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Pennsylvania Educational Communications Systems

EIN 25-1420912 · Camp Hill, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PCN IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING, CONNECTING, AND CELEBRATING PENNSYLVANIA'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE THROUGH CABLE TELEVISION AND STREAMING PLATFORMS. WE ARE A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CABLE TELEVISION NETWORK LOCATED IN CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA WITH BUREAUS IN PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA. PCN RECEIVED NO STATE OR FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS. PCN IS PROUD TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS IN THREE CATEGORIES - POLITICS & POLICY, HISTORY & CULTURE AND SPORTS.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
108
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$209,507, president & 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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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. $940,229 spent. DELIVERY SYSTEM: PCN TRANSMITS ITS PROGRAMMING SIGNAL TO THE CABLE SYSTEMS WHO ULTIMATELY PROVIDE PCN PROGRAMMING TO SUBSCRIBERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. PCN ALSO TRANSMITS ITS SIGNAL AND VIDEO ON DEMAND CONTENT TO ITS STREAMING SUBSCRIBERS AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON ITS WEBSITE AND VARIOUS STREAMING DEVICES.
  2. $2.0 million spent. PROGRAMMING: PCN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDITORIAL DECISIONS OF ITS CONTENT, ON-AIR SCHEDULING, AND THE PRODUCTION OF ITS PROGRAMMING. ITS CORE PROGRAMMING IS PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS AND POLICY, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, AND HISTORY AND CULTURE.
  3. $184,524 spent. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: PCN'S PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE HAS BEEN CABLE SYSTEM SERVICE FEES. AS CONSUMER TRENDS CHANGE, PCN SEEKS TO FUND ITS MISSION THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, PROGRAM UNDERWRITING, SPONSORED PROGRAMMING, GRANTS, ETC. TO SUPPORT ITS PROGRAMMING.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 July 2000.

    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 November 4, 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.