Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Fort Wayne Public Television Inc

EIN 23-7173906 · Fort Wayne, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PBS FORT WAYNE ENGAGES OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CONTENT AND COLLABORATIONS THAT EDUCATE, INFORM, INSPIRE, AND ENTERTAIN.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
48
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$133,301, president/gm

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 25

    22 of 23 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. PBS FORT WAYNE IS A CRITICAL, FREE, OVER-THE-AIR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND CIVIC BROADCAST SERVICE, REACHING MORE THAN 800,000 PERSONS IN NORTHEAST INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO. SINCE 1975, PBS FORT WAYNE REMAINS THE ONLY PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION IN NORTHEAST INDIANA, AND THE ONLY LOCALLY-OWNED & OPERATED FULL-POWER TELEVISION SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED PROGRAMS, PBS FORT WAYNE PROVIDES A FULL SCHEDULE OF LOCALLY-PRODUCED DOCUMENTARIES, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HEALTH, CULTURAL, AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION PROGRAMS MONDAY-FRIDAY AT 7:30 PM. PBS FORT WAYNE'S SERVICE INCLUDES MORE THAN 200 HOURS EACH WEEK OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. LINE 4A, FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT PBS FORT WAYNE ENRICHES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ENGAGING CONTENT (MISSION STATEMENT). AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNER, PBS FORT WAYNE WILL BE A PRIMARY FOCAL POINT FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, HISTORY, EDUCATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT CREATES A CURIOUS, INSPIRED, AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY (VISION STATEMENT). STATION INFORMATION, VIDEOS AND STREAMING ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH PBS FORT WAYNE'S WEBSITE, PBSFORTWAYNE.ORG.

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

  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 October 13, 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 September 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 October 1972.

    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 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.