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Broadcast Education Association

EIN 52-6057288 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BEA IS THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC MEDIA ORGANIZATION, DRIVING INSIGHTS, EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA PRODUCTION, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT FOR EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS. THE ASSOCIATION'S PUBLICATIONS, ANNUAL CONVENTION, WEB-BASED PROGRAMS, AND REGIONAL DISTRICT ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JURIED PRODUCTION COMPETITION AND PRESENTATION OF CURRENT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH RELATED TO ASPECTS OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA. BEA SERVES AS A FORUM FOR EXPOSITION, ANALYSIS, AND DEBATE OF ISSUES OF SOCIAL IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOP MEMBERS' AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY TO THESE ISSUES AND TO THEIR RAMIFICATIONS, WHICH WILL HELP MEMBERS DEVELOP AS MORE THOUGHTFUL PRACTITIONERS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$962,319
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
3
Volunteers
115
Highest pay
$149,746, 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.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 92 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 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 (4)
  1. $403,149 spent. ANNUAL MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS PROMOTE BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG ACADEMICIANS, RESEARCHERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MEDIA PROFESSIONALS.
  2. $62,704 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS: BEA ADMINISTERS FOURTEEN SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY, TO HONOR BROADCASTERS AND THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA PROFESSION. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY STUDYING AT BEA MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.
  3. $38,982 spent. PUBLICATIONS: JOURNAL OF BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA, JOURNAL OF RADIO & AUDIO MEDIA, AND JOURNAL OF MEDIA EDUCATION - SCHOLARLY JOURNALS EMPHASIZING NEW DEVELOPMENTS, TRENDS RESEARCH RELATED TO ELECTRONIC MEDIA.
  4. $16,746 spent. DIVISION ACTIVITIES: SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS WITHIN BEA THAT RELATE TO VARIOUS INITIATIVES IMPORTANT TO BEA'S MEMBERSHIP BASE.

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 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 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 November 1964.

    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.

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