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Whyy
Whyy reported $52.8 million in revenue and $48.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.97 went to program services, $4.25 to management and general costs and $20.78 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 75.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $942,596 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 44 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 36% 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 $48MFor 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 $53MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 20.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.25 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 75.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 17.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $942,596 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.95% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 44 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.5 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 26 | 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 expenseBroadcast/online services: whyy provides news and information, arts and culture and children's programming on three 24/7 digital channels as well as online, via cable, on-demand services and mobile devices. Broadcasting national favorites in addition to producing local radio, television and digital programs. Whyy engages a weekly average of nearly 1m television viewers and .5m radio listeners; more than 1m unique monthly visitors to whyy websites and 633,000 podcast users each month. Whyy- is the home for national radio and television programs such as masterpiece theater, morning edition…
News: whyy news provides trustworthy, fact-based, independent and balanced local news and information to everyone in our community. Whyy news offers a voice to those not heard and a platform to share everyone's stories. The whyy news reporting staff consists of 21 daily news reporters, two visual journalists and two national radio show reporters - covering a top five media market. The pulse, whyy's weekly health and science program, now airs on more than 135 radio stations nationwide plus one station in paris. Other online news properties include billypenn.com - philly's online go-to news…
Education programs: since its founding more than 70 years ago, whyy has been committed to education. Renowned for broadcasting exceptional educational programming, whyy is committed to lifelong learning for all ages. In addition to a 24/7 kids program channel, whyy provides more than 70 hours of children's programming on its main channel each week. Its education initiatives support children, parents, teachers, and other adults. The early education program has provided 2,545 child experiences, 3,102 books donated to home libraries, 569 caregivers, and 149 story times during the year. The whyy…
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 AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $690,369 | $0 | $252,227 | $942,596 |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/HOST - FRESH AIR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $488,264 | $0 | $41,448 | $529,712 |
| PRESIDENT, NEW VENTURES AND ENTERPRISES (THRU 11/2024) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $350,520 | $0 | $34,409 | $384,929 |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - FRESH AIR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $308,974 | $0 | $35,391 | $344,365 |
| SENIOR VP, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $278,323 | $0 | $39,385 | $317,708 |
| CO-HOST - FRESH AIR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $291,179 | $0 | $12,401 | $303,580 |
| CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER & VP, PROGRAM PRODUCTION Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $211,200 | $0 | $45,468 | $256,668 |
| VP, NEWS & CIVIC DIALOGUE Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $223,102 | $0 | $22,434 | $245,536 |
44 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Whyy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.0M (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–1b26 · 25 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5326
- Volunteers Part I, line 6143
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MJ SETTELEN CONSTRUCTION LLC Construction | $1,287,129 |
| NEXT GENERATION FUNDRAISING INC Direct response marketing | $978,065 |
| REMEDIUM ADVERTISING INC Advertising | $848,209 |
| DONOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES LLC Marketing | $630,371 |
| ALLEGIANCE FUNDRAISING LLC Direct response marketing | $484,951 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 22 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
144 private foundations reported grants to Whyy totaling $3.9M 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 Whyy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Whyy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Whyy spent in FY2025, $74.97 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Atlanta OperaAtlanta, GA · revenue $52M · programs 82.3% · FY2025
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival AssociationAshland, OR · revenue $53M · programs 72.2% · FY2025
- Open Technology FundWashington, DC · revenue $52M · programs 92.3% · FY2025
- National Trust for Local NewsBrighton, CO · revenue $53M · programs 96.6% · 2024
- Boston BalletBoston, MA · revenue $52M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Whyy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Whyy reported that 75.0% of its $48.3 million in expenses went to program services, 4.3% to management and general and 20.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Whyy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Whyy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $942,596, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Whyy get its money?
Of $52.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 75.8% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 17.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Whyy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-1438083 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 202601319349305590 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511349349304226 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349302250 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321289349302172 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241319349303319 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349306874 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-1438083: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.