Civic News Company

What it reported doing in 2024

Civic news company exists to help people understand how america works so they can make it work better. Our mission is realized through rigorous, independent journalism across three verticals: chalkbeat (education), votebeat (election administration), and healthbeat (public health). Together, these newsrooms serve as essential public institutions, equipping civic catalysts - teachers, election officials, health advocates, and community leaders - with trustworthy information that allows them to strengthen their communities. Our reporting is free and not behind a paywall, available to all audiences and communities regardless of income.the following is a description of chalkbeat's activities and accomplishments, the organization's education reporting vertical: reporting, writing, editing, and publishing original news content related to education, with a focus on the communities where the organization has bureaus. The 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's national education coverage knits together reporting from local bureaus and situates local stories within the broader national context.to further expand and deepen the conversation about education, the organization's website features a new chalkbeat ideas initiative, which has driven newsletter subscriber growth and expanded our audience. These activities further the organization's exempt purposes by educating a broad cross-section of the public on pressing issues in public education.in fiscal year 2025, chalkbeat published 1,774 stories, generated 8,414,724 pageviews, and inspired 468 proven instances of informing debate or generating informed action.the following is a description of votebeat's activities and accomplishments, the organization's election administration reporting vertical: reporting, writing, editing, and publishing original news content related to voting and election administration, 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, Texas, and Wisconsin. We also cover national election administration topics. Votebeat's reporting informs debates at state and federal legislative levels and has generated discussion among officials about election administration and voting in five statewide bureaus.in fiscal year 2025, votebeat published 375 stories, generated 1,159,137 pageviews, and inspired 241 proven instances of informing debate or generating informed action.the following is a description of healthbeat's activities and accomplishments, the organization's public health reporting vertical: reporting, writing, editing, and publishing original news content related to public health, with a focus on global issues, national issues, and the places where the organization has bureaus: New York and atlanta. Healthbeat's reporting informs debates and has inspired accountability for public health bodies.in fiscal year 2025, just after its launch in 2024, healthbeat published 354 stories, generated 163,227 pageviews, and inspired 42 proven instances of informing debate or generating informed action.the following is a description of civic news company's activities and accomplishments: to reach and engage 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

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 95.4%; rating input score 95
• Program expense ratio: 72.3%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.17 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -31.6%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.85; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.9%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 17.9% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15.3% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings