2024-05-15T15:28:06-05:00 2023-06-30 873231666 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC 245 PARK AVENUE 12TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10167 990 2022-07-01 900915846 CIVIC NEWS COMPANY CIVI 9173889035 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 ELIZABETH GREEN CEO 9173889035 2024-05-15 1 ELIZABETH GREEN XXX-XX-XXXX 1 EVA MRUK P00543254 2122862600 2024-05-15 3 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z ELIZABETH GREEN 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 14836973 0 X CIVICNEWS.ORG X 2012 DE AT CIVIC NEWS COMPANY, OUR MISSION IS HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICA WORKS SO THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK BETTER. WE DO SO BY PROVIDING DEEP LOCAL COVERAGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 9 8 116 9 212775 10359 12484474 14517183 0 0 1488 1115 309265 278649 12795227 14796947 0 0 0 0 9685773 10781110 16725 21000 1493978 2196287 2119484 11898785 12921594 896442 1875353 8487702 11154349 490549 1281843 7997153 9872506 X PROVIDING DEEP LOCAL COVERAGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 0 0 9306027 0 0 THROUGH UNBIASED REPORTING, OUR REPORTERS HELP THE PUBLIC EXAMINE HOW THE CIVIC INSTITUTIONS OF SCHOOLS AND ELECTIONS ARE OPERATING, SCRUTINIZE KEY POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAPPEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND GAIN ACCESS TO IMPORTANT DATA AND CONTEXT THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE MADE TRANSPARENT. BY BUILDING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENTS, INNOVATIONS, AND CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT STUDENT OUTCOMES, WE CAN IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE STUDENTS BETTER - WHETHER THROUGH THEIR WORK AS PRACTITIONERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND LAWMAKERS, OR THROUGH THEIR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AS PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND VOTERS. BY BUILDING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANICS OF VOTING AND ELECTIONS, WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND OUR SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN STRENGTHENING IT. THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES IN ITS EDUCATION REPORTING PROGRAM:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO EDUCATION, WITH A FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: THE VAST MAJORITY OF ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ACTIVITY IS CONDUCTED ON A DAILY BASIS IN OUR BUREAUS IN NEW YORK, COLORADO, INDIANA, TENNESSEE, DETROIT, CHICAGO, NEWARK AND PHILADELPHIA. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION DOES NATIONAL EDUCATION COVERAGE, WHICH KNITS TOGETHER REPORTING FROM LOCAL BUREAUS AND SITUATES IT WITHIN THE BROADER NATIONAL CONTEXT. THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EDITORIAL STAFF TIME IS DEDICATED TO THIS ACTIVITY.TO FURTHER EXPAND AND DEEPEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT EDUCATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE INCLUDES A "FIRST PERSON" SECTION, FEATURING OP-ED PIECES AND COMMENTARIES FROM A DIVERSE ASSORTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF OPINIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSES BY EDUCATING A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF THE PUBLIC ON PRESSING ISSUES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES IN ITS ELECTIONS REPORTING PROGRAM:REPORTING, WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING ORIGINAL NEWS CONTENT RELATED TO VOTING AND ELECTIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON THE STATES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUREAUS: THE VOTEBEAT PROGRAM PROVIDES INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN COVERAGE OF ELECTION INTEGRITY IN ARIZONA, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS, AS WELL AS NATIONAL REPORTING. VOTEBEAT'S REPORTING INFORMS DEBATES AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE LEVELS, AND HAS GENERATED DISCUSSION AMONG OFFICIALS ABOUT ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND VOTING IN FOUR STATEWIDE BUREAUS. VOTERS ALSO RELY ON VOTEBEAT'S JOURNALISM TO FACT-CHECK FALSE CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES THROUGH BOTH CIVIC NEWS COMPANY AND VOTEBEAT:REACHING AND ENGAGING A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE ORGANIZATION'S EDITORIAL STAFF OVERSEES THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT TO DECISION-MAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT NO COST. THROUGH OUR WEBSITES, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIPS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES, THE ORGANIZATION ENSURES THAT ITS CONTENT REACHES AS DEEP AND BROAD AN AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS AND PARTICIPATES IN EVENTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR READERS TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH OUR CONTENT, OUR EDITORIAL STAFF, AND ONE ANOTHER.DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE, UPDATING AND UPGRADING OF THE ORGANIZATION'S NEWS WEBSITES (INCLUDING RELATED PRODUCTS LIKE MOBILE PLATFORMS AND DATABASES), WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTENT DELIVERY: TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE IS USER-FRIENDLY, EMPLOYS THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CONTENT DELIVERY AND IMPACT MEASUREMENT, AND ATTRACTS AND RETAINS READERS, OUR STAFF WORKS CONSTANTLY ON MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES. KEEPING THE WEBSITE RUNNING SMOOTHLY ENSURES THAT CONTENT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO USERS ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS (MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS, PCS) AND IS PRESENTED COMPELLINGLY. 9306027 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 64 0 116 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 9 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AL AR AZ CA CO FL GA HI IL IN KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NM NY NC OH OR PA RI SC TN TX UT VA WV WI X X X KENDRA IRVING 9173889035 450 SEVENTH AVENUE 32ND FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10123 X ELIZABETH GREEN CO-FOUNDER AND CEO 50.00 X X 283720 0 40565 GIDEON STEIN CHAIRPERSON 2.50 X X 0 0 0 KAREN WISHART TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JILL BARKIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHANI HILTON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SUE LEHMANN DIRECTOR THRU AUG 2022 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID ROUSSEAU DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANN SARDINI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KANG-XING JIN DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERTO YANEZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KENDRA IRVING SECRETARY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 50.00 X 215082 0 19965 ALISON GO CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER THRU DEC 2022 40.00 X 197863 0 12449 AMY ROSENBLUM CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER 50.00 X 186231 0 34366 JENNIFER BRAMBLE CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER 50.00 X 184886 0 347 NICOLE AVERY NICHOLS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THRU MAY 2023 40.00 X 185387 0 35147 HAROLD WHACK SR DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT THRU FEB 2023 40.00 X 153298 0 10839 SCOTT ELLIOTT DEPUTY REVENUE OFFICER THRU FEB 2023 50.00 X 147843 0 349 EBA HAMID DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE 40.00 X 143753 0 395 CARLOS JOHN ORTUNO VP OF PHILANTHROPY 40.00 X 135328 0 350 CAROLYN MELAGO MANAGING EDITOR, LOCAL NEWS 50.00 X 134544 0 254 1967935 0 155026 24 0 1 0 BARKER & SCOTT CONSULTING LLC 2202 18TH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON DC 20009 PROFESSIONAL COACHING 259922 TRINET PARK PLACE SUITE 600 DUBLIN CA 94568 PEO SERVICES 119037 2 14517183 10863 14517183 720 720 14783 14783 75000 29163 45837 45837 45837 10668 590 10863 0 -195 590 395 395 JOBS BOARD 561000 119246 119246 ADVERTISING 541800 93529 93529 HONORARIA FEES 900099 5250 5250 4 4 218029 14796947 0 212775 66989 1384341 757036 303135 324170 7508435 5878070 777409 852956 225697 183024 22451 20222 976459 799060 100259 77140 686178 503299 104104 78775 361512 231368 97608 32536 22636 14487 6112 2037 21000 21000 234157 166254 43544 24359 6180 4973 1207 182202 98117 74185 9900 524217 371728 135504 16985 385418 115940 269478 64152 24424 19489 20239 21727 15714 3818 2195 39251 39251 UBI TAX 28600 28600 COMMUNITY EVENTS 108425 96698 11576 151 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT 71531 26109 36481 8941 BOARD EXPENSE 41334 41334 28142 19726 6044 2372 12921594 9306027 2121589 1493978 841497 505383 3175976 2040658 3948333 7576423 184869 231811 234761 121196 102266 678878 8487702 11154349 326969 267681 163580 189400 0 250000 0 574762 490549 1281843 X -717430 -2109465 8714583 11981971 7997153 9872506 8487702 11154349 1875353 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 6767283 7314781 10356192 12484474 14517183 51439913 6767283 7314781 10356192 12484474 14517183 51439913 5499075 45940838 1165 13218 32775 21432 90503 159093 3924 21265 8220 33409 5558 5241 4695 1502 5254 22250 51654665 21563 0.88940 0.87810 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: OTHER INCOME - 2018 AMOUNT: $ 570. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 82. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 1,297. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,502. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 4. CREDIT CARD REWARDS - 2018 AMOUNT: $ 4,988. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 5,159. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 298. HONORARIA FEES - 2020 AMOUNT: $ 3,100. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 5,250. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 SECURITY DEPOSITS 96816 RIGHT-OF-USE ASSET, NET 582062 678878 LEASE LIABILITY 574762 574762 X 15409458 583153 29358 612511 14796947 0 14796947 13534105 583153 29358 612511 12921594 0 12921594 PART X, LINE 2: CIVIC NEWS COMPANY RECOGNIZES THE EFFECT OF INCOME TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT OF BEING SUSTAINED. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT CIVIC NEWS COMPANY HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE. TAX YEARS SINCE 2020 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: LOSS ON SALE OF SECURITIES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 7C 195. RENTAL EXPENSES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 6B 29,163. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: LOSS ON SALE OF SECURITIES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 7C 195. RENTAL EXPENSES REPORTED IN PART VIII, LINE 6B 29,163. X X X X X X X 1 MARKTLAB LLC 4514 BELLFLOWER WAY ALLENTOWN PA 18104 STRATEGIC FUNDRAISING CONSULTING SERVICES 0 0 21000 -21000 21000 -21000 AL AR AZ CA CO FL GA HI IL IN KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NY NC ND OH OR PA RI SC TN TX UT VA WV WI SCHEDULE G, PART I, LINE 2B, COLUMN (V) THE AGREEEMENT WITH MARKTLAB LLC PROVIDES FOR THE PAYMENT OF FUNDRAISING SERVICES AT AN HOURLY RATE UP TO A MONTHLY MAXIMUM, AND ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF REASONABLE EXPENSES TIED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED WITH APPROVAL BY THE ORGANIZATION AS NEEDED. X X X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ELIZABETH GREEN CO-FOUNDER AND CEO 283720 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40565 0 324285 0 0 0 KENDRA IRVING SECRETARY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 215082 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19965 0 235047 0 0 0 AMY ROSENBLUM CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER 186231 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34366 0 220597 0 0 0 NICOLE AVERY NICHOLS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THRU MAY 2023 185387 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35147 0 220534 0 0 0 ALISON GO CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER THRU DEC 2022 197863 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12449 0 210312 0 0 0 JENNIFER BRAMBLE CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER 184886 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 347 0 185233 0 0 0 HAROLD WHACK SR DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT THRU FEB 2023 153298 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10839 0 164137 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR: - ALISON GO, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER - $33,651.78 - SCOTT ELLIOTT, DEPUTY REVENUE OFFICER - $50,508.33 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE CPA FIRM. THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY INTERNAL MANAGEMENT, UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR REVIEW THE FORM 990 IS CIRCULATED TO CIVIC NEWS COMPANY'S BOARD MEMBERS AND IS REVISED FOR ANY CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE FILING WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION HAS A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY THAT APPLIES TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS. THE BOARD REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND ALL OFFICERS MUST SIGN AN ANNUAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, WHERE THEY ARE ASKED TO DISCLOSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO AFFIRM THE CODE OF ETHICS, INCLUDING THE CONFLICTS SECTION, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT ARISES, THE INTERESTED PARTY IS ASKED TO DISCLOSE ALL RELATED DETAILS TO THE BOARD OR CONFLICTS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. AFTER MAKING A PRESENTATION REGARDING HIS OR HER FINANCIAL INTEREST, THE INTERESTED PERSON LEAVES THE MEETING WHILE THE COMMITTEE OR BOARD DISCUSSES AND VOTES ON THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE COMMITTEE OR BOARD RECOMMENDS WHETHER THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTION OR AGREEMENT. THE DECISION OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE ORGANIZATION HAS A SET OF COMPENSATION STANDARDS, WHICH INCLUDES SALARY GUIDANCE FOR THE CEO, OTHER OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES. THESE STANDARDS SALARY RANGES BY POSITION AND DIFFERENTIATION BASED ON GEOGRAPHICAL REGION. THE STANDARDS ARE DETERMINED THROUGH A REVIEW OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS' COMPENSATION DATA, AND ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, AN INDUSTRY-WIDE COMPENSATION BENCHMARKING STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY A THIRD-PARTY COMPENSATION CONSULTANT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE COMPENSATION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WERE ALIGNED WITH THE MIDPOINT OF INDUSTRY PEER COMPENSATION. THE DELIBERATIONS AND DECISION WERE DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETINGS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE RETURN IS POSTED ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, CHALKBEAT.ORG, AS WELL AS GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART I, QUESTION 5, AND PART V, QUESTION 2A: THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION (PEO) FOR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAYROLL, TIMEKEEPING, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HR ADMINISTRATION AND WORKFORCE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NEEDS. AS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD FOR TAX PURPOSES, FORMS W-2 AND W-3 ARE ISSUED BY THE PEO AND FILED UNDER THE PEO'S FEDERAL EIN. IN THIS CO-EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE COMMON LAW EMPLOYER AND, ACCORDINGLY, COMPENSATION IS REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VII, SECTION A AND PART IX, LINES 5-10. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.