Chicago Sun-Times Media
Chicago Sun-Times Media reported $31.4 million in revenue and $38.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.47 went to program services, $10.25 to management and general costs and $9.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 82.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $943,475 (PRESIDENT - THRU 09/2024). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $38MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $31MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.5% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.3% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.70 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 82.9% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $943,475 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.48% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.0 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 4 of 5 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseChicago Sun-Times Media, inc is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves the public interest by strengthening the well-being of our local communities and our democracy through independent local journalism. Chicago Sun-Times Media produces accessible, trusted news, information and programming that helps all chicago area residents make informed decisions every day, participate in our diverse communities and make the most of our region
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 - THRU 09/2024 Director/trustee, officer, 20.0 hrs/week | $0 | $904,910 | $38,565 | $943,475 |
| TREASURER - THRU 02/2025 Officer, 20.0 hrs/week | $0 | $402,877 | $37,857 | $440,734 |
| SECRETARY Officer, 16.0 hrs/week | $0 | $349,975 | $29,814 | $379,789 |
| EXECUTIVE EDITOR Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $288,601 | $0 | $21,668 | $310,269 |
| CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $274,510 | $0 | $7,104 | $281,614 |
| TREASURER - BEG. 03/2025 Officer, 8.0 hrs/week | $0 | $225,296 | $25,169 | $250,465 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $181,101 | $0 | $11,200 | $192,301 |
| PRESIDENT - BEG. 09/2024 Director/trustee, officer, 20.0 hrs/week | $0 | $184,922 | $5,865 | $190,787 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Sun-Times Media (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.2M (Part IX, line 5).
4 filings since FY2022 (6 mo.)
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · 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–1b5 · 4 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 4Yes
- 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 5178
- Volunteers Part I, line 64
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MADISON MARKETING AGENCY LCC Direct mail services | $312,607 |
| MILLENNIAL SERVICES LLC Inbound circulation call center | $234,001 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Sun-Times Media totaling $6.1M 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 Chicago Sun-Times Media's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chicago Sun-Times Media, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chicago Sun-Times Media spent in FY2025, $80.47 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nysarc Inc. Herkimer County ChapterHerkimer, NY · revenue $31M · programs 89.7% · 2024
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Questions people ask
How much of Chicago Sun-Times Media's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Chicago Sun-Times Media reported that 80.5% of its $38.1 million in expenses went to program services, 10.3% to management and general and 9.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chicago Sun-Times Media pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chicago Sun-Times Media reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $943,475, for the role of PRESIDENT - THRU 09/2024 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chicago Sun-Times Media get its money?
Of $31.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 16.1% came from contributions and grants and 82.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chicago Sun-Times Media a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 87-4304197 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (amended), object 202503459349301030 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202443199349313399 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202343189349304839 · read the filing
- FY2022 (6 mo.): Form 990 for the 6-month short period ending June 30, 2022, object 202233349349300518 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 87-4304197: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.