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Friends of Mvyradio Inc

EIN 46-3432541 · West Tisbury, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WMVY'S GOAL IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND CAPE COD AND TO REFLECT THE VOICE AND SPIRIT OF THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, THROUGH THE STATION'S PROGRAMMING AND PERSONALITIES. MVY WORKS HARD TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH RELIABLE, CURRENT INFORMATION SURROUNDING BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS WEATHER, TIDES, SEA CONDITIONS, FERRY AND AIRLINE SERVICE, SCHOOL CLOSINGS, TRAFFIC INFORMATION, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MESSAGES AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES. THE STATION PROVIDES LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS AND BROADCASTS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
32
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$128,726, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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. $1.2 million spent. THE STATION PRODUCES SEVERAL LOCALLY-FOCUSED FEATURE PROGRAMS. "THE MVYRADIO PERSON OF THE WEEK" IS A 3 MINUTE FIRST PERSON PORTRAIT OF A LOCAL INDIVIDUAL WHO IS CREATING A COMMUNITY BENEFIT. WE SPOTLIGHT OVER 50 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, WE AIR A 30 MINUTE "NEWS MAGAZINE" FORMAT PROGRAM CALLED "THE VINEYARD CURRENT." THIS PROGRAM HAS WON A DOZEN MASSACHUSETTS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION AWARDS. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH A WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP FEATURING REPORTERS FROM THE VINEYARD GAZETTE, FOLLOWED BY PROFILES OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE MARTHA'S VINEYARD TICK. THIS SHOW HAS A COMPANION PROGRAM CALLED "THE CAPE COD CURRENT" WHICH FOLLOWS A SIMILAR FORMAT, INSTEAD FOCUSING ON CAPE COD RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, HUNDREDS OF LOCAL INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE GIVEN A VOICE ON THE AIR. IN THE SUMMER, WE HAVE A 10-WEEK LIMITED PODCAST SERIES, "VINEYARD HAPPENINGS" WHICH PROVIDES EVENT INFORMATION AND COVERAGE AIMED AT THE ISLAND'S SUMMER COMMUNITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN VISITORS. AND WE HELPED RELAUNCH "SHED" A PODCAST SERIES THAT DISCUSSES RACE WITH VINEYARD-CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS. TO COVER LOCAL MUSIC, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMMING FEATURES AND IN-PERSON EVENTS. ON TUESDAYS, WE AIR THE WEEKLY ONE-HOUR PROGRAM "THE NEW ENGLAND SOUND" (FORMERLY, "THE LOCAL MUSIC CAFE") WHICH SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL/NEW ENGLAND-BASED INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS. WE ALSO DO A ONE-SONG SEGMENT CALLED "KEEPING IT LOCAL" WHICH FEATURES A CAPE & ISLANDS MUSICIAN. THIS AIRS TWICE PER WEEK. ON SUNDAYS AT 7PM, WE AIR "WOODSTOVE STUDIOS PRESENTS." HOUR LONG CONCERTS AND INTERVIEWS ARE RECORDED AT PETER HALPERIN'S HOME STUDIO IN WEST TISBURY AND BROADCAST WEEKLY.WE HELD OUR ANNUAL NIGHT OUT FOR NONPROFITS. WE INVITE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OVER 200 NONPROFITS ON THE ISLAND FOR A COCKTAIL HOUR, AND THEN BRING IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR A FUN NIGHT WITH LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD. MONEY COLLECTED AT THE DOOR BENEFITS THE MV DONORS COLLABORATIVE, WHICH HOLDS EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS.
  2. $250,056 spent. BROADCASTING: WMVY CAN BE HEARD ON 88.7 FM ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND 96.5 FM IN NEWPORT. WMVY CAN ALSO BE HEARD ON A VARIETY OF STREAMING DEVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 2014.

    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.