Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Thin Air Community Radio

EIN 20-5354265 · Spokane, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KYRS-THIN AIR COMMUNITY RADIO (KYRS) IS A VOLUNTEER-POWERED, NON-COMMERCIAL, LISTENER-SUPPORTED, COMMUNITY RADIO STATION IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. IT PROVIDES THE REGION WITH UNIQUE PROGRAMMING FOR UN-SERVED AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. HEARD ON 92.3 & 88.1 FM AND STREAMING 24/7 AT WWW.KYRS.ORG, KYRS PROVIDES A MIX OF NEWS, VIEWS, CULTURE AND MUSIC OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY OTHER MEDIA. THIN AIR RADIO'S GOAL IS TO BUILD A STRONG, LISTENER-SUPPORTED COMMUNITY RADIO STATION THAT EMPOWERS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ETHNIC MINORITIES, LOW-INCOME, AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS, TO STRIVE FOR A MORE JUST AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD.

Income
$158,056
Spending
$220,349
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Highest pay
$54,722, president

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
  1. KYRS ACHIEVED ITS OWN 501(C)3 STATUS IN 2007 AND IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2011, THIN AIR RADIO BECAME A FULL POWER, NON-COMMERCIAL STATION, BROADCASTING WITH 6,800 WATTS AND REACHING AS FAR NORTH AS KETTLE FALLS, WA. AWARDS 2012, 2013 & 2014 #2 BEST RADIO STATION BY READERS OF THE INLANDER 2014 BEST NON-PROFIT, STCU'S WHO DO YOU LOVE CONTEST 2012 EPA CLEAN AIR EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR INNERTRIBAL BEAT 2010 SPIRIT OF JIM CHASE GROUP AWARD FOR "DRAGONFLIES ON THIN AIR" 2010 CHAMPION OF YOUTH AWARD FROM CHASE YOUTH COMMISSION 2009 SPOKANE ARTS COMMISSION BOLD STROKES AWARD 2008 & 2009 RANKED IN THE TOP THREE RADIO STATIONS IN THE INLANDER READER'S POLL 2009 NW ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE MEDIA AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTING TO EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA LITERACY 2009 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION 2009 RAINBOW AWARDS: BOB & IREY OF "QUEER SOUNDS" 2008 RAINBOW AWARDS: ALLY AWARD 2007 NW ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE MEDIA NOMINATION FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO MEDIA LITERACY 2005 SPOKANE LOCAL HERO AWARD BY STATE SEN. LISA BROWN FOR OUTSTANDING ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNITY RADIO.
  2. $112,958 spent. PROVIDED COMMUNITY RADIO FOR SPOKANE COUNTY AND OUTREACHING AREAS MOVING THE STATION TO A CENTRAL LOCATION ADDING RECORDING STUDIO FOR USE IN THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 2007.

    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.

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.