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Virginia Center for Public Press Inc

EIN 54-1589570 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VCPP OPERATES WRIR 97.3 LPFM, A COMMUNITY LOW POWER FM RADIO STATION SERVING CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE STATION COVERS A LISTENING AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MILES. WRIR BROADCASTS NEWS, VIEWS AND MUSIC THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNREPRESENTED ON PUBLIC AIRWAVES. THE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE COVERS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY, WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS. NEWS AND TALK PROGRAMMING IS BROADCAST MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8AM TO 1PM. MUSIC PROGRAMMING IS BROADCAST DURING THE REST OF THE BROADCAST WEEK.

Income
$191,006
Spending
$164,612
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-14.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
150

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 96% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $118,203 spent. WRIR-LP 97.3 FM IS A TRUE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION. WRIR IS A NONPROFIT, LOCALLY OWNED, POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS AND DRIVEN BY THE CONVICTION THAT ALL VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD. WRIR AIRS UNDERREPRESENTED MUSIC, NEWS AND VIEWS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. WRIR-LP 97.3 FM IS MANAGED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, A WRIR VOLUNTEER IS AT THE STATION PRODUCING THE LIVE RADIO PROGRAM YOU HEAR ON AIR. WRIR-LP 97.3 FM WELCOMES THE AREA'S NON-PROFITS, ARTISTS, NEWSMAKERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AS GUESTS ON OUR SHOWS. EVERY DAY A WRIR-PRODUCED PROGRAM FEATURES A LOCAL VOICE OR ARTIST. WHEN PEOPLE LISTEN TO WRIR-LP FROM AROUND THE WORLD, THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT RICHMOND'S PEOPLE, ARTS AND CULTURE. NEARLY ALL OF WRIR'S PROGRAMS ARE PRODUCED IN OUR STUDIO.

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 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 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 November 1993.

    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.