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Kentucky Public Radio Inc

EIN 61-1259787 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LPM PROVIDES INDEPENDENT AND COURAGEOUS NEWS, MUSIC AND EXPERIENCES THAT SERVE THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
63
Volunteers
84
Highest pay
$218,137, president & ceo (thru 12/31/24)

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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $6.1 million spent. LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA (LPM) OPERATES THREE NONCOMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS: 89.3 WFPL NEWS LOUISVILLE, 90.5 WUOL CLASSICAL LOUISVILLE, AND 91.9 WFPK MUSIC LOUISVILLE: ALONG WITH THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (KYCIR), COLLECTIVELY REACHING OVER 322,400 MONTHLY BROADCAST LISTENERS AND 260,157 UNIQUE MONTHLY WEB VISITORS ACROSS GREATER LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AND SOUTHERN INDIANA. LPM PROVIDES INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN CIVIC JOURNALISM INCLUDING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, STATEWIDE VOTER GUIDES, LEGISLATIVE SESSION COVERAGE, AND COMMUNITY REPORTING ON TOPICS SUCH AS PUBLIC HOUSING, POLICE REFORM, EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY. LPM ALSO ADVANCES ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE REGION THROUGH FREE AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING OVER 50 HOSTED EVENTS, THE WFPK WATERFRONT WEDNESDAY OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES DRAWING OVER 65,000 ATTENDEES, CLASSICAL MUSIC REBROADCASTS, AND YOUTH MUSIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES REACHING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. LPM HAS ALSO EXPANDED ITS REGIONAL JOURNALISM FOOTPRINT AS LEAD STATION FOR BOTH THE ASSOCIATION OF KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS AND THE NEWLY FORMED APPALACHIA + MID-SOUTH NEWSROOM (AMSN), A SEVEN-STATION NPR REGIONAL COLLABORATION SERVING KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

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 June 1994.

    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.