CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

A33Z

Classification

1000

Street

PO BOX 259010

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

• THE CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY (CMD) IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WATCHDOG THAT LEADS IN-DEPTH, AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CORRUPTION THAT UNDERMINES OUR DEMOCRACY, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THE CENTER PUBLISHES EXPOSEDBYCMD, PRWATCH AND SOURCEWATCH. SOURCEWATCH PROFILES THE ACTIVITIES OF FRONT GROUPS, PR SPINNERS, INDUSTRY-FRIENDLY EXPERTS, INDUSTRY-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THINK TANKS TRYING TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION ON BEHALF OF CORPORATIONS OR THE GOVERNMENT IN AN ENCYCLOPEDIC FORMAT THAT INCLUDES COMPILATION OF OUR ORIGINAL REPORTING. EXPOSEDBYCMD AND PRWATCH PROFILE THESE SAME TOPICS IN THE FORMAT OF DAILY ORIGINAL REPORTING INCLUDING REFERENCES TO RESEARCH COMPILED IN SOURCEWATCH ENTRIES. TOPICS COVERED IN EXPOSEDBYCMD, PRWATCH, AND SOURCEWATCH INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, ECONOMIC, AND PRIVACY ISSUES. TOPICS COVERED ON EXPOSEDBYCMD, SOURCEWATCH, AND PROJECT WEBSITES IN 2025 INCLUDED VOTING RIGHTS, HATE GROUPS, DISINFORMATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, ECONOMIC, LABOR, EDUCATION, AND OTHER DEMOCRACY ISSUES.

  Expenses $751,501

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2025

  Revenue

  $1,063,259

  Expenses

  $1,033,822

  Contributions

  $963,456

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2024

  Revenue

  $929,660

  Expenses

  $1,079,913

  Contributions

  $835,630

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $1,793,730

  Expenses

  $1,073,976

  Contributions

  $1,742,282

  Grants paid

  $73,985

• 2022

  Revenue

  $1,140,052

  Expenses

  $819,340

  Contributions

  $1,131,453

  Grants paid

  $39,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,898,218

  Expenses

  $680,065

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,670,070

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $829,683

  Expenses

  $667,430

  Assets (EOY)

  $495,164

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,015,543

  Expenses

  $773,352

  Assets (EOY)

  $377,848

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $722,372

  Expenses

  $837,074

  Assets (EOY)

  $186,069

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,686,834

  Expenses

  $1,843,241

  Assets (EOY)

  $308,229

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,752,757

  Expenses

  $1,796,051

  Assets (EOY)

  $422,695

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,569,170

  Expenses

  $1,626,803

  Assets (EOY)

  $379,260

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,196,986

  Expenses

  $1,007,545

  Assets (EOY)

  $402,123

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $870,545

  Expenses

  $1,048,663

  Assets (EOY)

  $201,223

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $938,399

  Assets (EOY)

  $393,453

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• AMERICAN FAMILY VOICES

  $39,000

  2022 · POPULIST ECONOMIC PROJECT

• AMERICAN FAMILY VOICES

  $0

  2023 · POPULIST ECONOMIC PROJECT

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• SUNRISE PROJECT INC

  $150,000

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• HOPEWELL FUND

  $150,000

  2022 · CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY

• SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION

  $125,000

  2022 · JOURNALISM AND CIVICS

• SUNRISE PROJECT INC

  $100,000

  2024 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $58,125

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• HOPEWELL FUND

  $50,000

  2024 · CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $39,275

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

  $33,000

  2024 · General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

• THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

  $30,000

  2022 · General Operating Support

• THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

  $30,000

  2023 · General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

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

Other IRS files