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Nonprofiteer
← CITY BUREAU NFP

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by CITY BUREAU NFP.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,291,026
Total expenses
$6,150,002
Contributions and grants received
$6,389,231
Grants paid
$192,985
Program service revenue
$824,918
Investment income
$76,877
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$7,696,862
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,107,302
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,589,560
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,750,496
Management and general expenses
$911,354
Fundraising expenses
$488,152
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,750,496

Program services were 77.2% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,389,231

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Fiscal Sponsorship Fees

    total $50,663 · related or exempt $50,663

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Program Fees

    total $774,255 · related or exempt $774,255

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $76,877 · excluded $76,877

  • 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

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 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 $192,985 · program services $192,985

  • 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 $378,668 · program services $302,934 · management and general $45,440 · fundraising $30,294

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,520,291 · program services $2,016,233 · management and general $302,435 · fundraising $201,623

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $415,720 · program services $332,576 · management and general $49,886 · fundraising $33,258

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $232,911 · program services $186,329 · management and general $27,949 · fundraising $18,633

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $0

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,344,576 · program services $882,722 · management and general $375,516 · fundraising $86,338

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $25,493 · program services $20,395 · management and general $3,059 · fundraising $2,039

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $0

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $414,000 · program services $331,200 · management and general $49,680 · fundraising $33,120

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $145,234 · program services $116,187 · management and general $17,428 · fundraising $11,619

  • 17 · Travel

    total $213,103 · program services $127,862 · management and general $21,310 · fundraising $63,931

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $741 · program services $593 · management and general $89 · fundraising $59

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,645 · management and general $1,645

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $15,488 · program services $12,390 · management and general $1,859 · fundraising $1,239

  • 24a · Other expenses: Journalism & Program Fees

    total $182,555 · program services $182,555

  • 24b · Other expenses: Supplies

    total $30,820 · program services $24,656 · management and general $3,698 · fundraising $2,466

  • 24c · Other expenses: Printing and Publications

    total $13,411 · program services $10,729 · management and general $1,609 · fundraising $1,073

  • 24d · Other expenses: Credit Loss

    total $8,167 · management and general $8,167

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $14,194 · program services $10,150 · management and general $1,584 · fundraising $2,460

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,913,350 · end of year $4,275,410

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    end of year $0

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $314,848 · end of year $2,982,162

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $302,500 · end of year $310,896

  • 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 $23,315 · end of year $48,546

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

    $8,225

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

    $3,847

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $6,023 · end of year $4,378

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $155,368 · end of year $58,550

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $13,876 · end of year $16,920

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $335,816 · end of year $146,280

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,022,534 · end of year $1,961,022

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $511,930 · end of year $1,042,893

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,859,000 · end of year $4,546,667

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

MEDIA EDUCATION ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CIVIC INFORMATION TO NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO, FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AROUND JOURNALISM AND MEDIA, AND DEVELOPING AND TESTING NEW MODELS OF CIVIC JOURNALISM.

  • CITY BUREAU CARRIED OUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC JOURNALISM AND EXPAND ACCESS TO RELIABLE PUBLIC INFORMATION. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED NEWSROOM TRAINING INITIATIVES, COLLABORATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE PARTICIPATORY JOURNALISM PRACTICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO DEVELOPED TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY, AND EDITORIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY REPORTING AND THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CIVIC INFORMATION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, CITY BUREAU CONTINUED TO EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, SUPPORT EMERGING JOURNALISTS, AND STRENGTHEN NETWORKS OF COMMUNITY-CENTERED MEDIA PRACTITIONERS.

    Expenses $3,976,241 · Grants $192,985 · Revenue $50,663

  • CONTINUED GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMED AT INFORMING RESIDENTS ABOUT CIVIC ISSUES THROUGH JOURNALISM AND MEDIA TRAINING. 12 EMERGING JOURNALISTS PARTICIPATED IN INTENSIVE TRAINING IN COMMUNITY REPORTING PRACTICES. TRAINED 191 RESIDENTS AS DOCUMENTERS TO TAKE NOTES AT PUBLIC MEETINGS. FACILITATED 654 DOCUMENTERS ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDING COVERAGE OF 295 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS. HOSTED 36 FREE WORKSHOPS SERVING 444 INDIVIDUALS. CONSULTED WITH MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY ON PARTICIPATORY JOURNALISM PRACTICES. SUPPORTED PARTNER ORGANIZATION IN LAUNCHING DOCUMENTERS PARTICIPATORY MEDIA PROGRAM IN COLUMBUS, KANSAS CITY, COLUMBIA GORGE, TULSA.

    Expenses $774,255 · Revenue $774,255

As filed on the 2025 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Morgan Malone

    Frmr Exec Dir

    Total calculated
    $218,093
    From this org
    $218,093
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $119,768
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $98,325
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $218,093

  • Jody Chong

    Executive Dir.

    Total calculated
    $160,575
    From this org
    $160,575
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,575
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $160,575

  • Harrison Backlund

    CSO

    Total calculated
    $144,007
    From this org
    $144,007
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Eva Lacivita

    Production Dir

    Total calculated
    $133,273
    From this org
    $133,273
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Kristin Fallica

    Communication Dir

    Total calculated
    $126,615
    From this org
    $126,615
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Sonam Vashi

    Network Dir

    Total calculated
    $119,393
    From this org
    $119,393
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Alaa Almezanin

    Director of Ops

    Total calculated
    $119,006
    From this org
    $119,006
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Joe Germuska

    Chair/Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Cassie Haynes

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Wendy Lee Haines

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kali Plomin

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part III, Additional Information
Morgan Malone received severance of $98,325 during 2025 pursuant to a separation agreement. The severance represented six months of salary and health care benefits.

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

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
18 August 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.1
Source object
202632309349303143

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