named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Investigative Journalism
Conducts in-depth investigations into government operations, healthcare systems, and social services, such as nursing home neglect and AI use in public agencies.
Local Politics Coverage
Reports on municipal governance, law enforcement practices, and community-level policy issues across New York State.
Statehouse Reporting
Covers New York State government, legislation, and policy decisions with a focus on transparency and public impact.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 5 activities
- Accepts story tips and pitches from the public and external contributorsOperates a "Pitch Us" page and provides contact channels—including email and secure messaging—for receiving story ideas, tips, and feedback from the public and external journalists.
- Advocates for policy change through investigative reportingProduces investigative journalism that has directly influenced legislation, regulation, and public policy in New York. Examples include prompting the introduction of the "Stop Illegal Evictions Act," leading to a ban on toxic waste incineration near public housing, exposing campaign finance deception involving Amazon, and influencing budget decisions by revealing loopholes.
- Distributes journalism to local news partners and collaborates on co-reporting projectsProvides investigative stories at no cost to over 50 local news outlets across New York on a weekly basis and engages in co-reporting initiatives with local media partners. Makes reporters available for interviews and participates in public events to amplify coverage.
- Produces explanatory research reports and briefs on key state issuesCreates In Brief articles and investigative research that explain critical topics such as sports betting, prison population trends, education funding, and wage theft affecting home health aides. Research has led to measurable outcomes including a $162 million settlement with $25 million in compensation.
- Produces investigative and in-depth journalism on New York state governmentConducts original investigative reporting on state and local politics, power structures, and governance in New York, with a focus on transparency and accountability. Covers decision-making in Albany and its impact on residents through firsthand sources, FOIL requests, and leaked documents.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Funds external writers for story productionAwards payments to freelance writers, typically $800 per story, with adjustments based on the scope and intensity of investigative work, to produce journalistic content.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advances AI transparency through research and policy engagementConducted the first inventory of state agency AI systems impacting the public and engaged in advocacy efforts that contributed to the implementation and refinement of New York’s AI use policy, including updated reporting requirements in June 2026.
- Conducts research on New York’s local news ecosystem and state agency practicesCarried out a statewide listening tour (2023–2024) visiting cities such as Rochester, Albany, Potsdam, and Syracuse to assess the local news landscape. Published findings based on community and media partner input. Also conducted investigations into state agency use of AI and other governance issues.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.80M
Contributions & grants$1.60M89%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$55K3%
Other revenue$147K
expenses
Total expenses$1.42M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$1.18M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.10M
Cash$2.56M
Investments$0
Liabilities$26K
Net assets$4.08M
Liquid reserves21.6 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -50.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKASH MEHTA | EDITOR IN CHIEF | 40 | $95K |
| REBECCA KLEIN | PUBLISHER | 40 | $74K |
board members · 9
- DICK TOFEL — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- LEE HARRIS — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- LIZZIE WEINREB FISHMAN — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- OSKAR EUSTIS — BOARD CHAIR
- PATRICK GASPARD — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- REX SMITH — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- RON CHERNOW — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- SIMEON BANISTER — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- SUSAN RESTLER — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- Albany Government — Focuses reporting on political decisions made in Albany, the seat of New York state government.
- American Journalism Project Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Arnold Ventures Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Chris Bragg Partner — Albany Bureau Chief contributing to New York Focus
- Chris Gelardi Partner — Justice Bureau Chief contributing to New York Focus
- Colin Kinniburgh Partner — Climate and Environmental Politics Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- Daily Star Partner — Republishes New York Focus stories and has received positive reader feedback on state coverage.
- Emerson Collective Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Federation of American Scientists Partner — Provided expert commentary on AI policy, with senior manager Clara Langevin critiquing the ambiguity of state reporting guidelines.
- Ford Foundation Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Governor Kathy Hochul Government — Championed AI transparency initiatives and signed the 2024 AI policy into law.
- Institute for Nonprofit News Network — Member organization that adheres to shared standards of editorial independence.
- Isabelle Taft Partner — Immigration Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- Jessica González-Rojas Government — Introduced legislation based on New York Focus reporting about the use of "excited delirium" in public reports.
- Jie Jenny Zou Partner — Social Services Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- Legislative Correspondents Alumni Association Network — Recognized New York Focus reporter Chris Gelardi with its annual award for best state government reporting.
- Liv Veazey Partner — Interim Immigration Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- Local Independent Online News Publishers Network — Network member listed among supporters in 2024.
- Melissa Manno Partner — Education Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- New York State Education Department Government — Reported on the department's intervention in a school district's robot teacher plan.
- Nick Garber Partner — Politics Reporter contributing to New York Focus
- Office of Information Technology Services Government — State agency responsible for overseeing AI use and receiving disclosures from other state agencies.
- Park Foundation Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Post-Standard Partner — Republishes New York Focus investigative stories and has distributed them to hundreds of thousands of readers.
- Protonmail Partner — Uses Protonmail as a secure email channel for receiving story tips and feedback.
- Realbotix Partner — Engaged with Realbotix's AI teaching assistant for reporting purposes.
- Report for America Partner — Collaborating organization listed among supporters since 2023.
- Robin Hood Foundation Funder — Donor contributing $1,000 or more since fiscal year 2022.
- Salamanca City Central School District Partner — Reported on the school district's evaluation and subsequent pause of a robot teacher program.
- Sam Mellins Partner — Senior Reporter contributing to New York Focus
+ 6 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Investigative Journalism as a Tool for Accountability and Policy Changemethodology: investigative-journalism-for-policy-changeBy conducting in-depth, original investigative reporting on state governance, power structures, and hidden government operations, we increase public understanding and drive legislative reform, because exposing concealed truths creates pressure for systemic accountability and policy improvement.
- Nonpartisan and Independent Journalism to Strengthen Democratic Engagementmethodology: independent-journalismBy maintaining editorial independence through firewalls between funding and news decisions and rejecting conflicted donors, we produce nonpartisan, fair reporting that builds public trust and fosters democratic engagement, because perceived neutrality enhances credibility and audience reach across political divides.
- Rebuilding the Local News Ecosystem Through Shared Investigative Reportingmethodology: rebuilding_local_news_ecosystemBy producing high-quality, statewide investigative journalism that local outlets lack the capacity to generate independently, we strengthen the broader news ecosystem and ensure sustained public access to critical information, because filling coverage gaps prevents information deserts and amplifies impact through content sharing.