Nonprofit · EIN 87-4640985
LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC
Tax-exempt · LEXINGTON, MA 02421
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,040,925 | $4,979,798 | -$938,873 | $175,806 | $11,382 | $164,424 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,737,014 | $640,394 | $1,096,620 | $1,142,953 | $39,656 | $1,103,297 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,028,034
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $12,891
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $812,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $344,314
- Other salaries and wages
- $37,244
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $395,299
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $16,375
- Occupancy
- $2,992
- Travel
- $1,415
- Program services (functional)
- $4,937,976
- Management and general (functional)
- $41,822
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,142,953
- Total assets, end of year
- $175,806
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $11,382
- Net assets, end of year
- $164,424
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $164,424
- Gross receipts
- $4,040,925
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 5
- Year formed
- 2022
- 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 December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS MELE | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $224,314 |
| CAMERON HICKEY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| NAGARJUNA VENNA | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| CRAIG SANDLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH HANSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS MELE | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| CAMERON HICKEY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2.5 | $0 |
| NAGARJUNA VENNA | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| CRAIG SANDLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH HANSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 162 MARRETT RD, LEXINGTON, MA 02421-7015
- Mailing address (990-N for 2022)
- PO BOX 343, LEXINGTON MA 02420
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- NICHOLAS MELE, PO BOX 343, LEXINGTON, MA 02420
- Principal officer (990-N for 2022)
- NICHOLAS MELE, PO BOX 343, LEXINGTON MA 02420
- Signed the 990
- NICHOLAS MELE, CHAIR
- Phone
- (781) 205-0695
- Website
- WWW.LEXOBSERVER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CZIRAKI CPA PLLC
Mission
THE LEXINGTON OBSERVER IS A HYPERLOCAL, DIGITAL-FIRST, NONPROFIT NEWS SITE COVERING ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO PEOPLE IN LEXINGTON, INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE. THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPATION IN LEXINGTON MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH LOCAL, COMMUNITY JOURNALISM.
Program accomplishments
- LEXINGTON OBSERVER: STARTED BY LEXINGTON RESIDENTS IN 2021, THE LEXINGTON OBSERVER IS A NONPROFIT DIGITAL NEWSROOM DEVOTED TO REPORTING ON ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO PEOPLE IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING EDUCATION, CULTURE, HOUSING, ECONOMY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.Expenses $326,847 · grants $50,000
- LOCAL NEWS HUB: THE LOCAL NEWS HUB'S (LNH) MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY PROVIDING CONSULTATIONS AND ADVICE, DISTRIBUTING GRANTS, AND ACTING AS A FISCAL SPONSOR. THROUGH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND RE-GRANTING EFFORTS, LNH HAS DISTRIBUTED FUNDS TO NONPROFIT NEWSROOMS IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, OHIO, TEXAS, WISCONSIN THROUGH AN INVITATION-ONLY GRANT-MAKING PROCESS.Expenses $4,611,129 · grants $762,000
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 87-4640985
- 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
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A33)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $175,806
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,040,925
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $4,040,925 | $4,979,798 | $175,806 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,737,014 | $640,394 | $1,142,953 | XML |
| 990-N for 2022 Officer: NICHOLAS MELE | December 31, 2022 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 87-4640985).
Questions about LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC
- What is the EIN of LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC is 87-4640985.
- Is LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LEXINGTON OBSERVER 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 LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names NICHOLAS MELE.
- Who are the officers and directors of LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 5 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $224,314 (NICHOLAS MELE, CHAIR).
- How much revenue does LEXINGTON OBSERVER INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $4,040,925, expenses of $4,979,798 and total assets of $175,806 at year end.
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- LEXINGTON FRIENDS OF THE ARTS INC EIN 04-3245366 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LEXINGTON COMMUNITY MEDIA CENTER INC EIN 42-1670140 · last filed 990 for 2025
- JAPANESE ARE SOCIETY OF AMERICA INC EIN 13-2778597 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTRUMENTAL AND CHORAL CONDUCTORS ASSOCIATION EIN 92-1654316 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- NEW LEGACY CULTURAL CENTER INC EIN 83-0930022 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- HERITAGE STAGE INC EIN 84-2327208 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
All nonprofits in LEXINGTON · Massachusetts · Arts, culture and humanities