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KQED
KQED reported $121.0 million in revenue and $111.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $67.77 went to program services, $13.59 to management and general costs and $18.64 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.6% of the total. Government grants made up 6.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $589,733 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 190 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 17% 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 $111MFor 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 $121MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 67.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 18.6% | 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 | 81.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $589,733 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.53% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 190 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 37.8 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 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 expenseMultiplatform content - news, arts and science: see schedule okqed's content teams develop news and programming that complements distributed content from our national media partners, including npr and pbs. Focusing on regional news, arts & culture, education and science, kqed develops coverage and content for distribution across our radio and television channels, as well as digital platforms, including our website (kqed.org), mobile app, social media channels, and third-party podcast and video distribution platforms.early in the fiscal year (fall 2024), kqed provided multiplatform resources…
Television: see schedule okqed 9 and kqed plus are among the nation's most-watched public television stations with an average of approximately 470,000 weekly viewers in the san francisco-oakland-san jose market. Kqed owns and operates public television stations kqed-tv/dt channel 9 (san francisco), kqeh-tv/dt channel 54 (san jose) and kqet-tv/dt channel 25 (watsonville/monterey).kqed's digital television channels include kqed 9, kqed plus, kqed world and pbs kids, and are available 24/7 over the air and on cable. Additionally, the kqed 9 livestream is available on the station's website and…
Fm radio: see schedule okqed public radio is among the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation, with an average of nearly 700,000 weekly radio listeners in the san francisco metro survey area.kqed owns and operates kqed public radio 88.5 fm san francisco and 89.3 fm sacramento. Its award-winning news and public affairs program service can be heard on 88.5 fm or comcast channel 960 in san francisco, kqed 89.3 fm in sacramento, 88.3 fm in santa rosa and 88.1 fm in martinez.kqed public radio broadcasts many programs from npr, as well as from other national and international…
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 AND CEO Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $542,294 | $0 | $47,439 | $589,733 |
| CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Key employee, 60.00 hrs/week | $311,375 | $0 | $53,377 | $364,752 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS & ADMIN. OFFICER Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $320,852 | $0 | $40,031 | $360,883 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $314,255 | $0 | $26,727 | $340,982 |
| CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER (THRU 06/2025) Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $304,759 | $0 | $32,904 | $337,663 |
| CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $281,145 | $0 | $52,588 | $333,733 |
| LOCAL MARKETING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $280,767 | $0 | $52,192 | $332,959 |
| VP, CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP Key employee, 60.00 hrs/week | $300,433 | $0 | $23,280 | $323,713 |
190 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from KQED (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.2M (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–1b30 · 30 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 5577
- Volunteers Part I, line 6982
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERVICE LP Security services | $951,977 |
| IDEO LP Design consulting | $310,000 |
| THURSDAY STRATEGY LLC Professional consulting services | $156,600 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
232 private foundations reported grants to KQED totaling $5.4M 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 KQED's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for KQED, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 KQED spent in FY2025, $67.77 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- WNETNew York, NY · revenue $119M · programs 65.8% · FY2025
- California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA · revenue $122M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
- The Society of the Four ArtsPalm Beach, FL · revenue $118M · programs 61.2% · FY2025
- The Epoch Times AssociationNew York, NY · revenue $126M · programs 89.7% · 2024
- Carnegie InstitutePittsburgh, PA · revenue $116M · programs 80.7% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of KQED's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, KQED reported that 67.8% of its $111.4 million in expenses went to program services, 13.6% to management and general and 18.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does KQED pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation KQED reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $589,733, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does KQED get its money?
Of $121.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 81.6% came from contributions and grants (including 6.7% from government grants) and 10.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is KQED a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1241309 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 202642249349302079 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502239349302525 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402229349300630 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202342279349300204 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202212219349301941 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122289349303062 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1241309: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.