Public Media Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION is to create, incubate, and sustain innovative cultural programming through the production of socially engaged projects, festivals, community spaces, exhibitions, and media.
- Income
- $784,000
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 115
- Highest pay
- $62,792, managing dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 112% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
- $546,008 spent. MDW - Its an annual program to convene artists and arts organizations from the Midwest to connect and exchange ideas. The program includes an art fair, also known as the MdW Assembly, an online publication called the MdW Atlas, and a series of trips to various sites in the Midwest called the MdW Drifts.
- $417,709 spent. BUDDY - Offers a shop committed to giving artists and small manufacturers in Chicago a place to showcase and sell their goods and artworks to a vast audience of Chicagoans and visitors at the Chicago Cultural Center.
- $271,678 spent. LUMPEN MEDIA - The program is a small-scale online television and 24/7 radio station complete with a camera crew and stage set to provide opportunities for artists to produce and air original moving image artworks. The station is a hub for local, multilingual storytelling for communities on Chicago South's Side and beyond.
- $167,195 spent. CO-PROSPERITY - The Organization hosts exhibitions, screenings, presentations, installations, festivals, meetings, and performance programs in its 5,000+ square foot gallery.
- $27,506 spent. COMMUNITY KITCHEN - Provides complimentary box lunches to in-need residents, families, and health care workers in Chicago while supporting local restaurants and farmers.
- $23,346 spent. LUMPEN MAGAZINE - The Organization issues a quarterly news and culture magazine featuring emerging and established artists and writers. The magazine features editorials, interviews, and reviews focused on current events and emerging cultural trends.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2019.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.