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National Trust for Local News
National Trust for Local News reported $53.0 million in revenue and $61.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $96.61 went to program services, $2.53 to management and general costs and $0.86 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 87.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $386,485 (CEO). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 2663% between 2021 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $61MFor 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 $53MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 96.6% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 87.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $386,485 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.63% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 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 expenseThe National Trust for Local News (ntln) owns and operates community news organizations in service of their public service mission. Our 215 journalists reach over two million monthly readers in dozens of small communities across colorado, maine, and georgia. Ntln's model is responsive to the needs of local communities, scalable to every state, and a uniquely sustainable way to provide high-quality local journalism where it is most at risk of disappearing altogether
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $386,485 | $0 | $0 | $386,485 |
| CHIEF PORTFOLIO OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $310,000 | $0 | $44,496 | $354,496 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,000 | $0 | $25,741 | $255,741 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,000 | $0 | $9,200 | $239,200 |
| HEAD OF ADVERTISING Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,028 | $0 | $47,944 | $231,972 |
| HEAD OF TRANSFORMATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,028 | $0 | $27,167 | $211,195 |
| HEAD OF PRODUCT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,333 | $0 | $34,972 | $193,305 |
| VP FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,974 | $0 | $22,731 | $191,705 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Trust for Local News (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.1M (Part IX, line 5).
4 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 · 8 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 11aNo
- 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 5606
- Volunteers Part I, line 68
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HARDING CONSULTING Consulting | $105,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to National Trust for Local News totaling $12M 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 National Trust for Local News's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Trust for Local News, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 National Trust for Local News spent in 2024, $96.61 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival AssociationAshland, OR · revenue $53M · programs 72.2% · FY2025
- Cascade Public MediaSeattle, WA · revenue $53M · programs 70.2% · FY2025
- WhyyPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $53M · programs 75.0% · FY2025
- Corporation of the Fine Arts MuseumsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $53M · programs 79.9% · FY2025
- The Atlanta OperaAtlanta, GA · revenue $52M · programs 82.3% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of National Trust for Local News's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, National Trust for Local News reported that 96.6% of its $61.0 million in expenses went to program services, 2.5% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Trust for Local News pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Trust for Local News reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $386,485, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Trust for Local News get its money?
Of $53.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 9.4% came from contributions and grants and 87.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Trust for Local News a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 86-2022385 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 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 202523229349302237 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403209349322125 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343189349307114 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243199349310359 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 86-2022385: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.