pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation States Newsroom reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $259,101, for the role of PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does States Newsroom get its money?
Of $27.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 98.9% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is States Newsroom a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-2113822 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 202513089349300636 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401999349301355 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333139349304313 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222839349301677 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102709349300935 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012409349301421 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-2113822: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.