Newark Public Radio Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 44% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
NEWARK PUBLIC RADIO, INC. ("WBGO") SEEKS TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY, CURATED JAZZ AND BLUES PROGRAMMING PRODUCED IN THE JAZZ CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 44%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $217,634, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1544% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 September 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 (1)
- $2.1 million spent. ALL ACTIVITIES AND EXPENSES RELATE TO OPERATING NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST NPR AFFILIATED, PROFESSIONAL NON-COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION. WBGO'S BROADCAST SIGNAL COVERS SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE TRI-STATE, METRO-AREA WITH EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, AND JAZZ PROGRAMMING. WBGO PROMOTES ITSELF VIA A WEBSITE (WWW.WBGO.ORG) AND STREAMS ITS BROADCAST SIGNAL DIGITALLY VIA THE INTERNET AND CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DETAIL) WBGO IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN JAZZ RADIO AND AN ICONIC INSTITUTION IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THE BIRTHPLACE OF NUMEROUS MUSIC LEGENDS INCLUDING QUEEN LATIFAH, SARAH VAUGHAN AND NEA JAZZ MASTER WAYNE SHORTER. WBGO SEEKS TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING UNIQUE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE HIGHEST-QUALITY JAZZ, BLUES, RHYTHM AND BLUES AND SPOKEN WORD PROGRAMMING. WBGO REACHES A WEEKLY BROADCAST AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 200,000 IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA VIA 88.3 FM, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE WORLDWIDE, STREAMING VIA WBGO.ORG WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NPR AND JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER. WBGO HAS LONG BEEN AN ANCHOR INSTITUTION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIPS, CONCERTS, EDUCATION AND NEWS PROGRAMMING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 September 2025.
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 April 1979.
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.