Nonprofit · EIN 06-1664153
GRIST MAGAZINE INC
Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98101
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $10,366,804 | $10,166,181 | $200,623 | $11,590,504 | $1,777,477 | $9,813,027 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $10,021,639 | $9,754,594 | $267,045 | $10,955,941 | $1,016,085 | $9,939,856 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $8,595,247 | $8,930,092 | -$334,845 | $10,278,613 | $758,183 | $9,520,430 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $9,904,409
- of which government grants
- $1,005,743
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $246,179
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $21
- Other revenue
- $216,216
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,179,956
- Other salaries and wages
- $5,710,158
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $8,268,930
- Professional fundraising fees
- $4,631
- Legal fees
- $59,804
- Accounting fees
- $151,836
- Occupancy
- $147,792
- Travel
- $260,212
- Depreciation
- $24,882
- Program services (functional)
- $7,421,900
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,385,255
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,359,026
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $10,955,941
- Total assets, end of year
- $11,590,504
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,777,477
- Net assets, end of year
- $9,813,027
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $10,257
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,326,458
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $7,290,477
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $2,522,550
- Gross unrelated business income
- $207,833
- Gross receipts
- $10,415,700
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 17
- Year formed
- 2002
- State of legal domicile
- MA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikhil Swaminathan | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 45 | $310,275 | $12,877 |
| Natasha Berman | COO Key employee | 45 | $229,416 | $31,886 |
| Jess Stahl | Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives Highest-paid employee | 40 | $188,242 | $16,634 |
| Kat Bagley | Editor in Chief Key employee | 45 | $173,026 | $31,779 |
| Rebekah Cardwell | Director of Finance & Admin Officer | 45 | $165,808 | $24,499 |
| Patrick Schmitt | Director of Development Key employee | 45 | $167,845 | $15,818 |
| Megan Merrigan | Director of Innovation and Growth Highest-paid employee | 40 | $146,708 | $14,972 |
| Tristan Ahtone | Editor at Large Highest-paid employee | 40 | $133,667 | $14,451 |
| Teresa Chin | Executive Editor, Data & Design Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,960 | $5,984 |
| Mignon Khargie | Art Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $126,596 | $14,168 |
| Kavita Ramdas | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elise Hu | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Moodie | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Charles Giller | Founder Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John Alderman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
12 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton Allen | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Dana Bourland | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Susan Chira | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Michelle Depass | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| C'ardiss Gardner Gleser | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kristin Grimm | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Susan Kaufman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Max Moinian | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rachel Morello-Frosch | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Julian Brave Noisecat | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| John Vechey | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brady Walkinshaw | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 27 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikhil Swaminathan | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $250,495 | $10,020 |
| Natasha Berman | COO Key employee | 50 | $223,603 | $31,070 |
| Jess Stahl | Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives Highest-paid employee | 40 | $185,905 | $8,599 |
| Kat Bagley | Editor in Chief Key employee | 45 | $158,915 | $30,636 |
| Bekah Cardwell | Director of Finance & Administration Officer | 45 | $153,709 | $23,465 |
| Patrick Schmitt | Director of Development Key employee | 45 | $152,665 | $14,706 |
| Megan Merrigan | Director of Innovation and Growth Highest-paid employee | 40 | $139,572 | $14,182 |
| Jess Alvarado-Lepine | Director, Membership Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,582 | $29,062 |
| Tristan Ahtone | Editor at Large Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,583 | $13,702 |
| Teressa Chin | Executive Editor, Data & Design Highest-paid employee | 40 | $129,090 | $0 |
| Susan Kaufman | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Elise Hu | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| John Alderman | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Charles Giller | Founder Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Julian Brave Noisecat | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Max Moinian | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| John Vechey | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristin Frimm | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Moodie | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Michelle Depass | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Rachel Morello-Frosch | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| C'Ardiss Gardner Gleser | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Dana Bourland | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Susan Chira | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Brady Walkinshaw | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Trenton Allen | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kavita Ramdas | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 28 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikhil Swaminathan | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 45 | $232,652 | $9,306 |
| Natasha Berman | COO Officer | 45 | $225,109 | $12,466 |
| Jess Stahl | Editor, Creative Storytelling Highest-paid employee | 40 | $196,819 | $16,335 |
| Rebekah Cardwell | Director of Finance Officer | 45 | $150,857 | $15,727 |
| Patrick | Director of Fundraising Officer | 45 | $146,360 | $14,316 |
| Lisa Jurras-Buchanan | Director Content Operations Highest-paid employee | 40 | $128,205 | $27,645 |
| Kat Bagley | Executive Editor Officer | 45 | $126,251 | $27,567 |
| Jess Alvarado Lepine | Membership Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,017 | $24,015 |
| Teresa Chin | Deputy Editor Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,902 | $5,036 |
| Tristan Ahtone | Editor at Large Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,360 | $8,462 |
| Charles Giller | Founder Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $115,602 | $13,075 |
| Susan L Kaufman | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Moodie | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Elise Hu | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Alderman | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Trenton Allen | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Dana Bourland | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Susan Chira | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Michelle DePass | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| C'Ardiss Gardner Glsser | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristin Grimm | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Max Moinian | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Rachel Morello-Frosch | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Julian Brave NoiseCat | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kavita Ramdas | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Nathaniel Smith | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Brady Walkinshaw | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John Vechey | Board Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1601 5TH AVENUE 9TH FLOOR, SEATTLE, WA 98101-3621
- In care of
- % BEKAH CARDWELL
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Nikhil Swaminathan, PO Box 12710, Seattle, WA 98111
- Signed the 990
- Nikhil Swaminathan, CEO
- Phone
- (206) 876-2020
- Website
- www.grist.org
- Return prepared by
- WERSEN NONPROFIT CPAS LLC
Mission
Grist is an independent, non profit media organization dedicated to reporting on climate change.
Program accomplishments
- 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
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 06-1664153
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2003
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $11,590,504
- Income (IRS master file)
- $10,415,700
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $10,366,804 | $10,166,181 | $11,590,504 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2024 | $10,021,639 | $9,754,594 | $10,955,941 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $8,595,247 | $8,930,092 | $10,278,613 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $11,337,542 | $8,458,734 | $10,095,645 | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 06-1664153).
Questions about GRIST MAGAZINE INC
- What is the EIN of GRIST MAGAZINE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of GRIST MAGAZINE INC is 06-1664153.
- Is GRIST MAGAZINE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2003.
- Are donations to GRIST MAGAZINE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does GRIST MAGAZINE INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of GRIST MAGAZINE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did GRIST MAGAZINE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of GRIST MAGAZINE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Nikhil Swaminathan.
- Who are the officers and directors of GRIST MAGAZINE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 27 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $310,275 (Nikhil Swaminathan, CEO).
- How much revenue does GRIST MAGAZINE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $10,366,804, expenses of $10,166,181 and total assets of $11,590,504 at year end.
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