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WGBH Educational Foundation
WGBH Educational Foundation reported $215.6 million in revenue and $237.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.11 went to program services, $5.99 to management and general costs and $10.90 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 53.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $719,974 (President & CEO). 232 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 9% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $237MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $216MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.22 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 53.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.6% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 31.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $719,974 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.30% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 232 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 31.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 31 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe WGBH Educational Foundation, based in Boston, is the leading multiplatform creator for public media in America. With its wide range of programs, events and services it is one of the nation's preeminent public media institutions.As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $675,647 | $0 | $44,327 | $719,974 |
| GM thru 5/24 Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $695,825 | $0 | $20,122 | $715,947 |
| Exec Producer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $594,196 | $0 | $21,058 | $615,254 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $496,117 | $0 | $51,865 | $547,982 |
| VP National Programming Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $441,210 | $0 | $49,474 | $490,684 |
| Chief Development Officer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $372,948 | $0 | $32,369 | $405,317 |
| Chief MktngOfficer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $384,242 | $0 | $14,848 | $399,090 |
| VP Corp Sponsorship & Mem thru12/24 Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $354,538 | $0 | $37,179 | $391,717 |
232 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from WGBH Educational Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b31 · 30 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,316
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,500
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Kirk Documentary Group Program Production | $7,193,255 |
| Mammoth Screen Ltd Program Production | $6,583,351 |
| Contributor Development Partnership PBC Professional Fundraising | $4,723,329 |
| Fremantle Media Ltd Program Production | $4,050,000 |
| Rain Media Inc Program Production | $3,145,094 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 44 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
126 private foundations reported grants to WGBH Educational Foundation totaling $14M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from WGBH Educational Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for WGBH Educational Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 WGBH Educational Foundation spent in FY2025, $83.11 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Barack Obama FoundationChicago, IL · revenue $210M · programs 55.9% · 2024
- Lincoln Center for the Performing ArtsNew York, NY · revenue $235M · programs 74.9% · FY2025
- The United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumWashington, DC · revenue $199M · programs 72.1% · FY2025
- Museum AssociatesLos Angeles, CA · revenue $235M · programs 84.5% · FY2025
- Whitney Museum of American ArtNew York, NY · revenue $191M · programs 65.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of WGBH Educational Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, WGBH Educational Foundation reported that 83.1% of its $237.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.0% to management and general and 10.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does WGBH Educational Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation WGBH Educational Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $719,974, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does WGBH Educational Foundation get its money?
Of $215.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 53.3% came from contributions and grants (including 1.6% from government grants) and 31.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is WGBH Educational Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2104397 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601359349314250 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521349349307797 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431369349313243 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349313294 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241389349301134 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349306416 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2104397: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.