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Middle East Broadcasting Networks
Middle East Broadcasting Networks reported $73.7 million in revenue and $67.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $94.92 went to program services, $5.08 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 100.1% of the total. Government grants made up 100.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $239,313 (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (UNTIL 12/24)). 147 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 29% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $67MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $74MInvestment income was negative: −$21,441. The bar shows the positive sources only.
Other revenue was negative: −$67,215. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 94.9% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.1% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 100.1% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 100.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $239,313 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.35% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 147 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -0.0 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 10 | 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 expenseMiddle East Broadcasting Networks, inc. Is an arabic-language media company, generously funded by the united states congress and the american taxpayers. In 2024, from its headquarters in springfield, virginia and from reporters throughout the region, mbn provided accurate, reliable news and information about the united states to its audience, while also reporting on mission-aligned stories from the region, many of which would otherwise go untold. Mbn's accurate and credible reporting drew 34.1 million people to its platforms on a weekly basis. In contrast to its regional competitors, most of…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (UNTIL 12/24) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,194 | $0 | $119 | $239,313 |
| FORMER KEY EMPLOYEE Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $232,462 | $0 | $6,128 | $238,590 |
| DIRECTOR, MBN ACADEMY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,278 | $0 | $21,773 | $220,051 |
| SECRETARY & TREASURER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,189 | $0 | $19,530 | $201,719 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,557 | $0 | $18,046 | $199,603 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,624 | $0 | $18,865 | $198,489 |
| STUDIO CAMERA AND ROBOTICS OP Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,735 | $0 | $18,058 | $192,793 |
| PUB. STANDARDS & BEST PRAC. EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,010 | $0 | $22,827 | $189,837 |
147 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $987K (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–1b10 · 9 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5398
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ZENITH GLOBAL SOLUTIONS Systems integration | $349,225 |
| PRO CFO PARTNERS Mgmt advisory/CFO services | $203,500 |
| EMA LLC Editorial advisory | $156,500 |
| ANDREW ERIC ILVES Editorial correspondent | $137,806 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Middle East Broadcasting Networks's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Middle East Broadcasting Networks, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Middle East Broadcasting Networks spent in FY2025, $94.92 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Middle East Broadcasting Networks's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Middle East Broadcasting Networks reported that 94.9% of its $67.5 million in expenses went to program services, 5.1% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Middle East Broadcasting Networks pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Middle East Broadcasting Networks reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $239,313, for the role of CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (UNTIL 12/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Middle East Broadcasting Networks get its money?
Of $73.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 100.1% came from contributions and grants (including 100.1% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Middle East Broadcasting Networks a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 42-1591205 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 September 30, 2025, object 202642259349300549 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 (amended), object 202621699349300312 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202422289349301647 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332279349304808 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202212279349303436 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142289349302424 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 42-1591205: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.