Nonprofit · EIN 85-0863279
THECLEVELANDOBSERVER
Also known as RONALD ALBERT CALHOUN SOLE MBR
Tax-exempt · CLEVELAND, OH 44103
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $71,240 | $46,999 | $24,241 | $88,306 | $1,261 | $87,045 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $7,820 | $56,626 | -$48,806 | $24,246 | $0 | $24,246 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $115,375 | $41,123 | $74,252 | $74,252 | $0 | $74,252 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $70,000
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Other revenue
- $1,240
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $600
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $0
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $17,437
- Printing, publications and postage
- $13,479
- Other expenses
- $16,083
- Program services (functional)
- $65,000
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $24,246
- Total assets, end of year
- $88,306
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,261
- Net assets, end of year
- $87,045
- Cash, savings and investments
- $88,197
- Gross receipts
- $71,240
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-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Jones | Secretary | 0.2 | $600 |
| Sheila Ferguson | Vice President | 2 | $0 |
| Mark Silverberg | Governance | 0.2 | $0 |
| Ron Harris | Treasure | 0.2 | $0 |
| Sharon Lewis | Member | 0.2 | $0 |
| Vince Robinson | Member | 0.2 | $0 |
| Chen Chia Min | Member | 0.2 | $0 |
| Jean Van Atta | Member | 0.2 | $0 |
| Bonnie Paul | member | 0.2 | $0 |
| Denise Holcomb | Member | 0.2 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Lewis | Member | 8 | $2,425 |
| Devon Jones | Secretary | 8 | $2,000 |
| Sheila fergusson | Vice President | 8 | $1,770 |
| Mark Silverberg | Governance | 2 | $8 |
| Ron Calhoun | President | 40 | $0 |
| Ron Harris | Treasurer | 2 | $0 |
| Vince Robinson | Member | 4 | $0 |
| Chen Chia Min | Member | 1 | $0 |
| Jean Van Atta | Member | 1 | $0 |
| Bonnie Paul | Member | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 2 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAINA DORTCH | EDITOR Officer | 2 | $1,050 |
| SHEILA FERGUSON | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $700 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1885 E 73RD ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44103-4009
- Mailing address (990-N for 2022)
- 1885 E 73rd Street, Cleveland OH 44103
- Principal officer (990-N for 2022)
- Ronald Calhoun, 1885 e 73rd Street, Cleveland OH 44103
- Signed the 990-EZ
- Ronald a Calhoun, President
- Phone
- (216) 544-0574
Mission
To provide news, information and resources, to empower Cleveland residents for positive change.
Program accomplishments
- !. Built a Website/App for Instructing Journalism that included a Text to speech (TTS) Plugin for the literacy challenged population in Cleveland OhioExpenses $20,000 · grants $20,000
- Published over 425 digital content and 350 print content. Number of Readers 10,000 per month. Print Digital 3,000 7,000. Paid 20 Interns, Community and Independent content creators. Produced 40 videos. YouTube and Social Media Reels. Created a digital News Archive. 2020 to 2025. Conducted Community Journalism Trainings.Expenses $45,000 · grants $50,000
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 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 85-0863279
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $88,306
- Income (IRS master file)
- $71,240
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $71,240 | $46,999 | $88,306 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2024 | $7,820 | $56,626 | $24,246 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $115,375 | $41,123 | $74,252 | XML |
| 990-N for 2022 Officer: Ronald Calhoun | December 31, 2022 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 85-0863279).
Questions about THECLEVELANDOBSERVER
- What is the EIN of THECLEVELANDOBSERVER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THECLEVELANDOBSERVER is 85-0863279.
- Is THECLEVELANDOBSERVER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to THECLEVELANDOBSERVER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THECLEVELANDOBSERVER 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 THECLEVELANDOBSERVER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THECLEVELANDOBSERVER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THECLEVELANDOBSERVER?
- The 990-N for 2022 names Ronald Calhoun.
- Who are the officers and directors of THECLEVELANDOBSERVER?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 10 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $600 (Devon Jones, Secretary).
- How much revenue does THECLEVELANDOBSERVER have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $71,240, expenses of $46,999 and total assets of $88,306 at year end.
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All nonprofits in CLEVELAND · Ohio · Community improvement and capacity building