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Detroit Public Media
Also known as Detroit PBS Detroit Public Tv Wrcj 909 Fm Dptv Michigan Learning
Detroit Public Media reported $26.2 million in revenue and $23.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.86 went to program services, $10.41 to management and general costs and $19.73 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.1% of the total. Government grants made up 20.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $467,574 (CEO & GENERAL MANAGER). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 45% 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 $23MFor 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 $26MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 19.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 20.8% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $467,574 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.03% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 17 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 33 of 34 | 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: Detroit Public Media operates wtvs detroit pbs, which continues to operate as the only community licensed, independent, non-profit television station in metropolitan detroit, broadcasting on five digital channels: 56.1, 56.2 (detroit pbs kids), 56.3 (create), 56.4 (world), and 56.5 (michigan learning channel). Detroit Public Media also manages 90.9 wrcj fm, detroit's only public radio station dedicated to classical and jazz.viewership and public trust for Detroit Public television:detroit pbs is the only public television station in the detroit market and michigan's most-watched…
Production & content creation:the production team continues to produce content in spaces across metro detroit including the detroit school of arts and lawerence tech university, as well as taking the detroit pbs hd production truck on the road to capture important conferences, events, and concerts. Below are productions by category.arts and culture: detroit performs: live is a television series with a digital presence. The series has been recorded at the marygrove conservancy theater and features detroiters performing live on stage with a different arts and cultural partner curating each…
Engagement and outreach detroit pbs and 90.9 wrcj are committed to creating positive outcomes in southeast michigan. We provide on-air and online resources, special events, and social media dialogue with a goal of fostering knowledge, collaboration and action. In addition to the productions above, examples of successful community engagement activities this year included: aapi story series: detroit pbs is commited to lifting up and celebrating the lives, impacts, voices, and contributions of asian american and pacific islanders in the region and throughout the country. Detroit pbs has…
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 & GENERAL MANAGER Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $440,954 | $0 | $26,620 | $467,574 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $271,060 | $0 | $22,672 | $293,732 |
| SVP, OPERATIONS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,260 | $0 | $9,129 | $190,389 |
| VP, DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,989 | $0 | $23,839 | $183,828 |
| VP, CONTENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,327 | $0 | $23,674 | $181,001 |
| SR. VP, PRODUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,207 | $0 | $19,993 | $174,200 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,432 | $0 | $23,024 | $158,456 |
| VP, ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $134,691 | $0 | $23,010 | $157,701 |
17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Detroit Public Media (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b34 · 33 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 5130
- Volunteers Part I, line 681
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CPD-CONTRI DEV PARTNERSHIP Membership & fundraising | $1,286,299 |
| WGVU PUBLIC MEDIA Production services | $508,000 |
| DELTA COLLEGE Production services | $508,000 |
| WNMU PUBLIC TV Production services | $500,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to Detroit Public Media totaling $781K 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 Detroit 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 Detroit Public Media, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Detroit Public Media spent in FY2025, $69.86 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Hudson Valley Shakespeare FestivalGarrison, NY · revenue $26M · programs 68.5% · 2024
- Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife FoundationSpringfield, MO · revenue $26M · programs 84.4% · 2025
- Hamilton-Madison HouseNew York, NY · revenue $26M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
- Ukraine House DC FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $26M · programs 100.0% · 2025
- Rocky Mountain Public MediaDenver, CO · revenue $26M · programs 67.3% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Detroit Public Media's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Detroit Public Media reported that 69.9% of its $23.1 million in expenses went to program services, 10.4% to management and general and 19.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Detroit Public Media pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Detroit Public Media reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $467,574, for the role of CEO & GENERAL MANAGER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Detroit Public Media get its money?
Of $26.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 81.1% came from contributions and grants (including 20.8% from government grants) and 5.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Detroit Public Media a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-1440200 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. 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 202512939349300141 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202422789349301562 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202332989349302118 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202212939349300506 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202132869349302133 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202033099349301218 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-1440200: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.