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Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation
Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation reported $11.1 million in revenue and $11.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.33 went to program services, $1.49 to management and general costs and $0.18 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $171,681 (ECB Deputy Director). Revenue fell 6% between FY2021 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 $11MFor 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 $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $171,681 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.55% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 38.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 4 of 5 | 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 expenseWisconsin Public Radio WPR brings news music conversation and entertainment programs that inform inspire and build communities throughout Wisconsin and around the world on its two networks - WPR News and WPR Music - and 39 stations. Our commitment to the highest standards of news and cultural content reflects our belief that people and communities thrive with an open exchange of ideas and information
PBS Wisconsin delivers your favorite PBS national programs and learning resources while grounding the PBS mission in Wisconsin. Our approach prioritizes integrity and inclusion quality and community. PBS Wisconsin produces trusted journalism local storytelling tools for Wisconsin educators and community events and partnerships that connect us and keep us curious
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECB Deputy Director Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $138,001 | $33,680 | $171,681 |
| Foundation Director and ECB Executive Director Director/trustee, officer, key employee, 1.00 hrs/week | $0 | $160,146 | $11,059 | $171,205 |
| ECB Field Engineering Director Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $107,757 | $37,339 | $145,096 |
| ECB Chief Technology Officer Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $131,218 | $11,051 | $142,269 |
| ECB Finance Director Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $110,592 | $30,888 | $141,480 |
| ECB Chief Cybersecurity Officer Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $107,036 | $31,444 | $138,480 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $0 (Part IX, line 5).
5 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–1b5 · 4 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 4No
- 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 50
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation totaling $50,000 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 Wisconsin Public Broadcasting 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 Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation spent in FY2025, $98.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Friends of Town Hall FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $11M · programs 99.8% · FY2025 (9 mo.)
- Rivers of Steel Heritage CorporationHomestead, PA · revenue $11M · programs 64.7% · 2025
- Music CityNashville, TN · revenue $11M · programs 98.9% · FY2025
- San Antonio Museum of ArtSan Antonio, TX · revenue $11M · programs 80.2% · FY2025
- Historic Arnolds ParkArnolds Park, IA · revenue $11M · programs 77.1% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation reported that 98.3% of its $11.1 million in expenses went to program services, 1.5% to management and general and 0.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $171,681, for the role of ECB Deputy Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation get its money?
Of $11.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 88.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-1447533 as a 501(c)(3) organization (supporting organization (509(a)(3))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 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 202621229349300312 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521229349300107 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420799349300002 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341299349303939 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201309349300530 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-1447533: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.