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Wskg Public Telecommunications Council

EIN 15-0620345 · Vestal, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GUIDED BY YOUR ASPIRATIONS, WSKG SERVES TO INSPIRE WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, EXPLORE THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF THE REGION AND BEYOND, ENGAGE IN THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF NEWS AND ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE, AND ENTERTAIN WITH THE VERY BEST IN MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMMING.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
43
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$195,945, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS - WSKG NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS IS GUIDED BY POWERFUL ETHICS, PUBLIC MEDIA'S BEST PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY NEED. WE SUPPORT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH AN OBJECTIVE AND RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF THE FACTS, HIGH QUALITY WRITING AND PRODUCTION, AND DILIGENT JOURNALISM. IN THE PURSUIT OF NEWS WE INSISTENTLY QUESTION, THOROUGHLY RESEARCH, INTELLIGENTLY ANALYZE, AND ETHICALLY SHARE STORIES WITH THE RADIO LISTENERS, TELEVISION VIEWERS AND WEB BROWSERS WHO RELY ON WSKG PUBLIC MEDIA. THROUGH THE CONTENT WE PRODUCE AND THE STORIES WE TELL, WE PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY'S STRUGGLES AND SUCCESSES. BY MAINTAINING AN INFORMED CITIZENRY, WE WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.
  2. $1.4 million spent. ARTS AND CULTURE - WSKG'S ARTS AND CULTURE IS GUIDED BY AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES WITH THE BEST IN ARTS AND CULTURE CONTENT, LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS. WE DO THIS TO RESEARCH, PRESERVE AND SHORE THE RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURE OF OUR VIEWING AREA WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STAYING CONSISTENT WITH OUR GOAL TO CREATE RELEVANT CONTENT THAT PROMOTES UPSTATE NEW YORK AS A UNIQUE CULTURAL DESTINATION, TO PRODUCE COMPELLING STORIES OF THE TRANSFORMOTIVE POWER OF THE ARTS AND TO FEATURE THE EXTRAORDINARY TALENTS OF OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. ENGINEERING - ENGINEERING IS CRUCIAL TO THE COUNCIL'S EXISTENCE AS A STATION. IT OVERSEES THE OPERATION, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCAST EQUIPMENT AND TOWERS ON A DAT-TO-DAY AND LONG-TERM BASIS. IT ALSO MONITORS FCC RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ENSURES STATION COMPLIANCE WITH THESE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, INCLUDING THE CONVERSION TO A DIGITAL BROADCAST SYSTEM.
  4. $698,807 spent. YOUTH FOCUSED, HISTORY & HERITAGE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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