Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wjct Inc

EIN 59-0711482 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WJCT'S MISSION IS TO USE OUR UNIQUE ASSETS AS A RESOURCE FOR CITIZENS TO COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE HUMAN DIVERSITY, EXPERIENCE LIFELONG LEARNING, AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN MATTERS OF CIVIC IMPORTANCE, ALL TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES AND OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
81
Volunteers
73
Highest pay
$239,141, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 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. $6.8 million spent. COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT:AT WJCT PUBLIC MEDIA, WE ARE DEDICATED TO DELIVERING INTELLIGENT AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING NEWS AND INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTLY TO HOMES ACROSS THE FIRST COAST. WE SERVE AS AN ACCESSIBLE FORUM FOR PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND DEBATE, STRIVING TO OPEN MINDS, FOSTER INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.STEWARDSHIP:SINCE OUR FIRST TELEVISION BROADCAST IN SEPTEMBER 1958 AND OUR FIRST RADIO BROADCAST IN APRIL 1972, WE HAVE STRIVED TO REFLECT AND RESPOND TO THE DIVERSE VOICES OF OUR FIRST COAST COMMUNITY WITH DISTINCTION, BALANCE, AND RESPECT. WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF PUBLIC MEDIA AND HONOR OUR HERITAGE BY STAYING RESPONSIVE TO CITIZENS OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, CULTURES, AND VALUES.EDUCATION:NOTHING SURPASSES OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUNG LEARNERS. MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO, WHEN "COMMERCIAL-FREE TELEVISION" WAS STILL A NOVELTY, WJCT ADDED THEN CUTTING-EDGE PROGRAMMING TO ITS SCHEDULE: SESAME STREET AND MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD. IN BOTH THEIR STYLE AND CONTENT, THESE PROGRAMS MODELED GOOD CHARACTER AND GAVE RISE TO THE TERM "SAFE HAVEN." PARENTS SOON LEARNED THAT THEY COULD TRUST THEIR KIDS TO JAX PBS, A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT HAS NEVER WAVERED. TODAY, WJCT OFFERS A FULL SUITE OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING, DIGITAL RESOURCES, AND LIVE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS. WITH UNIVERSAL ACCESS REACHING ACROSS THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE," WJCT'S EDUCATION SERVICES ARE WIDELY USED AND PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN STUDY AFTER STUDY. PBS KIDS CONTENT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO ENHANCE EARLY LITERACY SKILLS LIKE NAMING LETTERS, SOUNDS, AND UNDERSTANDING STORIES. CHILDREN USING PBS CONTENT AT HOME OUTSCORED A COMPARISON GROUP ON WIDELY USED STANDARDIZED TESTS THAT MEASURE MATH CONCEPTS SUCH AS NUMBERS AND COUNTING. CHILDREN IN CLASSROOMS USING THE FLORIDA PBS LEARNING MEDIA CONTENT OUTPERFORMED NATIONAL ASSESSMENT NORMS BY 10%. PARENTS AT ALL INCOME LEVELS AND DIVERSE ETHNICITIES TRUST PBS AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER MEDIA BRAND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1960.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.