How We’re Funded

CalMatters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. As our journalism calls for increased transparency across government for residents, we also believe in being transparent about our work.

We are funded through foundations, major donors, sponsors and members. We spend the majority of our funding directly on reporters, editors, photographers, researchers and on people who support our journalism efforts. Our federal tax ID number is 47-2474086.

Reports and Financials

At CalMatters, we believe in transparency. Here you will find our financial information as required by the Institute for Nonprofit News and federal law.

When you support CalMatters’ award-winning journalism, you make it possible for Californians to stay informed, engaged, and empowered to hold decision-makers accountable. As the only newsroom dedicated to covering all 39 million Californians and the world’s 4th-largest economy, your commitment to independent, nonpartisan reporting truly matters. Questions? Email gifts@calmatters.org or contact Kate Looby, Chief Development Officer, at kate@calmatters.org.

CalMatters is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Federal Tax ID #47-2474086. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for your contribution.

We do not share or sell the personal information of our donors nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.

Donate Online

Make your secure contribution online now. 

Mail a Check

Make it out to CalMatters and send it to:
CalMatters
1017 L Street #261
Sacramento CA 95814

Matching Gifts

Many employers will donate to the charities you select. Check now to see if your employer has a corporate match to increase your impact to CalMatters. If you have any questions, please email us at gifts@calmatters.org.

Use Your Donor-Advised Fund

If you donate through Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY Mellon, make your recommendation through the DAF Direct website. If you have another donor-advised fund, please make the recommendation to your fund and give them the address above and our federal tax ID number: 47-2474086.

Donate Shares of Stock

Donating appreciated stock is easy and may have significant tax benefits for you. Please check with your tax advisor. When you’re ready, ask your broker to transfer the shares to the CalMatters brokerage account at Fidelity. The account number is Z47943429 and the Depository Trust Company (DTC) code for Fidelity is 0226. Stock transfers often arrive without the donor’s contact information, so please send an email to gifts@calmatters.org to notify us and share your contact information so we may promptly send an acknowledgment and a tax receipt.

Donate from your IRA

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account can be a great, tax-advantaged way to support CalMatters. Contact us at gifts@calmatters.org for help with this process. 

Transfer with Wire Funds

Sending a gift from your bank directly to ours is easy and safe. Please contact us for the banking information required to make a transfer at gifts@calmatters.org.

Legacy Giving

CalMatters is here to serve Californians today — and tomorrow. By including CalMatters in your estate plans, you’ll help ensure Californians have access to trusted, nonpartisan journalism for generations to come. Ways to Give:

Bequests in Your Will or Trust

A simple way to make a lasting impact is through a gift in your will or trust.

Retirement Accounts & Life Insurance

Naming CalMatters as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or life insurance policy can reduce taxes for your heirs while supporting vital reporting.

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)

You can designate CalMatters as a successor beneficiary of your DAF.

Sample Language for Your Will or Trust:
“I give and bequeath to CalMatters, a nonprofit organization (Tax ID: #47-2474086), located in Sacramento, California, the sum of $_____ (or ___% of my estate, or the residue of my estate) for its general operating purposes.”

Recognition: The Byline Society

Those who include CalMatters in their estate plans are welcomed into The Byline Society, a special community of supporters dedicated to sustaining our mission for the future. By joining, you can take pride in helping ensure the work of our award-winning journalists continues for decades to come—and find meaning in knowing your values will live on well beyond your lifetime.

Next Step:

If you’ve already included CalMatters in your plans — or would like more information — please contact Kate Looby at kate@calmatters.org

We rely on the financial support of our donors, members and institutional advertisers and sponsors. 

Millions of Californians read our award-winning journalism across our website, newsletters, all of the state’s major newspapers, leading public radio stations, mobile news apps and hundreds of online publications. 

Our institutional advertisers and event sponsors support CalMatters because they understand informed Californians contribute to a better California. They also understand that they do not influence our journalism.

We invite associations, corporations, nonprofits and all groups to show their support for politically informed and active participant Californians and for non-partisan journalism by advertising in our award winning digital media channels and sponsoring our live journalism events. 

For more information on advertising and sponsorship opportunities, contact Zeke Lihosit Ad & Sponsorship Sales Manager at zeke@calmatters.org 

Thank you to our Advertisers and Sponsors of $5,000 or more from the past 12 months who support the value of our work and mission.

CalMatters’ membership program empowers residents to protect and expand the work that we do for everyone in California.

Our active members are people who have given within the past year. Sustaining members are people who set up recurring monthly or annual donations. This enables us to have predictable revenue allowing us to plan ahead and bring on more journalists over time.

Members receive a monthly inside look at the work they empower in an exclusive membership newsletter. Members also receive free, inside invitations to unique in-person and virtual events. Please join us as a member today with a tax-deductible donation. Please direct all questions to Director of Membership Sonya Quick at membership@calmatters.org.

Publisher’s Circle

We offer special thanks to our Publisher’s Circle members. These contributors have supported CalMatters with gifts or grants of $10,000 or more in the past year.

• A-Mark Foundation
• Actum LLC
• AKT Communities Fund
• Amy Rao* 
• Ann and John Doerr* 
• Anthony Bernhardt and Lynn Feintech* 
• Arnold Ventures
• Arthur Rock and Toni Rembe
• Baker Street Foundation
• Baru Marketing & Media
• Bask Digital Media
• Battery Powered
• BCW Corporate Affairs
• Becky Morgan 
• Beryl Golden
• Beth and Russell Siegelman 
• Bill Younger 
• Blue Shield of CA Foundation
• California Community Foundation
• California Endowment
• California Health Care Foundation
• California State Association of Counties
• California Wellness Foundation
• CalNonprofits
• California Water Service
• Catchlight Foundation
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
• Chris and Michael Boskin* 
• Christina Kenrick
• Clare McCamy
• Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
• College Futures Foundation
• Condoleeza Rice
• Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
• Dairy Cares
• David and Lucile Packard Foundation
• David Singer 
• Dennis Levitt and Jane Gordon
• Diana Walsh and John Kent Walker 
• ECMC Foundation
• Elaine and Eric Hahn
• Emerson Collective*
• Fiona Hutton & Associates
• First 5 LA
• Flora Family Foundation
• FThree Foundation
• Fund for Nonprofit News at The Miami Foundation
• Gene Sykes 
• George H & Estelle M Sands Foundation 
• Google
• Greg and Anne Avis* 
• Greg and Judi Stefflre
• Gruber Family Foundation
• Harrington Family Foundation
• Hellman Foundation
• Hema Sareen Mohan 
• Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
• J & Z Strategies
• Jack Mosbacher
• James Scopa and Anne Kenner
• Jan McAdoo
• Janie Lorber 
• Jeffrey and Christina Bird* 
• Jennifer Hoff
• Jesse and Mindy Rogers 
• Jim and Patricia White
• John Boland and James Carroll 
• John Buoymaster
• Julianne Wagner
• Karen Gilhuly
• Kathy Fairbanks
• Kelli Tomlinson
• Kenneth and Jackie Broad
• Knight Foundation
• League of California Cities
• Len and Mary Anne Baker* 
• Lucas Public Affairs
• Lyft
• Marian Kremer and Kris Hagerman
• Marin Clean Energy (MCE)
• Mark and Mary Stevens
• Mark Friedman
• Mary Speiser* 
• Michael Brownrigg and Marty Burchell
• Nancy and Gregory Serrurier* 
• New California Coalition
• Open Campus
• Pacific Library Partnership
• Paschal Roth Public Affairs
• Paul and Nicole Ricci
• Paul Haaga 
• Paula Rantz 
• Perry Communications Group
• R.B. “Buzz” Woolley, Jr* 
• Rachael Bowman
• Randle Communications, LLC
• Resources Legacy Fund
• Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
• Rosenthal Family Foundation
• San Jose Clean Energy
• Sand Hill Foundation*
• Schmidt Family Foundation
• Shawn and Brook Byers 
• Signe Ostby and Scott D. Cook 
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation
• Simone Otus Coxe*
• Smidt Foundation
• Southern California Gas
• States Newsroom
• Steve Silberstein
• Stuart Foundation
• Sutter Health
• Tad and Dianne Taube 
• The Enlight Foundation
• The James Irvine Foundation
• The John Pritzker Family Fund
• The San Francisco Foundation
• The Walter S. Johnson Foundation
• Tim Dattels and Kristine Johnson
• Unearth Campaigns
• Vadasz Family Foundation
• Valenzuela Foundation
• West Coast Advisors
• Wild Hive Agency
• William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

 * Annual support at Publisher’s Circle level since our founding.

These categories represent total all time giving amounts.