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Florida West Coast Public Broadcasting Inc

EIN 59-0840626 · Tampa, FL

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

WEDU'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE, EXPLORE, AND ENGAGE TO SPARK LIFELONG LEARNING. THROUGH MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WE EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT, GROW, AND PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN SHAPING THE FUTURE.

Income
$33.0 million
Spending
$13.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
47.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
64
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$502,799, 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

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 47.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 105% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 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 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. $9.9 million spent. WEDU IS THE 13TH-LARGEST PBS MARKET AREA, DELIVERING 52,560 HOURS OF COMMERCIAL-FREE PROGRAMMING EACH YEAR, PROVIDING SIX CHANNELS, AND REACHING 6.5 MILLION FLORIDIANS ACROSS 16 COUNTIES. BEYOND BROADCAST, WEDU CONNECTS WITH AUDIENCES THROUGH STREAMING, DIGITAL PLATFORMS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ROBUST EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. COMMITTED TO THOUGHTFUL STORYTELLING, WEDU ELEVATES LOCAL VOICES AND EXPLORES ISSUES SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY, NATION, AND WORLD. THROUGH EVENTS AND OUTREACH, WE BRING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TOGETHER, FOSTER MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS, AND ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE AROUND THE MATTERS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.(SEE SCHEDULE O)WEDU'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS MADE IT A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS A VALUED COMMUNITY RESOURCE; OFFERING A WINDOW TO THE WORLD FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS. WEDU'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES FOR PK-12 STUDENTS CONTINUE TO STAND AS A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS.IN 2025, OUR EFFORTS DREW NOTABLE PRAISE FROM CRITICS, WITH FOURTEEN SUNCOAST REGIONAL EMMY NOMINATIONS AND FIVE WINS, ALONG WITH THREE PRESTIGIOUS GRIOT DRUM AWARDS. WEDU'S STRATEGY TO FOCUS ON HYPER-LOCAL STORYTELLING HAS TRULY PAID OFF, AS THE GREATER SERIES EARNED THREE OF THE FIVE EMMY AWARDS THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL DOCUMENTARY, GOOD NATURED, A FILM THAT EXPLORED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF NATURE. TRAVELING THROUGH FLORIDA, THIS FILM EXPLORES BEAUTIFUL WILD SPACES AND MEETS INSPIRING PEOPLE DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION, INNOVATION, AND BALANCING PROGRESS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CARE.WEDU PBS ALSO EARNED A NOMINATION FOR BEST TV STATION IN CREATIVE LOAFING TAMPA BAY'S 2025 BEST OF THE BAY AWARDS. THIS RECOGNITION IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR INCREDIBLE DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.

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 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 September 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 May 1959.

    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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