Island Matters
If it Matters to you, it Matters to us
Island Matters
EIN: 86-3108364
as of September 2023
as of September 18, 2023
Mission
Our mission is to be the island's fact-based independent news & information source. We focus exclusively on SPI-relevant news and information because islanders need to know the facts to make informed decisions.
Ruling year
2021
Development Manager
Elizabeth Shull
General Manager
Peggy Buntin
Main address
2605 Padre Blvd
South Padre Island, TX 78597 USA
EIN
86-3108364
Information and communications
Community and economic development
Education
Population served
LGBTQ people
Heterosexuals
Women and girls
Men and boys
Ethnic and racial groups
NTEE code
Education N.E.C. (B99)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
At Island Matters, our mission is to provide fact-based and unbiased news and information specifically relevant to the island community. We believe that islanders should have access to accurate information to make informed decisions. A local community newspaper is essential in keeping everyone informed about important events, such as meetings with elected officials, new and upcoming community events and Island Matters is particularly crucial in the South Padre Island community since it is the only local news source available.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
The Bridge
The objective of the Bridge Project is to furnish reliable news coverage about South Padre Island (SPI) for its inhabitants, tourists, and financiers. This will enable SPI residents to make informed choices regarding issues that impact them, such as the SPI second causeway, casino gaming, Texas Open Beaches Act, and short-term vacation rental ordinances. To gauge its effectiveness, the project will conduct subscriber surveys, monitor article views, scrutinize subscriber and retention reports, evaluate member statistics, and gather reader feedback.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Island Matters (IM) is the only source for reliable, credible, independent journalism that covers South Padre Island, Texas which spans over 34 miles of beach. Our team of independent journalists provides coverage on everything from local government and special events to entertainment and the arts. IM is tackling the issue of insufficient news coverage in South Padre Island. Despite being around for only two years, IM has already gained a reputation as a trustworthy and credible source for news and events.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our Island Matters team convenes monthly to establish short-term and long-term objectives for each team member. During these meetings, we review our progress toward our goals and identify any obstacles we have had as an organization. We also take stock of our accomplishments and express gratitude for our team's dedication. Finally, we use a variety of strategic models to create a new plan for moving forward. encountered as
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our team is uniquely qualified to tackle this issue as they are committed to Island Matters missions and vision. Their education and background also qualify them to tackle the issue and be a part of Island Matters.
Sarah V. Lozano is our reporter and she graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Political Science and English.
R Daniel Cavazos is our business reporter and a long-time journalist who has worked as an editor, chief, reporter, and publisher for South Texas local newspapers.
Elizabeth Shull is our development manager, and she has a Master's in Education and a Bachelor of Science with 16 of nonprofit management experience.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
IM is a reliable source for the island's 2,500 residents and visitors, with over 2,300 monthly page views and 1,000 newsletter subscribers. We take pride in supporting 500 local businesses that cater to the community.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Financial data
Island Matters
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Apr 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Development Manager
Elizabeth Shull
Elizabeth, who hails from California but was raised in Texas, brings with her 16 years of professional experience in management, marketing, and PR in the non-profit sector, as well as six years as an educator. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master in Education from the University of Texas at Brownsville. She enjoys spending her free time fishing, water sports, and vacationing, and loves the beach.
General Manager
Peggy Buntin
Meet Peggy S. Buntin, a proud native of Puerto Penasco, Mexico, who spent her childhood on the idyllic island of Hawaii. With years of experience as an activities sales agent for various companies in Hilo and Kona, she has continued this profession here on South Padre Island. Buntin has worked in the tourist and customer service industry from Mexico to Hawaii, Washington, and Texas. Currently residing on South Padre Island, she loves nothing more than spending her free time on this stunning island with her family.
Island Matters
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Island Matters
Board of directorsas of 06/10/2023
Board of directors data
George Block
Retired
Term: 2021 -
Brandy Buntin
Self Employed
Term: 2021 -
Eleana Jones
CPA
James P Gaughran
Retired
Anne Shepard
Retired
Walt Humann
CEO
Davis Rankin
Journalist
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
No data
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2021
- Board of Directors data for 2023
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