CalMatters

Explaining California policy and politics
CalMatters helps Californians understand state policy decisions and actions that affect their lives and well-being.
Locations: Sacramento, California
Established: 2015

CalMatters helps the 39.3 million people who live in California understand state policy decisions and actions that affect their lives and the well-being of their families and communities. 

Its beat reporters focus on key issues like housing, health care, education and the environment while teams of specialists produce investigative, data and visual journalism. The work appears on news websites statewide, is heard every day on public radio and is shared via platforms like Apple News. 

With support from the American Journalism Project, CalMatters is expanding the ways it reaches Californians through in-person events, innovative relationships with content creators and an entire team focused on making each story as impactful as possible.

Leaders

Highlighted work & press

Grantee news
04/22/2026

New bill inspired by CalMatters reporting would stop DMV from making millions off auctioned cars without telling the owners

The bill from Murrieta Republican Senator Kelly Seyarto directly follows CalMatters’ reporting, which revealed that the DMV collected more than…

Grantee news
03/30/2026

Judge begins to unwind conflicts in Ventura County conservatorship cases following CalMatters reporting

For years, a fiduciary in Ventura County has been directing her clients’ money to her husband’s law firm and health…

Grantee news
04/16/2026

Digital Democracy, by CalMatters, wins The Trust in American Institutions Challenge

CalMatters’ Digital Democracy won The Trust in American Institutions Challenge, a national call for a bold solution to restore public…