Detroit Public Media
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EDUCATE, ENGAGE, ENTERTAIN, AND INSPIRE THROUGH THE POWER OF PUBLIC MEDIA.
- Income
- $26.2 million
- Spending
- $23.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 130
- Volunteers
- 81
- Highest pay
- $467,574, ceo & general manager
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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 2533 of 34 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 (3)
- $6.2 million spent. BROADCAST: DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA OPERATES WTVS DETROIT PBS, WHICH CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS THE ONLY COMMUNITY LICENSED, INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT TELEVISION STATION IN METROPOLITAN DETROIT, BROADCASTING ON FIVE DIGITAL CHANNELS: 56.1, 56.2 (DETROIT PBS KIDS), 56.3 (CREATE), 56.4 (WORLD), AND 56.5 (MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL). DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA ALSO MANAGES 90.9 WRCJ FM, DETROIT'S ONLY PUBLIC RADIO STATION DEDICATED TO CLASSICAL AND JAZZ.VIEWERSHIP AND PUBLIC TRUST FOR DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION:DETROIT PBS IS THE ONLY PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION IN THE DETROIT MARKET AND MICHIGAN'S MOST-WATCHED PUBLIC STATION, REGULARLY VIEWED BY SOME NEARLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AND CANADA.PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS BEEN NAMED THE MOST TRUSTED INSTITUTION IN AMERICA FOR 22 YEARS IN A ROW (SOURCE: MARKETING & RESEARCH RESOURCES, JANUARY 2025). 90.9 WRCJ FM IS LISTENED TO BY MORE THAN 150,000 LISTENERS IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN EACH WEEK AND IS STREAMED WORLDWIDE ON WRCJFM.ORG.
- $6.9 million spent. PRODUCTION & CONTENT CREATION:THE PRODUCTION TEAM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE CONTENT IN SPACES ACROSS METRO DETROIT INCLUDING THE DETROIT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LAWERENCE TECH UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS TAKING THE DETROIT PBS HD PRODUCTION TRUCK ON THE ROAD TO CAPTURE IMPORTANT CONFERENCES, EVENTS, AND CONCERTS. BELOW ARE PRODUCTIONS BY CATEGORY.ARTS AND CULTURE: DETROIT PERFORMS: LIVE IS A TELEVISION SERIES WITH A DIGITAL PRESENCE. THE SERIES HAS BEEN RECORDED AT THE MARYGROVE CONSERVANCY THEATER AND FEATURES DETROITERS PERFORMING LIVE ON STAGE WITH A DIFFERENT ARTS AND CULTURAL PARTNER CURATING EACH EPISODE. THIS FORMAT ASSURES A DIVERSE LINEUP OF MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, STORYTELLERS, ACTORS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE ARTISTS, ALL PRESENTING ORIGINAL MATERIAL. SPHINX FINALS CONCERT: DETROIT PBS PARTNERED WITH THE SPHINX ORGANIZATION TO LIVESTREAM AND BROADCAST THE 28TH ANNUAL SPHINX FINALS COMPETITION CONCERT. THE SPHINX COMPETITION OFFERS YOUNG BLACK AND LATINX CLASSICAL STRING PLAYERS A CHANCE TO COMPETE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED PANEL OF JUDGES AND TO PERFORM WITH ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS IN A COMPETITION SETTING. LIVE STREAMING AND BROADCAST SERVICES: DETROIT PBS REGULARLY PROVIDES PRODUCTION SERVICES TO CONNECT EVENTS WITH LARGER AUDIENCES. PARTNERS IN FY25 INCLUDED "MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE", "DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL", "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL", "CONCERT OF COLORS", "DETROIT FUTURE CITY EQUITY FORUM AND MORE. 90.9 WRCJ: DETROIT'S ONLY CLASSICAL AND JAZZ RADIO STATION PRODUCED CONCERT BROADCASTS BY THE DETROIT OPERA AND THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND RECORDED CONCERTS FROM MICHIGAN PHILHARMONIC AND ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. IN ADDITION, EACH WEEK 90.9 WRCJ HOSTS AN HOUR OF CLASSICAL CONCERTS FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH FEATURES FACULTY ARTISTS, STUDENT ENSEMBLES, AND GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, CAPTURED IN PERFORMANCE AT COOK RECITAL HALL, FAIRCHILD THEATRE AND WHARTON CENTER COBB GREAT HALL ON THE MSU CAMPUS.CHILDREN AND EDUCATION:DETROIT PBS KIDS IS A DIGITAL BROADCAST CHANNEL (56.2) AND ONLINE SERVICE THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING 24/7 AND IS CONSISTENTLY ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED PBS KIDS CHANNELS IN THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, DETROIT PBS KIDS PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMING TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEET-UPS REACHING APPROXIMATELY 10,700 PARTICIPANTS IN FY25.ADDITIONALLY, A TOTAL OF 22 VIDEOS WERE PRODUCED (11 IN ENGLISH AND 11 IN SPANISH) TO SHARE RESOURCES WITH CAREGIVERS ON DEVELOPING LITERACY SKILLS IN YOUNG CHILDREN.THE MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL (MLC) LAUNCHED AS A STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL MICHIGAN PBS STATIONS IN JANUARY 2021. IT IS A 24/7 BROADCAST CHANNEL, STREAMING SERVICE AND ROBUST WEBSITE WITH ON-DEMAND VIDEO AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, OPERATED THROUGH DETROIT PBS. THE MLC OFFERS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE STANDARDS ALIGNED AND FOLLOW THE MICHIGAN EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR. AN ESTIMATED 500,000 VIEWERS WATCH EACH MONTH ACROSS THE STATE. IN FY25, DETROIT PBS PRODUCED 12 "READ, WRITE, ROAR! 4TH AND 5TH GRADE" EPISODES WHICH PROVIDE LESSONS TO SUPPORT LITERACY SKILLS WHICH ARE AIRED ON BROADCAST AND AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON DEMAND. FIVE NEW EPISODES OF "ON LOCATION" A DIGITAL SERIES WERE PRODUCED TO BRING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FROM UNIQUE PLACES FROM ACROSS THE STATE DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS. READY TO LEARN: THROUGH THE READY TO LEARN INITIATIVE, DETROIT PBS PROVIDES FREE, EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND SUPPORTING LEARNING RESOURCES THAT HELP EDUCATORS, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS BUILD EARLY SCIENCE AND LITERACY SKILLS FOR AMERICA'S CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE DETROIT PBS MAIN CHANNEL 56.1 BROADCASTS PBS KIDS PROGRAMMING FOR 7 HOURS EACH WEEKDAY, PROVIDING TRUSTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS WERE HOSTED BY THE MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL. FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WERE OFFERED TO EDUCATORS INCLUDING LABS: LEARN AND BUILD STATEWIDE, WHICH PROVIDES ONGOING TEACHER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH A DIGITAL PLATFORM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORUTNTIES, AND SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE STATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MLC HOSTED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON WEBINARS AND PRESENTATIONS TO SHOW TEACHERS HOW TO USE MLC CONTENT AND RESOURCES. IN FY25, THE MLC LAUNCHED A NEW DIGITAL PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS, "PLANNING PERIOD", HIGHLIGHTING STANDARDS-ALIGNED CONTENT THAT CAN BE USED IN CLASSROOMS. 18 EPISODES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SO FAR.LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC POLICY ONE DETROIT WEEKLY SERIES: THE DETROIT PBS WEEKLY NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOW "ONE DETROIT" EMPHASIZES ON-LOCATION INTERVIEWS AND FIELD REPORTS OF AUTHENTIC STORIES FROM THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT. THE SERIES CAPTURES THE CHARACTER, CULTURE AND CONCERNS OF METRO DETROIT, TAKING VIEWERS BEYOND THE HEADLINES TOWARD A DEEPER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT AND COULD HOLD FOR ITS 4 MILLION RESIDENTS. AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL: A WEEKLY SERIES OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE. SPECIALS THIS YEAR INCLUDED CONTINUED COVERAGE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN DETROIT, "DESTINATION DETROIT" EVENTS CAPTURING STORIES FROM FAMILIES ON THEIR MIGRATION STORIES AS WELL AS VIRTUAL SCREENINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING THE CHARLES WRIGHT MUSEUM, BLACK CHURCHES, ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS ADVISORY GROUP AND MORE.MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE: FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, DETROIT PBS AND THE DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER TO MAKE THE STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AT THE MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE AVAILABLE TO ALL MICHIGANDERS. IN MAY 2025, THE CONFERENCE WAS STREAMED 159,918 TIMES, WITH 11,410 BROADCAST VIEWS. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT GREAT LAKES BUREAU: DETROIT PBS CONTINUED ITS YEAR-ROUND REPORTING ON GREAT LAKES ISSUES WITH MULTIPLATFORM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTENT. GREAT LAKES MONTHLY SERIES: THIS SERIES PROVIDES IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF NEWS, ISSUES, EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE GREAT LAKES AND THE REGION'S COMM
- $3.0 million spent. ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH DETROIT PBS AND 90.9 WRCJ ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. WE PROVIDE ON-AIR AND ONLINE RESOURCES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA DIALOGUE WITH A GOAL OF FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE, COLLABORATION AND ACTION. IN ADDITION TO THE PRODUCTIONS ABOVE, EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR INCLUDED: AAPI STORY SERIES: DETROIT PBS IS COMMITED TO LIFTING UP AND CELEBRATING THE LIVES, IMPACTS, VOICES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THE REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. DETROIT PBS HAS HIGHLIGHTED EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, AND RICH CULTURAL BENEFITS TO THE REGION FROM THE AAPI COMMUNITY THROUGH REGULAR COVERAGE AND STORIES. THE AAPI ADVISORY GROUP, FORMED IN 2022 CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY TO ADVISE ON OPPORTUNITIES AND STAY INFORMED WITH PERSPECITVIES FROM THE REGION. EDUCATION COMMUNITY EVENTS: DETROIT PBS KIDS BRINGS RESOURCES DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES, REACHING FAMILIES WHO ARE HARD TO REACH. IN FY25 THE EDUCATION TEAM ATTENDED AND HOSTED 112 IN-PERSON EVENTS, REACHING OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE PBS KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PARTNER AND OUTREACH EVENTS, LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND MORE. BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY WAS HELD AS AN IN-PERSON EVENT IN AUGUST 2024. DETROIT PBS HOSTED THIS EVENT AT EASTERN MARKET AND WELCOMED 765 GUESTS ACROSS TWO TIMED SESSIONS. THE FREE EVENT INCLUDED A DANCE PARTY WITH DANIEL TIGER ON STAGE, STORYTELLING, AND 50 COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED FREE RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. PROMOTION FOR FREE PRESCHOOL AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WERE SHARED AT THE EVENT. TWO BUSES PICKED UP FAMILIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE EVENT. DETROIT PBS COLLECTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR FAMILIES WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THEM DURING THE EVENT. CARL THE COLLECTOR EVENT: DETROIT PBS PARTNERED WITH THE MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER TO HOST A SENSORY FRIENDLY SCREENING OF CARL THE COLLECTOR. THIS EVENT INCLUDED A SCREENING EVENT ALONG WITH FREE ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES. A TOTAL OF 384 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED.SESAME STREET IN COMMUNITIES WORKSHOPS FOR CAREGIVERS ARE CONDUCTED REGULARLY AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT DETROIT AND EXPANDED TO OFFER "PUBLIC" MEET-UPS EACH MONTH. THE SERIES SUPPORTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN. WORKSHOPS COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO PARENT NEEDS AND CONCERNS, OFFERING TOOLS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. GREAT MIGRATIONS/DESTINATION DETROIT: DETROIT PBS HOSTED A NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND PROGRAMS LOCALLY IN CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL PBS SERIES, GREAT MIGRATIONS. AS PART OF THIS ENGAGEMENT, ONE DETROIT AND DETROIT PBS HOSTED EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MICHIGAN CENTRAL TO CAPTURE STORIES OF DETROITERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN COMING TO DETROIT. THIS HAS LAUNCHED INTO A LARGER PROJECT, WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND RECORD THEIR FAMILY STORIES. TECH JOBS EXPLAINED: DETROIT PBS HAS PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER OF PBS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON "JOBS EXPLAINED" A DIGITAL SERIES FOCUSED ON BRINGING CAREER CONTENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TEAM PRODUCED OVER 250 SHORT FORM VIDEOS ON TIK TOK, INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AROUND THE TECH SECTOR FOR THIS PROJECT. COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: AS PART OF THE ONE DETROIT BUREAU'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STORYTELLING, DETROIT PBS ENGAGES WITH DETROIT NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL THROUGH REGULAR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES AND STORIES OF DETROIT. FREE MOBILE APPS FOR DETROIT PBS AND 90.9 WRCJ CONTINUE TO BE USED BY USERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
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 November 1958.
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.