Open Campus Media Inc
Open Campus Media Inc is a Washington, DC-based public charity formed in 2019. It supports journalism about higher education through partnerships with local newsrooms, national reporting, and related programs.
Open Campus Media Inc at a glance
In short: Open Campus Media Inc gave $995K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), top state Maryland. 71% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $994,835
- +195.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +183.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,520
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $3,297,082
- -12.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 71% first-time grantees (12 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Open Campus Media Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 Thomas Circle Nw 700, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (240) 283-4856
Website: https://opencampusmedia.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Open Campus Media Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Work Shift LLC ($285K). Together the top 10 received $869K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 30 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. Maryland received the largest share, at 29%, followed by California at 13%, Texas at 12%, Indiana at 9%, and Florida at 8%. Listed recipients also included organizations in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Open Campus Media Inc open to new grantees?
71%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 17 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 24% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $226K (2022) to $995K (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $995K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Work Shift LLC Takoma Park, MD | Fiscal Sponsorship and Technical Assistance | $285,260 |
| Cal Matters Sacramento, CA | Partner Newsroom Support | $125,000 |
| AJP -Free Press Indianamirror Indy Indianapolis, IN | Partner Newsroom Support | $88,421 |
| Tampa Bay Times St Petersburg, FL | Partner Newsroom Support | $77,143 |
| Wbez (Chicago Public Media) Chicago, IL | Partner Newsroom Support | $68,750 |
| Ohio Local News Initiative Columbus, OH | Partner Newsroom Support | $54,762 |
| City Report New York, NY | Partner Newsroom Support | $50,000 |
| El Paso Matters El Paso, TX | Partner Newsroom Support | $40,000 |
| Deep South Today Jackson, MS | Partner Newsroom Support | $40,000 |
| Publicsource Inc Pittsburgh, PA | Partner Newsroom Support | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,297,082 | $2,463,790 | $2,973,668 | $994,835 | 17 | — |
| 2023 | $3,761,864 | $5,151,890 | $2,114,501 | $336,429 | 6 | $3 |
| 2022 | $734,145 | $2,158,979 | $1,665,949 | $226,478 | 7 | $124 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Open Campus says higher education shapes communities’ economic opportunities and regional prospects, and that the public needs information to understand how colleges work. Its local reporting network combines funding from national, regional, and local funders with newsroom partnerships. Open Campus staff provide story guidance, editing, data and source connections, workshops, and newsletters; partner newsrooms employ the reporters and publish their work with Open Campus.
Its other stated programs include a national reporting team covering postsecondary education inside prisons and higher education in rural communities, as well as Work Shift, journalist training, College Inside, and consumer tools.
The 2024 grants show support for partner newsrooms. CalMatters describes its mission as informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests shaping issues that affect their lives. Chicago Public Media says it uses independent local journalism to strengthen communities and democracy. PublicSource says it provides Pennsylvania citizens with in-depth reporting and data and explains complex issues. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Open Campus reported 17 grants totaling $994,835. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $285,260, with a median of $40,000. The largest grants included $285,260 to Work Shift LLC for fiscal sponsorship and technical assistance; $125,000 to CalMatters for partner newsroom support; $88,421 to AJP - Free Press IndianaMirror Indy for partner newsroom support; and $77,143 to Tampa Bay Times for partner newsroom support.
Other grants included $68,750 to WBEZ (Chicago Public Media), $54,762 to Ohio Local News Initiative, $50,000 to City Report, and $40,000 each to El Paso Matters, Deep South Today, and PublicSource. These were listed as partner newsroom support.
Before making grant payments to partner organizations, Open Campus requires them to sign an MOU setting out each party’s responsibilities. The filing says Open Campus meets with partner newsrooms at least every two weeks to review their work and makes corrections as needed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Scott Smallwood as president and Ted Weidlein as secretary and treasurer. Trustees listed are Lasharah Bunting, Caroline Hendrie, Amy Kovac-Ashley, Arlene Notoro Morgan, Abigail Seldin, and Maria Archangelo. Staff listed are Maria Archangelo, chief revenue officer; Sara Hebel, editor-in-chief; and Colleen Murphy, managing director.
Open Campus Media Inc is led by Scott Smallwood, President since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 5 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Scott Smallwood
President
CEO → President, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$90K (2022) → $166K (2024)
Colleen Murphy
Managing Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2024)
Amy Kovac-Ashley
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arlene Notoro Morgan
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Hendrie
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lasharah Bunting
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Seldin
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Archangelo
Chief Revenue Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$157K (2022) → $174K (2024)
Sara Hebel
Editor-In-Chief
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$135K (2023) → $167K (2024)
Kayleigh Skinner
Managing Editor
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2024)
Ted Weidlein
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $174K, to Maria Archangelo (Chief Revenue Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Open Campus Media Inc
How much does Open Campus Media Inc give each year?
Open Campus Media Inc gave $995K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $336K across 6 grants.
What is Open Campus Media Inc's typical grant size?
Open Campus Media Inc's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $58,520, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Open Campus Media Inc that year got $62K on average.
Where does Open Campus Media Inc give grants?
Open Campus Media Inc's top state is Maryland, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (13%) and Texas (12%).
Does Open Campus Media Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Open Campus Media Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Partner Newsroom Support" (11 grants) and ""Storyfund" Reporting on Rural or Prison Higher Education" (5 grants).
Who are Open Campus Media Inc's largest grantees?
Open Campus Media Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Work Shift LLC ($285,260), Cal Matters ($125,000) and AJP -Free Press Indianamirror Indy ($88,421), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Open Campus Media Inc?
Open Campus Media Inc reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What does Open Campus Media Inc fund?
Open Campus says higher education shapes communities’ economic opportunities and regional prospects, and that the public needs information to understand how colleges work. Its local reporting network combines funding from national, regional, and local funders with newsroom partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Open Campus Media Inc?
Open Campus Media Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check opencampusmedia.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Open Campus Media Inc's EIN?
Open Campus Media Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2427054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Open Campus Media Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Open Campus Media Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/open-campus-media-inc-morg_400a019ad24a4411b32149def18aefdc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842427054_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Open Campus Media Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/open-campus-media-inc-morg_400a019ad24a4411b32149def18aefdc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Open Campus Media Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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