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National Public Radio
Also known as NPR
National Public Radio reported $354.1 million in revenue and $335.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $65.00 went to program services, $31.70 to management and general costs and $3.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 56.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $697,251 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 769 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 28% 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 $335MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $354MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 65.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 31.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 40.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 56.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $697,251 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.21% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 769 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.1 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 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 expenseContent production and distribution: funding in this category supports npr's newsroom, programming, npr music, and engineering activities. As an internationally recognized producer and distributor of broadcast and digital content, npr reached a weekly broadcast audience of 22.5 million people during the tax reporting period. Currently, 98.5% of the U.S. Population resides within the listening area of one or more stations carrying npr programming. Npr produces and/or distributes 22 broadcast programs across news, talk, music, and entertainment, as well as 24 podcast-only programs that engage…
Network, digital, and content support: funding in this category supports npr's product audience technology (pat), content support, and member partnership activities. Pat continued npr's public service by offering free content across web, mobile, and third-party platforms, reaching approximately 42 million users weekly. Through unified mobile apps, npr delivered real-time news, live audio and video streams, on-demand media, extensive archives, and digital-exclusive reporting. Behind the scenes, the content support team managed critical logistics for all reporting activities. This included…
Distribution and interconnection: funding in this category supports expenses incurred by npr's distribution/interconnection division, which operates and manages the Public Radio satellite system (prss), a combined satellite and internet distribution network for Public Radio broadcast programming content. Delivering content produced by npr, member stations, and independent radio producers, the prss serves as essential infrastructure for the entire public media ecosystem. Crucially, it remains accessible to all Public Radio stations, regardless of their size, income, or programming affiliation.…
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 & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 38.97 hrs/week | $695,444 | $0 | $1,807 | $697,251 |
| SR. HOST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $513,780 | $0 | $51,941 | $565,721 |
| SR. HOST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $513,317 | $0 | $45,781 | $559,098 |
| ACTING CCO & SVP, NEWS & EDITORIAL Officer, 39.97 hrs/week | $511,896 | $0 | $36,427 | $548,323 |
| FORMER OFFICER Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $534,471 | $0 | $946 | $535,417 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/TREASURER Officer, 38.88 hrs/week | $497,273 | $0 | $26,351 | $523,624 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFF. (TO 03/25) Officer, 39.94 hrs/week | $448,165 | $0 | $49,046 | $497,211 |
| HOST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $427,519 | $0 | $51,862 | $479,381 |
769 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Public Radio (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $7.0M (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–1b24 · 23 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,236
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| WHYY INC Acquired programs | $9,448,211 |
| WAMU Acquired programs | $3,478,574 |
| WBUR Acquired programs | $3,200,485 |
| TED CONFERENCES LLC Acquired programs | $3,000,000 |
| C&W FACILITY SERVICES INC Janitorial & engineering svcs | $2,347,174 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 83 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
155 private foundations reported grants to National Public Radio totaling $14M 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 National Public Radio's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Public Radio, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Public Radio spent in FY2025, $65.00 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Trust for the National MallWashington, DC · revenue $322M · programs 99.3% · 2025
- Museum of Modern ArtNew York, NY · revenue $362M · programs 73.7% · FY2025
- Harvard Business School Publishing CorporationBrighton, MA · revenue $314M · programs 93.5% · FY2025
- Crystal StairsLos Angeles, CA · revenue $376M · programs 97.2% · FY2025
- Metropolitan Opera AssociationNew York, NY · revenue $304M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of National Public Radio's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, National Public Radio reported that 65.0% of its $335.5 million in expenses went to program services, 31.7% to management and general and 3.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Public Radio pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Public Radio reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $697,251, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Public Radio get its money?
Of $354.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 40.2% came from contributions and grants and 56.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Public Radio a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0907625 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 202622249349300722 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202542259349301919 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202432279349302138 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302239349301620 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222249349300817 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (amended), object 202122679349300402 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0907625: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.