Epoch Media Midwest
Epoch Media Midwest shows strong revenue growth and asset accumulation, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 200916595 · Chicago, IL · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $6.2M |
| Total Expenses | $5.4M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $5 |
| Net Assets | $861K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Epoch Media Midwest Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Epoch Media Midwest directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Epoch Media Midwest
Epoch Media Midwest (EIN: 200916595) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL. The organization reported total revenue of $6.2M and total assets of $2.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Epoch Media Midwest's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Epoch Media Midwest is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 41.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5.8M |
| Total Expenses | $5.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$316K |
| Total Assets | $2.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $1.3M |
| Net Assets | $861K |
| Operating Margin | 5.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 60.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 4.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Epoch Media Midwest reported a surplus of $316K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 4.7 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 60.0% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Epoch Media Midwest's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +23.2% | -12.4% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | -33.7% | -0.9% | -33.2% |
| 2021 | +44.0% | +34.1% | +179.8% |
| 2020 | +560.0% | +705.8% | +91.0% |
| 2019 | +376.7% | +464.5% | +252.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Epoch Media Midwest with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Epoch Media Midwest allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $316K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 60.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
No officer compensation has been reported across all available IRS 990 filings, which is unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $5 million. This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under different expense categories, warranting further scrutiny.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Epoch Media Midwest's IRS 990 filings:
- No reported officer compensation despite significant revenue, which is unusual for an organization of this size.
- Significant increase in liabilities from $0 in 2017 to $1,289,918 in 2023 without clear explanation.
- Unknown NTEE code, hindering direct comparison to peer organizations.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Epoch Media Midwest:
- Strong revenue growth, from $24,468 in 2016 to $5,752,807 in 2023.
- Consistent asset growth, from $25,208 in 2016 to $2,151,367 in 2023.
- Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms (13 filings), indicating transparency in reporting.
- Positive net income in most recent filing ($5,752,807 revenue vs. $5,436,735 expenses in 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions about Epoch Media Midwest
Is Epoch Media Midwest a legitimate charity?
Epoch Media Midwest (EIN: 200916595) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $6.2M. 3 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Epoch Media Midwest spend its money?
Epoch Media Midwest directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Epoch Media Midwest tax-deductible?
Epoch Media Midwest is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200916595). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Epoch Media Midwest CEO make?
Epoch Media Midwest's highest-compensated officer earns $5 annually. The organization reported $6.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Epoch Media Midwest's spending goes to programs?
Epoch Media Midwest directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Epoch Media Midwest located?
Epoch Media Midwest is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 200916595.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Epoch Media Midwest have?
Epoch Media Midwest has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $6.2M in total revenue.
Is Epoch Media Midwest a good charity?
Based on the available data, Epoch Media Midwest exhibits strong financial growth and asset accumulation, suggesting effective management. However, the absence of reported officer compensation and an unknown NTEE code make a definitive 'good charity' assessment challenging without more detailed program spending information.
Why is there no officer compensation reported?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This could mean the organization is entirely volunteer-run at the executive level, or that compensation is categorized differently within the expense structure, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for clarification.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities?
Liabilities grew from $0 in 2017 to $1,289,918 in 2023. The specific reasons for this increase are not detailed in the summary data and would require examining the balance sheet and footnotes of the full IRS 990 forms to understand the nature of these liabilities (e.g., mortgages, program-related investments, or other debts).
How does Epoch Media Midwest spend its program funds?
While the data indicates a strong program spending ratio (estimated at 80%), the specific nature of these programs is not detailed in the provided financial summary. Further investigation into the organization's mission statement and program service accomplishments section of the 990 would be necessary.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Epoch Media Midwest showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Epoch Media Midwest's revenue has grown by 6511.1%, moving from $87K to $5.8M. Total assets increased by 3003.2% over the same period, from $69K to $2.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 24003.3%, from $23K to $5.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Epoch Media Midwest reported a surplus of $316K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.3M in liabilities against $2.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 60.0%), resulting in net assets of $861K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.8M | $5.4M | $2.2M | $1.3M | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.7M | $6.2M | $2.0M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $7.0M | $6.3M | $3.0M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.9M | $4.7M | $1.1M | $319K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $741K | $579K | $553K | $285K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $155K | $103K | $157K | $51K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $46K | $18K | $53K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $24K | $37K | $25K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $49K | $48K | $38K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $45K | $41K | $37K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $49K | $60K | $33K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $16K | $41K | $45K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $87K | $23K | $69K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.8M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +23.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -33.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $7.0M, expenses of $6.3M, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +44.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +560.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $741K, expenses of $579K, and assets of $553K (revenue +376.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $155K, expenses of $103K, and assets of $157K (revenue +241.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $46K, expenses of $18K, and assets of $53K (revenue +86.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $24K, expenses of $37K, and assets of $25K (revenue -50.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $49K, expenses of $48K, and assets of $38K (revenue +9.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $45K, expenses of $41K, and assets of $37K (revenue -7.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $49K, expenses of $60K, and assets of $33K (revenue +206.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $16K, expenses of $41K, and assets of $45K (revenue -81.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $87K, expenses of $23K, and assets of $69K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Epoch Media Midwest:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Epoch Media Midwest is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.