Lexington Observer Inc
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.
Key facts about Lexington Observer Inc
- EIN
- 87-4640985
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $812,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- Average grant
- $90,222
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $175,806
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Lexington Observer Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lexington Observer Inc's 9 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (45%), Michigan (18%) and North Carolina (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (3 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants). None of its 9 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Media Support" (9 grants).
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$176K
-84.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$812K
+441.3% YoY
Grant Count
9
+350.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$90K
+20.3% YoY
About Lexington Observer Inc
Based on IRS filings
Lexington Observer Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Lexington, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2023 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $176K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $812K. Net investment income was $13K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 9 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $175,806 | $1,142,953 |
| Revenue | $4,040,925 | $1,737,014 |
| Expenses | $4,979,798 | $640,394 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $12,891 | $1 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Creative Communications ($288,000), The Center for Michigan Inc ($150,000 across 2 grants), States Newsroom ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS Saint Paul, MN | MEDIA SUPPORT | $288,000 |
| STATES NEWSROOM Chapel Hill, NC | MEDIA SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| NEVADA NEWS BUREAU INC Las Vegas, NV | MEDIA SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO NEWS Santa Fe, NM | MEDIA SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| THE CENTER FOR MICHIGAN INC Detroit, MI | MEDIA SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| THE CENTER FOR MICHIGAN INC Detroit, MI | MEDIA SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ARIZONA CENTER OF INVESTIGATIVE REP Phoenix, AZ | MEDIA SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CREATIVE COMMUNICATION Saint Paul, MN | MEDIA SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CREATIVE COMMUNICATION Saint Paul, MN | MEDIA SUPPORT | $24,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Mele | Chair | 5 | $224,314 |
| Cameron Hickey | Secretary | 2.5 | — |
| Nagarjuna Venna | Treasurer | 0.5 | — |
| Craig Sandler | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Elizabeth Hansen | Director | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lexington Observer Inc?
Lexington Observer Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Lexington, MA. It holds $176K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Lexington Observer Inc?
As of 2024, Lexington Observer Inc holds $176K in total assets with $4.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 9 grants totaling $812K in 2024.
Where does Lexington Observer Inc operate?
Lexington Observer Inc has awarded grants in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada.
What size grants does Lexington Observer Inc award?
In 2024, Lexington Observer Inc awarded 9 grants totaling $812K — an average of about $90K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Lexington Observer Inc's EIN?
Lexington Observer Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4640985. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.