Nonprofit · EIN 92-0577182
SPOTLIGHT PA
Tax-exempt · HARRISBURG, PA 17108
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $6,281,904 | $3,489,395 | $2,792,509 | $7,588,741 | $82,904 | $7,505,837 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $7,681,904 | $3,180,709 | $4,501,195 | $4,746,499 | $69,154 | $4,677,345 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,131,551
- Program service revenue
- $716
- Investment income
- $151,182
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$1,545
- Other revenue
- -$1,545
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $264,934
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,111,896
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,784,811
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $55,799
- Accounting fees
- $78,051
- Occupancy
- $4,560
- Travel
- $36,233
- Depreciation
- $3,762
- Program services (functional)
- $2,469,703
- Management and general (functional)
- $487,554
- Fundraising (functional)
- $532,138
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,746,499
- Total assets, end of year
- $7,588,741
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $82,904
- Net assets, end of year
- $7,505,837
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $5,956
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $4,187,478
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $3,318,359
- Gross receipts
- $6,287,229
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 7
- Year formed
- 2022
- State of legal domicile
- PA
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 | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER BAXTER | CEO & PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $217,499 | $47,435 |
| SARAH ANNE HUGHES | DEPUTY EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,199 | $25,419 |
| MATTHEW DEMPSEY | SENIOR EDITOR FOR INVESTIGATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $130,137 | $8,139 |
| CARLANA JOHNSON | TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,364 | $15,240 |
| JOANNA ZUCKERMAN BERNSTEIN | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,418 | $10,075 |
| MICHELLE MERTZ | DIR OF INDIVIDUAL & CORPORATE GIVING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $102,448 | $18,254 |
| DAVID BOARDMAN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNIE MCCAIN MADONIA | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE FERNANDEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHLEEN A PAVELKO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| OLIVIA BENSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| REBECCA SHOVAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER BAXTER | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $189,825 | $35,709 |
| MATTHEW DEMPSEY | SENIOR EDITOR, INVESTIGATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,028 | $1,418 |
| JOANNA ZUCKERMAN BERNSTEIN | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,689 | $4,110 |
| DAVID BOARDMAN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNIE MCCAIN MADONIA | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE FERNANDEZ | DIRECTOR (EFF 4/23) Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHLEEN A PAVELKO | DIRECTOR (EFF 1/23) Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| OLIVIA BENSON | DIRECTOR (EFF 7/23) Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 312 MARKET ST UNIT 11728, HARRISBURG, PA 17108-2569
- In care of
- % CHRISTOPHER BAXTER
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CHRISTOPHER BAXTER, 312 MARKET STREET 11728, HARRISBURG, PA 17108
- Signed the 990
- CHRISTOPHER BAXTER, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (973) 943-9130
- Website
- WWW.SPOTLIGHTPA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- EISNER ADVISORY GROUP LLC
Mission
THE MISSION OF SPOTLIGHT PA IS TO HOLD POWERFUL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FORCES, ESPECIALLY GOVERNMENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUSINESSES, AND SPECIAL INTERESTS, TO ACCOUNT THROUGH URGENT AND COMPELLING INVESTIGATIVE AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM THAT DRIVES CHANGE AND STRENGTHENS OUR DEMOCRACY, THE STATE, AND ALL WHO LIVE HERE.
Program accomplishments
- SPOTLIGHT PA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN NEWSROOM DEDICATED TO HIGH-QUALITY INVESTIGATIVE AND PUBLIC-SERVICE JOURNALISM ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE GOVERNMENT AND URGENT STATEWIDE ISSUES, INCLUDING ELECTIONS, VOTING, THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE, RURAL COMMUNITIES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, AND MORE. SPOTLIGHT PA WAS FOUNDED TO ADDRESS A CRISIS IN JOURNALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA: THE ONGOING AND RAPID DECLINE OF CORPORATE-OWNED LEGACY NEWS OUTLETS, WHICH IS GREATLY DIMINISHING ACCESS TO TRUSTED, CONTEXTUAL, AND FACTUAL REPORTING ACROSS THE STATE. SPOTLIGHT PA IS UNCOVERING STORIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNTOLD AND CUTTING THROUGH PARTISANSHIP AND MISINFORMATION TO DELIVER TRUSTED, RELIABLE JOURNALISM AT NO COST TO ALL IN PENNSYLVANIA. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)WE MAKE OUR JOURNALISM AVAILABLE AT NO COST VIA SPOTLIGHTPA.ORG, SEVERAL EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND VIA MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY NEWS PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEWSPAPERS, PUBLIC RADIO, AND DIGITAL OUTLETS IN PENNSYLVANIA.Expenses $2,469,703 · revenue $716
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
- 92-0577182
- 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)
- Education (B03)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $7,588,741
- Income (IRS master file)
- $6,287,229
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $6,281,904 | $3,489,395 | $7,588,741 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $7,681,904 | $3,180,709 | $4,746,499 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $659,261 | $482,120 | $183,600 | 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 92-0577182).
Questions about SPOTLIGHT PA
- What is the EIN of SPOTLIGHT PA?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SPOTLIGHT PA is 92-0577182.
- Is SPOTLIGHT PA tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to SPOTLIGHT PA tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SPOTLIGHT PA 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 SPOTLIGHT PA 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 SPOTLIGHT PA 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 SPOTLIGHT PA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names CHRISTOPHER BAXTER.
- Who are the officers and directors of SPOTLIGHT PA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 12 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $217,499 (CHRISTOPHER BAXTER, CEO & PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does SPOTLIGHT PA have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $6,281,904, expenses of $3,489,395 and total assets of $7,588,741 at year end.
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