South Florida Public Media Group Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SOUTH FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA GROUP, INC. DBA FRIENDS OF WLRN, INC. (THE "CORPORATION") WAS INCORPORATED ON JANUARY 22, 1974, UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA PURSUANT TO SECTION 617.0201 (4) OF THE FLORIDA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION ACT WITH A PURPOSE TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE PROGRAM SERVICES OF WLRN-FM 91.3, WKWM-FM 91.5, AND WLRN-TV CHANNEL 17 ("WLRN") AS WELL AS OTHER BROADCAST AND NON-BROADCAST SERVICES LICENSED TO AND/OR OPERATED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA ("MDCPS"). ON JULY 1, 2022, THE CORPORATION AMENDED ITS PURPOSE TO BE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES, SUCH AS TO OPERATE AND MANAGE NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NONCOMMERCIAL PUBLICLY SUPPORTED BROADCASTING IN SOUTH FLORIDA, INCLUDING BROADCAST PROPERTIES LICENSED TO MDCPS OR LICENSED TO OR MANAGED BY THE CORPORATION.
- Income
- $15.7 million
- Spending
- $11.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- 50.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $351,341, ceo
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 50.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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 (1)
- $6.3 million spent. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION MANAGED WLRN TV AND WLRN RADIO ON BEHALF OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE LICENSEE, ACCORDING TO A MEDIA MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WHICH COMMENCED ON JULY 1, 2022. AS PART OF ITS MANAGEMENT OF THE STATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $9,400,000 IN SUPPORT AND REVENUES WITH WHICH TO OPERATE THE STATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION UTILIZED THESE REVENUES PLUS OTHER FUNDS TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COVER APPROXIMATELY $6,600,000 PROGRAMMING AND OPERATION EXPENSES PLUS $4,500,000 IN EXPENSES RELATED TO FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING FOR THE STATIONS. THESE AMOUNTS WERE USED BY THE ORGANIZATION EXCLUSIVELY TO FULFILL ITS TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE.
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
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 June 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 September 1976.
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.