Public Broadcasting Service
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE (PBS), INCORPORATED IN 1969, IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS MEMBER STATIONS SERVES THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WITH PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, USING MEDIA TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE, ENTERTAIN AND EXPRESS A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES.
- Income
- $696.6 million
- Spending
- $584.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 662
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $1.6 million, president & 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 25 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 (5)
- $435.7 million spent. CONTENT AND PROMOTION - A CORE FUNCTION UNDER PBS'S MISSION AS A MULTI-PLATFORM MEDIA ORGANIZATION AND REPRESENTS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIVERSE CONTENT OFFERED TO ITS 151-MEMBER PUBLIC TELEVISION LICENSEES. PBS'S WIDE ARRAY OF CONTENT EXPANDS THE MINDS OF CHILDREN, INCLUDES DOCUMENTARIES THAT ENLIGHTEN THE PUBLIC ON NEW WORLDS, NON-COMMERCIALIZED NEWS PROGRAMS THAT KEEP CITIZENS INFORMED ON WORLD EVENTS AND CULTURES AND PROGRAMS THAT EXPOSE AMERICA TO THE WORLDS OF MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE, AND ART. AS AMERICA'S LARGEST CLASSROOM, PBS IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN AND OFFERS EDUCATIONAL MEDIA THAT HELPS PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. PBS IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE POWER OF MEDIA INTO THE CLASSROOM AND HELPING EDUCATORS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS EXPENSE CATEGORY ALSO REPRESENTS INSTITUTIONAL AND PROGRAM PROMOTION AND PRESS EFFORTS (CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE O) INTENDED TO INCREASE VIEWERSHIP AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF PUBLIC TELEVISION. THESE ACTIVITIES PROVIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS WITH A BROAD ARRAY OF PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING ON-AIR ONLINE PROMOTIONAL SPOTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PRINT AND RADIO ADVERTISING, PRESS SUPPORT AND THE COORDINATION OF PUBLIC TELEVISION'S EDUCATIONAL MESSAGE AND POSITIONING. (Expenses $ 7,666,693 including grants of $ 5,836,076)(Revenue $ 239,912) OTHER - REPRESENTS OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS AND PRODUCERS FROM CABLE AND LICENSE FEE REVENUE RECEIVED FROM CABLE AND SATELLITE PROVIDERS. (Expenses $ 820,231 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 48,569,843) VENTURES - REPRESENTS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MARKETING AND SELLING PROGRAMS ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING SUBSCRIPTION VIDEO-ON-DEMAND, DIGITAL CONTENT, PRODUCING AND MANUFACTURING PHYSICAL GOODS SUCH AS DVD AND BLU-RAY PRODUCTS AND PROGRAM-RELATED PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTERACTIVE PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING OF VIDEO CONTENT TO COMMERCIAL ONLINE AND MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDERS; AND ONLINE SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES.
- $76.9 million spent. DISTRIBUTION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - REPRESENTS NETWORK, MEDIA, AND SATELLITE OPERATION CENTERS HANDLING, TECHNICAL EVALUATION, AND OTHER PRE-TRANSMISSION PROCESSING OF ALL PROGRAM VIDEO; PROGRAM ORIGINATION TRANSMISSION INCLUDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR NEWS AND OTHER LIVE EVENT COVERAGE, AND THE SCHEDULING AND LOGGING OF ALL SATELLITE FEEDS. THIS EXPENSE CATEGORY ALSO INCLUDES OTHER TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING, AND THE OVERSIGHT, LEASE, AND ACQUISITION OF SATELLITE CAPACITY.
- $17.0 million spent. MEMBER SERVICES - REPRESENTS SERVICES PROVIDED TO PBS'S MEMBER STATIONS, INCLUDING DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT, AND COPYRIGHT ADMINISTRATION. (Expenses $ 7,666,693 including grants of $ 5,836,076)(Revenue $ 239,912) OTHER - REPRESENTS OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS AND PRODUCERS FROM CABLE AND LICENSE FEE REVENUE RECEIVED FROM CABLE AND SATELLITE PROVIDERS. (Expenses $ 820,231 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 48,569,843) VENTURES - REPRESENTS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MARKETING AND SELLING PROGRAMS ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING SUBSCRIPTION VIDEO-ON-DEMAND, DIGITAL CONTENT, PRODUCING AND MANUFACTURING PHYSICAL GOODS SUCH AS DVD AND BLU-RAY PRODUCTS AND PROGRAM-RELATED PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTERACTIVE PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING OF VIDEO CONTENT TO COMMERCIAL ONLINE AND MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDERS; AND ONLINE SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES.
- $7.7 million spent. OTHER - REPRESENTS OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS AND PRODUCERS FROM CABLE AND LICENSE FEE REVENUE RECEIVED FROM CABLE AND SATELLITE PROVIDERS.
- $820,231 spent. VENTURES - REPRESENTS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MARKETING AND SELLING PROGRAMS ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING SUBSCRIPTION VIDEO-ON-DEMAND, DIGITAL CONTENT, PRODUCING AND MANUFACTURING PHYSICAL GOODS SUCH AS DVD AND BLU-RAY PRODUCTS AND PROGRAM-RELATED PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTERACTIVE PRODUCTS; THE LICENSING OF VIDEO CONTENT TO COMMERCIAL ONLINE AND MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDERS; AND ONLINE SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES.
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 December 1970.
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.