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Arkansas Educational Telecommunications Network Fdn

EIN 71-0592505 · Conway, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK FOUNDATION (DBA ARKANSAS PBS FOUNDATION) SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF ARKANSAS PBS TO EDUCATE, INFORM, ENGAGE, AND INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNERS ACROSS THE STATE. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT NATIONAL/LOCAL PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
28.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
14
Volunteers
166
Highest pay
$173,694, 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.3 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 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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. $1.6 million spent. PROGRAMMING ACQUISITIONS FOR BROADCAST ON ARKANSAS PBS'S MAIN CHANNEL AND ITS SUBCHANNELS (ARKANSAS PBS KIDS, ARKANSAS PBS WORLD, AND ARKANSAS PBS CREATE). INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, CORPORATE SPONSORS, AND FOUNDATION GRANTS HELP SUPPORT THE COSTS OF KEEPING HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE FOR BROADCAST ON AIR AND ACROSS A VARIETY OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS.
  2. $728,641 spent. PRODUCTION AND PROMOTION COSTS FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS TO BE BROADCAST ON ARKANSAS PBS AND ITS VARIOUS DIGITAL PLATFORMS. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMMING PURCHASES FROM PBS AND OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC MEDIA DISTRIBUTORS, ARKANSAS PBS CREATES LOCAL PRODUCTIONS HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND RELEVANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF ARKANSAS AND ITS RESIDENTS. ARKANSAS PBS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF LOCAL PRODUCTION THROUGH GRANTS, BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS/UNDERWRITING, AND MAJOR GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS.
  3. $205,388 spent. PRINTING AND PUBLICATION OF MONTHLY PROGRAM GUIDES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CONTRIBUTORS. MORE THAN 24,000 MEMBERS SPAN ACROSS THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AS WELL AS MO, OK, TN, AND LA, WHO RECEIVE A MONTHLY PROGRAM GUIDE AS A BENEFIT OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP. THE PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY ARKANSAS PBS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ITS VIEWERS.

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 April 1985.

    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.