Chicago Public Media

Chicago, IL · EIN 36-3687394 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Chicago Public Media reported $35.6 million in revenue and $27.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $66.56 went to program services, $12.31 to management and general costs and $21.13 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.9% of the total. Government grants made up 5.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $943,475 (CEO - THRU 09/2024). 52 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% 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 $27M

Program services$66.56 $18M
Management & general$12.31 $3.3M
Fundraising$21.13 $5.7M

For 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 $36M

Contributions & grants (non-government)$76.12 $27M
Government grants$5.77 $2.1M
Program service revenue$3.11 $1.1M
Investment income$14.52 $5.2M
Other revenue$0.48 $170K

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 876 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
Measure	FY2025	Median
Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)	66.6%	78.5%
Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)	12.3%	13.6%
Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)	21.1%	6.0%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h	$0.20	$0.10
Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12	81.9%	57.5%
Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12	5.8%	1.7%
Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12	3.1%	20.8%
Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F	$943,475	$385,706
Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)	3.48%	2.03%
People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2	52	8
Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses	37.9	36.6
Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b	24 of 24	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 expense

$18M expenses · 98.6% of program spending · revenue $435K

Chicago Public Media, inc. Is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves the public interest by producing and delivering diverse, compelling content of multiple viewpoints and expression. Chicago Public Media broadcasts its service on four non-commercial fm radio stations: wbez 91.5 fm in chicago, wbeq 90.7 fm in morris, 91.7 fm (w219cd) in elgin, illinois, and wbek 91.1 fm in kankakee, illinois; virtually via wbez.org, smart speakers, mobile apps, podcasts and in live events that generate conversations across communities

$250K expenses · 1.4% of program spending

Chicago Public Media operates vocalo, a Public Media online/on-air service, on 91.1 fm (w216cl) in chicago, illinois, online at vocalo.org, and syndicated on multiple stations around chicagoland. Vocalo was established as an inspirational brand that celebrates our city's cultural diversity and brings the community together around music - specifically, the urban alternative format. In may 2024, vocalo ceased its live broadcast but continues to have pre programmed content on its broadcast and stream while Chicago Public Media considers the next steps for the license

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
CEO - THRU 09/2024 Officer, 20.0 hrs/week	$904,910	$0	$38,565	$943,475
CFO Officer, 20.0 hrs/week	$402,877	$0	$37,857	$440,734
CHIEF PARTNERSHIPS OFFICER Key employee, 24.0 hrs/week	$367,728	$0	$21,351	$389,079
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER Officer, 24.0 hrs/week	$349,975	$0	$29,814	$379,789
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Key employee, 25.0 hrs/week	$323,322	$0	$23,370	$346,692
VP OF TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 33.0 hrs/week	$256,640	$0	$17,900	$274,540
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week	$236,817	$0	$15,930	$252,747
SVP, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING Officer, 32.0 hrs/week	$225,296	$0	$25,169	$250,465

52 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Public Media (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked

RevenueExpenses

Filing	Revenue	Expenses	Programs	Net assets	Top pay
FY2025 ⓘ	$36M	$27M	66.6%	$86M	$943,475
FY2024 ⓘ	$34M	$30M	65.3%	$75M	$722,861
FY2023 ⓘ	$39M	$30M	64.3%	$67M	$633,310
FY2022 ⓘ	$32M	$28M	62.6%	$57M	$533,620
FY2021 ⓘ	$37M	$27M	64.4%	$62M	$273,951
FY2020 ⓘ	$29M	$30M	66.1%	$50M	$479,696

Governance 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–1b24 · 24 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 5180
Volunteers Part I, line 65

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only

SKENDER CONSTRUCTION LLC General contractor	$2,651,424
MARKET ENGINUITY Underwriting account executives	$1,339,890
KOYA LEADERSHIP PARTNERS LLC Executive recruitment services	$304,998
IDEO LP Consulting services	$100,000

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

79 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Public Media totaling $2.9M 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 Chicago Public Media's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chicago Public Media, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Report a correction Respond as Chicago Public Media How this works

Similar-sized charities in this cause

Our Rescue
Salt Lake City, UT · revenue $35M · programs 72.3% · 2025
Pacific Symphony
Irvine, CA · revenue $36M · programs 65.3% · FY2025
National Football Museum
Canton, OH · revenue $35M · programs 56.7% · 2024
World Monuments Fund
New York, NY · revenue $36M · programs 76.5% · FY2025
Cox Science Center and Aquarium
West Palm Beach, FL · revenue $35M · programs 66.2% · FY2025

All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois

Questions people ask

How much of Chicago Public Media's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Chicago Public Media reported that 66.6% of its $27.1 million in expenses went to program services, 12.3% to management and general and 21.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Chicago Public Media pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Chicago Public Media reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $943,475, for the role of CEO - THRU 09/2024 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Chicago Public Media get its money?

Of $35.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 81.9% came from contributions and grants (including 5.8% from government grants) and 3.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Chicago Public Media a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 36-3687394 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 202523219349307522 · read the filing · XML
FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202443209349304484 · read the filing
FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202333179349308488 · read the filing
FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233189349309543 · read the filing
FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202113199349305076 · read the filing
FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202023189349309187 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 36-3687394: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.