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Window to the World Communications Inc

EIN 36-2246703 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WTTW AND WFMT ARE COMMITTED TO PRODUCING AND PRESENTING TRUSTED, BEST-IN-CLASS CONTENT FUELED BY A DISTINCTLY CHICAGO SENSIBILITY. WE ENGAGE OUR AUDIENCES BY ENTERTAINING, INSPIRING, EDUCATING AND REFLECTING A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES.

Income
$50.4 million
Spending
$43.4 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
225
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$752,563, president and 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    57 of 58 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (5)
  1. $8.7 million spent. WTTW PRODUCES LOCAL AND NATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, THAT ARE BROADCAST LOCALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN AND AROUND CHICAGOLAND. OUR PRODUCTIONS HIGHLIGHT THE CITY AND PROVIDE CULTURAL AND INFORMATIVE CONTENTS. WTTW ALSO PRODUCES A NIGHTLY NEWS PROGRAM.
  2. $7.0 million spent. WTTW IS CHICAGO'S PBS MEMBER STATION COMMITTED TO CREATING AND PRESENTING UNIQUE CONTENT FOR TELEVISION AND DIGITAL MEDIA. WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENRICHING LIVES, ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, AND INSPIRING EXPLORATION THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, INNOVATION, AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING.
  3. $3.2 million spent. WFMT IS CHICAGO'S ONLY CLASSICAL RADIO STATION. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENRICHING LIVES, ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, AND INSPIRING EXPLORATION THROUGH THE LENS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. WFMT SHOWCASES LOCAL TALENT AND HAS A FOCUS ON DIVERSITY WITHIN CLASSICAL MUSIC.
  4. $10.2 million spent. Digital Content, Community Engagement
  5. (Expenses $ 10,155,286 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 231,036) Digital Content, Community Engagement

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 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 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 December 1958.

    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.