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Chicago Public Media Inc

EIN 36-3687394 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR DEMOCRACY THROUGH INDEPENDENT LOCAL JOURNALISM. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA PRODUCES ACCESSIBLE, TRUSTED NEWS, INFORMATION AND PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS ALL CHICAGO AREA RESIDENTS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS EVERY DAY, PARTICIPATE IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE THE MOST OF OUR REGION.

Income
$35.6 million
Spending
$27.1 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
180
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$943,475, ceo - thru 09/2024

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 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 (2)
  1. $17.8 million spent. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY PRODUCING AND DELIVERING DIVERSE, COMPELLING CONTENT OF MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS AND EXPRESSION. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA BROADCASTS ITS SERVICE ON FOUR NON-COMMERCIAL FM RADIO STATIONS: WBEZ 91.5 FM IN CHICAGO, WBEQ 90.7 FM IN MORRIS, 91.7 FM (W219CD) IN ELGIN, ILLINOIS, AND WBEK 91.1 FM IN KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS; VIRTUALLY VIA WBEZ.ORG, SMART SPEAKERS, MOBILE APPS, PODCASTS AND IN LIVE EVENTS THAT GENERATE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS COMMUNITIES.
  2. $249,597 spent. CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA OPERATES VOCALO, A PUBLIC MEDIA ONLINE/ON-AIR SERVICE, ON 91.1 FM (W216CL) IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ONLINE AT VOCALO.ORG, AND SYNDICATED ON MULTIPLE STATIONS AROUND CHICAGOLAND. VOCALO WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN INSPIRATIONAL BRAND THAT CELEBRATES OUR CITY'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AROUND MUSIC - SPECIFICALLY, THE URBAN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT. IN MAY 2024, VOCALO CEASED ITS LIVE BROADCAST BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE PRE PROGRAMMED CONTENT ON ITS BROADCAST AND STREAM WHILE CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA CONSIDERS THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE LICENSE.

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 March 1994.

    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.