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← CALMATTERS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by CALMATTERS.

Totals

Total revenue
$14,141,813
Total expenses
$16,755,440
Contributions and grants received
$13,020,981
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,002,960
Investment income
$126,814
Other revenue
-$8,942
Total assets, end of year
$7,971,472
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,909,648
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$6,061,824
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$14,538,585
Management and general expenses
$566,765
Fundraising expenses
$1,650,090
Program service expenses (Part III)
$14,538,585

Program services were 86.8% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $66,390

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $1,269,076

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $11,685,515

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $9,987

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Corporate Sponsorships

    total $716,074 · related or exempt $716,074

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Other program income

    total $29,141 · related or exempt $29,141

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Service Revenue

    total $257,745 · related or exempt $257,745

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $126,814 · excluded $126,814

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $23,100

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $66,390

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $32,042

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$8,942

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $637,689 · program services $547,361 · management and general $19,762 · fundraising $70,566

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $9,180,259 · program services $7,879,880 · management and general $284,498 · fundraising $1,015,881

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $378,202 · program services $324,629 · management and general $11,721 · fundraising $41,852

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,373,120 · program services $1,178,618 · management and general $42,553 · fundraising $151,949

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $733,508 · program services $629,607 · management and general $22,732 · fundraising $81,169

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $68,079 · program services $32,351 · management and general $35,728

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $64,152 · management and general $64,152

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,458,105 · program services $1,375,460 · management and general $18,820 · fundraising $63,825

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $0

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $39,873 · program services $25,080 · management and general $5,802 · fundraising $8,991

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $40,413 · program services $11,595 · management and general $9,421 · fundraising $19,397

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $248,366 · program services $213,311 · management and general $7,749 · fundraising $27,306

  • 17 · Travel

    total $566,999 · program services $490,665 · management and general $4,255 · fundraising $72,079

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $45,660 · program services $39,556 · management and general $1,343 · fundraising $4,761

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $52,392 · program services $27,319 · management and general $22,803 · fundraising $2,270

  • 24a · Other expenses: Reporting and production

    total $1,796,255 · program services $1,753,411 · management and general $14,254 · fundraising $28,590

  • 24b · Other expenses: Bank charges/processing fees

    total $51,673 · program services $170 · management and general $413 · fundraising $51,090

  • 24c · Other expenses: Postage and Shipping

    total $5,949 · program services $1,473 · management and general $912 · fundraising $3,564

  • 24d · Other expenses: Uncollectable accounts

    total $5,500 · fundraising $5,500

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $9,246 · program services $8,099 · management and general -$153 · fundraising $1,300

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $890,792 · end of year $4,293,331

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $132,910 · end of year $177,105

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,447,939 · end of year $2,441,215

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    end of year $0

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $148,512 · end of year $200,355

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

    $289,429

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

    $97,329

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $124,760 · end of year $192,100

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $5,181,594 · end of year $500,006

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $380,075 · end of year $167,360

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $714,016 · end of year $1,044,083

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $104,000 · end of year $192,050

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $802,079 · end of year $673,515

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,178,247 · end of year $2,388,561

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,508,240 · end of year $3,673,263

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Our team of experienced journalists, with the time and resources to dig deep, is committed to meaningfully informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests that shape the issues that affect their lives.

Activities or mission (Part I)

To improve Californias democracy by making its government more transparent and accountable and giving Californians the information they need to understand and engage with that government.

  • Editorial/Reporting: CalMatters was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism venture focused on California politics and policy. Our target audience is civically engaged Californians, including voters and those who might be motivated to vote, along with civic leaders, state legislators and their staffs, lobbyists, academics and activists. Our mission is to fill the void in state government coverage caused by the decline of traditional journalism organizations and to improve Californias democracy by increasing government transparency, holding politicians accountable, and empowering Californians to participate meaningfully in their own governance. We do that by informing and engaging Californians about state government and public policy that affects their lives, with a focus on education, environment, economy, health and the

    Expenses $14,538,585 · Revenue $1,002,960

  • environment.Environmental regulation, education, health care, criminal justice, economic inequality the debates on these issues and others have a profound impact on the lives of 38 million Californians and beyond. Yet, mirroring trends across the country, there has been a significant decline in the number of journalists covering the Capitol in Sacramento. This has meant fewer eyes on decision makers, and a public that feels disconnected from its state government.Our team of experienced journalists, with the time and resources to dig deep, is committed to meaningfully informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests that shape the issues that affect their lives. To ensure we reach many Californians, we work with more than 180 media partners throughout the state that

  • have long, deep relationships with their local audiences.

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Neil Chase

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $467,861
    From this org
    $423,789
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,072
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $423,789
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $13,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,272
    Filer's total
    $467,861

  • Kristen Go Gipner

    Editor in Chief

    Total calculated
    $337,225
    From this org
    $295,445
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,780
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $295,445
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $9,195
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,585
    Filer's total
    $337,225

  • Katherine Looby

    Chief Development

    Total calculated
    $271,090
    From this org
    $236,429
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,661
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $236,429
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $8,729
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,932
    Filer's total
    $271,090

  • David Lesher

    Senior Editor

    Total calculated
    $234,307
    From this org
    $224,952
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,355
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $224,952
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $8,652
    Nontaxable benefits
    $703
    Filer's total
    $234,307

  • Vicki Haddock

    Managing Editor

    Total calculated
    $218,363
    From this org
    $181,350
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,013
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $181,350
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $6,695
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,318
    Filer's total
    $218,363

  • Andy Donohue

    Journalist

    Total calculated
    $181,944
    From this org
    $174,543
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,401
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,543
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $6,713
    Nontaxable benefits
    $688
    Filer's total
    $181,944

  • John Boland

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Hema Sareen Mohan

    Vice-Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Chris Boskin

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Gregory Favre

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dean Baquet

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Janet Clayton

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Simone Coxe

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Robert Hernandez

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jeff Klein

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • David Masumoto

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Efran Escobedo

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Leo Wolinsky

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Brian Jaffe

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jack Mosbacher

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Christy Chin

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Nicole Wong

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

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
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 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

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.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
12 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533169349304738

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