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Friends of Kwmu Inc

EIN 20-2460152 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT OF PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS KWMU-FM, WQUB-FM AND KMST-FM DBA ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO WHICH IS A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST LOUIS. THE MISSION OF ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO IS TO INFORM AND PROVIDE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF EVENTS, IDEAS AND CULTURES FOR A MORE INSPIRED AND ENGAGED PUBLIC.

Income
$632,049
Spending
$129,739
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
22.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 79% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 532% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. SUPPORT OF PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS KWMU FM, WQUB FM AND KMST FM DBA ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO WHICH IS A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST LOUIS. THE METRO POPULATION OF ST LOUIS IS 2.2 MILLION, QUINCY IL 39,000 AND ROLLA/LEBANON MO, OVER 29,000. THE STATION'S PUBLIC MEDIA SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS OF THIS REGION AT NO CHARGE THROUGH BROADCAST, DIGITAL AND ON-DEMAND DELIVERY. FRIENDS OF KWMU, INC TRANSFER GIFTS TO ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO, INC. UPON APPROVAL BY THE BOARD.
  2. $101,927 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SOLELY SUPPORTS ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO (KWMU, KMST, WQUB), A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, (1) APPROVES THE AMOUNTS AND TIMING OF FUND TRANSFERS TO ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO AND (2) REVIEWS THE BUDGETS, INTERIM AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO.
  3. THE ORGANIZATION SOLELY SUPPORTS ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO (KWMU, KMST, WQUB), A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, (1) APPROVES THE AMOUNTS AND TIMING OF FUND TRANSFERS TO ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO AND (2) REVIEWS THE BUDGETS, INTERIM AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

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