China Digital Times Inc

The information for China Digital Times Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in September '21. This organization is located in Berkeley, CA. It has been in existence for 8 years, following its founding in 2013.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

China Digital Times Inc's NTEE code is A30. The "A" tells us that the organization is classified along with Arts, Culture & Humanities. The "30" tells us that the organization is involved in Media & Communications. The NTEE describes Media & Communications organizations as those involved in publishing, productions or programming utilizing any variety of media or in educational programs related to the media. The organization's C Section Code is 3, indicating that it falls under the category of Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations. The mission of China Digital Times Inc is to be an independent, bilingual media organization that brings uncensored news and online voices from China to the world.

Program Areas

China Digital Times (CDT) operates within the general fund, reporting all revenues, support, and functional expenses that are not specifically reported by another fund or program. CDT is an independent, bilingual media organization that aims to bring uncensored news and online voices from China to the world. Through its three websites, China Digital Times English, China Digital Times Chinese, and China Digital Space, CDT filters and aggregates news, research, and opinion about China, placing it in a broader social and political context while amplifying the voices of Chinese citizens through translation. With daily published articles and a strong social media outreach, CDT's content reaches over two million readers per year.

Organization Staffing

China Digital Times Inc has 7 employees, with one employee being paid over $100k according to the organization's most recent 990 tax filing. Supporting the paid staff are 4 volunteers.

Board Governance

Based on the provided information, it is evident that the governance of China Digital Times Inc, a non-profit organization, is not well-established. While the organization has a relatively small number of voting members (4), it is positive to note that the majority of these members (3) are independent. However, potential conflicts of interest do exist within the organization, which raises concerns about the impartiality and transparency of decision-making processes. Furthermore, the lack of documented board and committee meetings is a significant red flag. Without proper documentation, it becomes challenging to ensure accountability and transparency in the organization's governance. Additionally, the absence of a conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy, and document retention policy further indicates a lack of robust governance practices. Moreover, the organization does not substantiate or review leadership and officer salaries, which can lead to potential misuse of funds. The fact that the organization does not provide copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing also suggests a lack of transparency and oversight. Overall, the governance of China Digital Times Inc is not well-established, as evidenced by the absence of important policies, lack of documentation, and potential conflicts of interest. It is crucial for the organization to address these shortcomings and implement stronger governance practices to ensure transparency, accountability, and the effective management of its non-profit activities.

Organization Growth

China Digital Times Inc, a nonprofit organization, has experienced significant growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $666.0K in 2014 to $3.1M in 2020. Investment income also saw an increase from $8 in 2014 to $59 in 2020. Total revenue showed substantial growth, rising from $667.0K in 2014 to $3.1M in 2020. Additionally, employee salaries increased from $172.6K in 2014 to $271.2K in 2020. The organization also expanded its workforce, with total employees increasing from 4 in 2014 to 7 in 2020. Despite other revenue decreasing from $990 in 2014 to $78 in 2020, the overall growth of China Digital Times Inc is evident when considering the significant increases in contributions, grants, investment income, total revenue, employee salaries, and total employees.