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Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association Inc

EIN 54-0843118 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$18.8 million
Spending
$17.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
151
Volunteers
550
Highest pay
$307,321, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

    32 of 33 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 (3)
  1. $7.3 million spent. BROADCAST AND DIGITAL CONTENT- WHRO PUBLIC MEDIA IS THE LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION BROADCASTER IN EASTERN VIRGINIA, PROVIDING QUALITY TELEVISION PROGRAMMING ON FOUR CHANNELS 24 HOURS A DAY. FROM CHILDREN'S SHOWS LIKE SESAME STREET, DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD TO PBS SHOWCASE PROGRAMS LIKE NOVA, MASTERPIECE, PBS NEWSHOUR, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND FRONTLINE, WHRO-TV 15 PROVIDES QUALITY PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES. LOCAL BROADCASTS AND DIGITAL CONTENT INCLUDE, CURATE, AND DOCUMENTARIES SUCH AS CITY VOICES: HOMELESSNESS TO HOPEFULNESS. WHRO BROADCASTS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION THAT DELIGHTS CHILDREN WHILE BUILDING READING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATH SKILLS, PROGRAMS FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING, PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYSIS AND DOCUMENTARIES, PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMING CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND THE COUNTRY, ACCLAIMED HISTORY, SCIENCE AND NATURE PROGRAMMING, AND THE BEST IN INDEPENDENT FILMS. WHRV 89.5 FM RADIO IS THE PLACE TO HEAR NPR PROGRAMS LIKE MORNING EDITION AND ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S MARKETPLACE, AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE, JAZZ AND FOLK MUSIC. ANOTHER VIEW HOSTED BY BARBARA HAMM LEE PROVIDES A FORUM TO THE OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND OPINIONS. PODCASTS/BROADCASTS INCLUDE OUT THE BOX ALBUM OF THE WEEK, OPENING NIGHT WITH REBECCA EVANS, BIRDNOTES, EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING, THE EMERGING LEADERS SMART PILL, WRITER'S BLOCK AND ARTS CONVERSATIONS. WHRO 90.3 FM RADIO PROVIDES 24-HOUR CLASSICAL MUSIC AND FINE ARTS PROGRAMMING AND IS AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MANY FINE PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS TO RECORD AND BROADCAST CONCERTS, PROMOTE EVENTS, AND HIGHLIGHT THE RICH CULTURAL OFFERINGS OF OUR REGION INCLUDING BROADCASTS OF PERFORMANCES BY VISITING ARTISTS.
  2. $2.9 million spent. DELIVERS EARLY LEARNING, TEACHER TRAINING, AND ONLINE CONTENT CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, INCLUDING ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION COURSES CORRELATED TO THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING, AND A DIGITAL ASSET LIBRARY OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RICH MEDIA ELEMENTS PROVIDED TO ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE STATE.
  3. $2.8 million spent. PROVIDING ONLINE SUPPORT FOR EMEDIA VA TO SCHOOLS,STUDENTS,AND TEACHERS TROUGHOUT VIRGINIA. PROVIDES TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO THE INTERNAL STAFF AND PLATFORMS FOR STREAMING SERVICES. PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN TECHNOLOGIES THAT SECURE THE PRIVATE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OUR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS FROM INTERNET FRAUD.PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR CELL PHONE COMPANIES 24/7, 365 DAYS AND PROVIDES MAINTENANCE,REPAIR AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR TELEVISION AND RADIO STUDIOS AND OUR TRANSMITTERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT EASTERN VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE.

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 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 June 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 February 1969.

    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.