Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Alamo Public Telecommunications Council

EIN 74-2461534 · San Antonio, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF KLRN IS TO open a world of lifelong learning through trustworthy and enriching programs on-air, online and in our community.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
52
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$166,329, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 28 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 (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. PROGRAMMING: ALAMO PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL OPERATES KLRN, THE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION SERVING SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. KLRN SERVES A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF ALL AGES BY OFFERING QUALITY PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAMMING ON FOUR DIGITAL TELEVISION CHANNELS:1. KLRN - SAN ANTONIO PBS, PBS KIDS AND PBS KIDS GO.2. WORLD - SPECIAL REPEAT PROGRAMS AND NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS.3. PBS KIDS - A 24-7 KIDS CHANNEL WITH PBS KIDS PROGRAMMING.4. CREATE - LIFESTYLE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING COOKING, PAINTING, SEWING, TRAVEL AND MORE.
  2. $745,146 spent. CONTENT CREATION: KLRN PRODUCES PROGRAMS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY INTEREST FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL BROADCAST AS WELL AS WEB ONLY CONTENT. LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PROGRAMS ON THE ARTS AND EDUCATION, HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARIES ALONG WITH TOWN-HALL FORUMS AND POLITICAL DEBATES ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS PRODUCED AND CREATED BY KLRN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
  3. $643,916 spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH: KLRN APPROACHES LEARNING AS A LIFE-LONG PURSUIT AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT MANY POINTS OF OPPORTUNITY. SOME OF THESE SERVICES ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO FORMAL EDUCATION AND MAY RESULT IN ACADEMIC CREDIT. OTHERS ARE LESS FORMAL THOUGH INFORMED BY THE SAME EDUCATIONAL MISSION (SEE SCHEDULE 0 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION). EXAMPLES INCLUDE: EARLY CHILDHOOD DELEVOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS AND CARE-GIVERS, RPE-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, IN-SCHOOL MULTIMEDIA CONTENT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS, INFORMATIONAL TELEVISION PROGRAMMING ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF LIFETIME SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES FROM HOME IMPROVEMENT TO COOKING, SEWING, PAINTING AND OTHER CRAFTS. MOST OF THE INITIATIVES INVOLVE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BRINGING THE ACTIVITIES TO A GRASSROOTS, NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL. THIS MODEL IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT LEVERAGES THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH THE PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH RESOURCES OF KLRN. THESE PROJECTS ESTABLISH THE STATION AS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FORPUBLIC SERVICE.

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 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 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 July 1987.

    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.