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Nonprofiteer
← GRIST MAGAZINE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by GRIST MAGAZINE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$10,366,804
Total expenses
$10,166,181
Contributions and grants received
$9,904,409
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$246,179
Other revenue
$216,216
Total assets, end of year
$11,590,504
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,777,477
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$9,813,027
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$7,421,900
Management and general expenses
$1,385,255
Fundraising expenses
$1,359,026
Program service expenses (Part III)
$7,421,900

Program services were 73.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,005,743

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $8,898,666

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $48,896

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $246,158 · excluded $246,158

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $48,917

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $48,896

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $21

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $21 · excluded $21

  • 11a · Other revenue: Advertising

    total $207,833 · unrelated business $207,833

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $8,383 · excluded $8,383

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $216,216

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,179,956 · program services $463,361 · management and general $368,169 · fundraising $348,426

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,710,158 · program services $4,471,548 · management and general $526,789 · fundraising $711,821

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $151,937 · program services $123,317 · management and general $9,201 · fundraising $19,419

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $677,497 · program services $565,067 · management and general $2,111 · fundraising $110,319

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $549,382 · program services $390,887 · management and general $83,578 · fundraising $74,917

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $59,804 · program services $6,080 · management and general $50,290 · fundraising $3,434

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $151,836 · management and general $151,836

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $4,631 · fundraising $4,631

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $15,222 · management and general $15,222

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $575,613 · program services $496,402 · management and general $77,911 · fundraising $1,300

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $18,198 · program services $18,198

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $59,970 · program services $45,412 · management and general $6,579 · fundraising $7,979

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $199,618 · program services $188,193 · management and general $4,550 · fundraising $6,875

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $147,792 · program services $110,844 · management and general $18,474 · fundraising $18,474

  • 17 · Travel

    total $260,212 · program services $220,704 · management and general $21,486 · fundraising $18,022

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $72,673 · program services $70,921 · management and general $698 · fundraising $1,054

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $24,882 · program services $19,259 · management and general $2,239 · fundraising $3,384

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $50,150 · program services $38,816 · management and general $4,514 · fundraising $6,820

  • 24a · Other expenses: Dues and subscriptions

    total $101,880 · program services $84,981 · management and general $10,089 · fundraising $6,810

  • 24b · Other expenses: Program supplies

    total $50,117 · program services $48,895 · management and general $487 · fundraising $735

  • 24c · Other expenses: Taxes and fees

    total $25,990 · program services $18,930 · management and general $2,201 · fundraising $4,859

  • 24d · Other expenses: Employee development

    total $25,035 · program services $19,377 · management and general $2,253 · fundraising $3,405

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $53,628 · program services $20,708 · management and general $26,578 · fundraising $6,342

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $109,621 · end of year $269,477

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,171,609 · end of year $3,984,981

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,429,389 · end of year $1,833,431

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    end of year $117,969

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $187,733 · end of year $47,931

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $217,804

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $207,547

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $34,585 · end of year $10,257

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,023,004 · end of year $5,326,458

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $997,410 · end of year $1,738,677

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $18,675 · end of year $38,800

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,109,721 · end of year $7,290,477

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,830,135 · end of year $2,522,550

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Grist is an independent, non profit media organization dedicated to reporting on climate change.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to reporting on climate change. Since 1999, we have used the power of journalism to engage the public about the perils of one of the most existential threats we face. We seek to document the often unequal impacts of climate change on communities in the United States and globally, as well as to show the promise of equitable climate solutions.

  • Publishing climate and sustainability news and commentary: Grist published more than 800 articles on climate and sustainability topics during the fiscal year, ranging from short news items to in-depth interviews and features. The organization reached an average of 2.6m readers per month, including website visitors, email subscribers, and offsite (primarily social-media) audiences.

    Expenses $5,966,306

  • Fostering civic engagement: Grist's goal is to create a vibrant community of people who support sustainability; make sustainable choices and encourage their communities to do the same; and encourage readers to use social media and other tools to activate their personal networks and to create lasting change.

    Expenses $548,945

  • Train a new generation of journalists: By providing hands-on journalism experience as well as exposure to leading environmental thinkers, the Grist Fellowship Program trains early-career journalists to become effective environmental communicators. Grist hosts groups of five fellows for six-month terms. Fellows participate in research and story generation, crafting investigative stories and ground breaking multimedia projects.

    Expenses $627,999

  • Serving as a resource for other media: Grist informs and influences coverage of climate and energy in major media including The New York Times, Washington Post, ProPublica, the Seattle Times and more, and has served as an expert source for NPR, the BBC, PRX, PBS, and other networks.

    Expenses $278,650

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Kavita Ramdas

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Elise Hu

    Board Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nikhil Swaminathan

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $323,152
    From this org
    $310,275
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,877
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $260,275
    Bonus
    $50,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,411
    Nontaxable benefits
    $466
    Filer's total
    $323,152
  • Donna Moodie

    Board Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Charles Giller

    Founder

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Alderman

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Trenton Allen

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dana Bourland

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Susan Chira

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michelle Depass

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • C'ardiss Gardner Gleser

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kristin Grimm

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Susan Kaufman

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Max Moinian

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rachel Morello-Frosch

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Julian Brave Noisecat

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Vechey

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brady Walkinshaw

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rebekah Cardwell

    Director of Finance & Admin

    Total calculated
    $190,307
    From this org
    $165,808
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,499
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,808
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,632
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,867
    Filer's total
    $190,307
  • Kat Bagley

    Editor in Chief

    Total calculated
    $204,805
    From this org
    $173,026
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,779
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $173,026
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,921
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,858
    Filer's total
    $204,805
  • Natasha Berman

    COO

    Total calculated
    $261,302
    From this org
    $229,416
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,886
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $229,416
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,177
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,709
    Filer's total
    $261,302
  • Patrick Schmitt

    Director of Development

    Total calculated
    $183,663
    From this org
    $167,845
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,818
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,845
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,714
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,104
    Filer's total
    $183,663
  • Jess Stahl

    Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives

    Total calculated
    $204,876
    From this org
    $188,242
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,634
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $188,242
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,530
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,104
    Filer's total
    $204,876
  • Teresa Chin

    Executive Editor, Data & Design

    Total calculated
    $143,944
    From this org
    $137,960
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,984
    Hours/week
    40
  • Megan Merrigan

    Director of Innovation and Growth

    Total calculated
    $161,680
    From this org
    $146,708
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,972
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $146,708
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,868
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,104
    Filer's total
    $161,680
  • Mignon Khargie

    Art Director

    Total calculated
    $140,764
    From this org
    $126,596
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,168
    Hours/week
    40
  • Tristan Ahtone

    Editor at Large

    Total calculated
    $148,118
    From this org
    $133,667
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,451
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 5
The CEO bonus amount is calculated and awarded by the board compensation committee based on actual performance against budgetary and objective goals for the organization. For other employees, discretionary bonuses are awarded at year-end by the CEO based on progress and and acheivement of program/organizational objectives and in accordance with the union guidelines.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
18 June 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202641699349300229

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