Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

St Louis Regional Public Media Inc

EIN 43-0685345 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ST. LOUIS REGIONAL PUBLIC MEDIA (D/B/A NINE PBS), A PBS AFFILIATE RATED IN THE MOST-WATCHED PUBLIC TV STATIONS, SERVES AS THE REGION'S STORY-TELLER - BROADCASTING, PRODUCING AND SHARING THOSE STORIES ON FOUR DIGITAL VIDEO CHANNELS, A WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE STATION PROVIDES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY FAR BEYOND BROADCAST TELEVISION THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO ASSISTANCE WITH CRITICAL NEEDS.

Income
$48.1 million
Spending
$15.2 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
17.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
158
Volunteers
196
Highest pay
$365,835, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 212% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    28 of 28 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 (4)
  1. $3.8 million spent. BROADCASTING AND PROGRAMMING:TO ACQUIRE AND BROADCAST PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE THE POPULATION OF THE GREATER METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS REGION AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND THE SOUTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS REGION WITH NATIONALLY PRODUCED PBS PROGRAMS ACROSS A VARIETY OF PROGRAM GENRES SUCH AS: IN THE NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY GENRE: PBS NEWS, AMANPOUR AND COMPANY, BBC WORLD NEWS, WASHINGTON WEEK, FRONTLINE, AND INDEPENDENT LENS. IN THE CHILDREN'S GENRE: SESAME STREET, CARL THE COLLECTOR, DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD, LYLA IN THE LOOP, MOLLY OF DENALI, WEATHER HUNTERS, ODD SQUAD, PHOEBE AND JAY, WILD KRATTS, AND MANY MORE. PROGRAMS THAT ADD TO LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT SUCH AS NOVA, NATURE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, THIS OLD HOUSE, FINDING YOUR ROOTS, MASTERPIECE, AMERICAN MASTERS, BEST OF JOY OF PAINTING, AND MANY MORE. NINE PBS IS CONSISTENTLY RANKED AS ONE OF THE MOST-WATCHED PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE NATION. NINE PBS BROADCASTS ITS PROGRAMS OVER FOUR DISTINCT DIGITAL CHANNELS: NINE PBS, NINE PBS KIDS, NINE WORLD, AND NINE CREATE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION:WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS BOTH THE CHALLENGES HOLDING OUR REGION BACK AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN MOVE US FORWARD. THROUGH OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL FOR ENGAGEMENT, NINE PBS GROUNDS ITS WORK IN THE VOICES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS TO LISTEN AND LEARN, ELEVATE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND TAILOR OUR ENGAGEMENT TO AUTHENTICALLY REFLECT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE CLOSE THE LOOP - REPORTING BACK ON PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS APPROACH ENSURES OUR ENGAGEMENT IS NOT JUST MEANINGFUL, BUT ACTION-ORIENTED - ROOTED IN CONVERSATION, COLLABORATION, AND MEASURABLE IMPACT.THESE EFFORTS ARE ESPECIALLY CRITICAL AS WE RESPOND TO URGENT REGIONAL NEEDS. NEARLY HALF OF THIRD GRADERS ARE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHILDREN ARE NOT ENROLLED IN ACCREDITED PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, NINE PBS'S EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON A "HIGHEST NEED, HIGHEST IMPACT" APPROACH, ALIGNING CLOSELY WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS TO IMPROVE THIRD-GRADE LITERACY, STRENGTHEN SCHOOL READINESS, AND EQUIP CARING ADULTS WITH TOOLS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LEARNING.IN 2025, WE ADVANCED THIS WORK THROUGH A RANGE OF TARGETED INITIATIVES, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS, OUR ANNUAL EDCAMP CONFERENCE, TEACHING IN ROOM 9 ON-AIR AND DIGITAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES, NINE PBS POWER HOUR FACILITATED LEARNING SESSIONS, THE DRAWN IN MULTI-PLATFORM LITERACY INITIATIVE, AND PBS LEARNINGMEDIA CURRICULUM RESOURCES. WE ALSO CONTINUED THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING INITIATIVE, OFFERING COMMUNITY CONVENINGS, CURATED RESOURCES, AND TRUSTED CONTENT SHARED BOTH ON-AIR AND ONLINE - ENSURING FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
  3. $2.7 million spent. PRODUCTION:OUR PLATFORMS ONLINE, ON-AIR, AND IN THE COMMUNITY ARE DEDICATED TO SHARING STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOLUTIONS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY FLOURISH. OUR FLAGSHIP CONTENT SERIES "LIVING ST. LOUIS" HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSE TOPICS INCLUDING ARTS, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, COMMUNITY, AND HISTORY. "DONNYBROOK," AIRING CONSISTENTLY SINCE 1987, PROVIDES A FORUM FOR FIVE ST. LOUIS JOURNALISTS TO DISCUSS KEY LOCAL ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND MORE. OUR PROGRAM, "LISTEN, ST. LOUIS," IS A PODCAST AND DIGITAL SERIES WHERE HOST CAROL DANIEL INTERVIEWS LOCAL PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND CLARITY ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALSO CREATED SPECIAL CONTENT AND SERIES, SUCH AS "WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS?" EXPLORING HOW TO RECYCLE THE NOT EASILY RECYCLABLE ITEMS, CITIZEN'S AGENDA: RACE FOR MAYOR, PERCY GREEN: MAN OF ACTION, AND OUR TORNADO TOWNHALL FOLLOWING THE MAY 16 TORNADO. ALL FOCUSED ON UPLIFTING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING WE UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY TO HELP US MOVE INTO A PRODUCTIVE FUTURE.
  4. $1.4 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION:TO INFORM VIEWERS OF SCHEDULED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND TO SUPPLY INFORMATION ABOUT NINE PBS ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, THE STATION PUBLISHES AND DISTRIBUTES AN AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM GUIDE TO OVER 45,000 MEMBERS AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS. THE PROGRAM GUIDE ALSO FEATURES ARTICLES ABOUT PROGRAMS AND OTHER EVENTS AND INITIATIVES OF NINE PBS. THE STATION HAS A ROBUST WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES PROGRAM INFORMATION, VIDEO STREAMING OF PROGRAMS, AND LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES WHICH SERVE TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1955.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.