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The American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League reported $17.2 million in revenue and $16.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.36 went to program services, $20.70 to management and general costs and $3.94 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 48.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $377,405 (CEO/SECRETARY). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.9% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 28.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 48.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $377,405 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.27% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePromotion of public interest in and experimentation with amateur radio communications, encouragement of the exchange of ideas and expertise among members and various other membership programs
Qst: monthly periodical for arrl members (circulation apprx. 35,862 print, 129,838 digital) to deliver news and information related to amateur radio including product reviews and editorial content. Approximately 136 copies monthly are distributed through wholesalers
Advocacy: promote the use of amateur radio, especially as emergency communication in time of disaster. Monitor fcc regulations in regards to amateur radio on behalf of members. Monitor legislation as it relates to amateur radio to keep members informed of important changes
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO/SECRETARY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $321,291 | $0 | $56,114 | $377,405 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $223,867 | $0 | $52,042 | $275,909 |
| DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & INNOVATION Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $164,439 | $0 | $32,645 | $197,084 |
| TECHNICAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $161,142 | $0 | $24,324 | $185,466 |
| PUBLICATION & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $156,317 | $0 | $29,081 | $185,398 |
| IT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $170,385 | $0 | $8,342 | $178,727 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $142,587 | $0 | $33,498 | $176,085 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The American Radio Relay League (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $616K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b15 · 15 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 2No
- 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 595
- Volunteers Part I, line 655,084
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KODI HOLDINGS INC Publisher/printing | $317,646 |
| PERSONIFY INC Software licensing/support | $313,254 |
| EASTERN MECHANICAL SERVICES INC Hvac contractor | $280,670 |
| AMAZON WEB SERVICE Cloud/web service | $178,180 |
| WALSWORTH PUBLISHING Publisher/printing | $162,167 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to The American Radio Relay League totaling $52,000 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 The American Radio Relay League's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The American Radio Relay League, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The American Radio Relay League spent in 2025, $75.36 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumCooperstown, NY · revenue $17M · programs 61.7% · 2024
- French International School of OregonPortland, OR · revenue $17M · programs 71.3% · FY2025
- Joyce Theater FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $17M · programs 75.9% · FY2025
- The Paley Center for MediaNew York, NY · revenue $17M · programs 67.1% · 2024
- Wisconsin Public Radio AssociationMadison, WI · revenue $17M · programs 73.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Connecticut
Questions people ask
How much of The American Radio Relay League's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The American Radio Relay League reported that 75.4% of its $16.6 million in expenses went to program services, 20.7% to management and general and 3.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The American Radio Relay League pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The American Radio Relay League reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $377,405, for the role of CEO/SECRETARY (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The American Radio Relay League get its money?
Of $17.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 28.1% came from contributions and grants and 48.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The American Radio Relay League a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 06-6000004 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202602019349300305 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503159349300730 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403199349303245 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202311949349300221 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242839349301024 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102109349301100 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003009349301780 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 06-6000004: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.