Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tri-Cities Broadcasting Foundation Inc

EIN 46-5018814 · Grand Haven, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A NON-PROFIT EDUCATION INSTITUTION. OUR MISSION IN PART IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL DIRECTION IN THE BROADCASTING FIELD TO HELP FOSTER NEW BROADCASTING CAREERS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST MICHIGAN. IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, WE WILL PROVIDE 24 HOUR A DAY FREE LOCAL RADIO FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, BUT ALSO WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WITH RESPECT TO BROADCASTING AS A CAREER. AS A PART THEREOF, WE INTEND TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY RADIO TO CITIZENS THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, LOCAL MUSIC ARTISTS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED BY COMMERCIAL STATIONS, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOCAL NEWS, FEATURE PROGRAMS, INTERVIEWS BY ASPIRING BROADCASTERS, LOCAL SPORTS, WEATHER AND SPIRITUAL PROGRAMMING THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

Income
$234,612
Spending
$217,720
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
1
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$92,097, president

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

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 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 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (1)
  1. $202,037 spent. THE TRI-CITIES BROADCASTING FOUNDATION INC. PROVIDED FREE 24 HOUR A DAY LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO BROADCASTING REGARDING LOCAL INTERESTS TO THE 47,000 CITIZENS OF THE TRI-CITIES AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 August 2015.

    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 November 4, 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.