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Colorado Public Television Inc

EIN 84-0723918 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PBS12 COLORADO IS RE-IMAGINING HOW PUBLIC MEDIA CAN SERVE THE COMMUNITY. CONTENT: CREATING UNIQUE, LOCAL CONTENT THAT SHARES STORIES AND VIEWPOINTS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE LOST. EDUCATION: PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONTENT CREATORS WITH THE EXPERIENCES AND MENTORSHIPS THAT WILL EMPOWER THEM TO CARRY FORWARD A RICH TRADITION OF ETHICAL STORYTELLING. SERVICE: LEVERAGING OUR UNIQUE TALENTS, TECHNOLOGIES, AND FACILITIES TO PROVIDE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AT NO OR LOW COST TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
17.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
29
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$136,260, treasurer/vp of finance

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

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (3)
  1. $2.7 million spent. PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION - ANY FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION, SCHEDULING AND BROADCASTING OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL CONTENT GEARED TO THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALS NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY. ALSO PRODUCING TELEVISION PROGRAMMING THAT IS NOT ACQUIRED AND THE RELATED FUNCTIONS TO PRODUCE SUCH PROGRAMS. LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COVERING COMMUNITY ISSUES AND INTERNATIONAL TOPICS ARE OF MAJOR FOCUS.
  2. $940,961 spent. TRANSMISSION - FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE MAINTENANCE, INSTALLATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE TECHNICAL APPARATUS RELATING TO TELEVISED PROGRAMS.
  3. $771,569 spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION - ANY ACTIVITY RELATED TO INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PROVIDED SERVICES. PRINT INFORMATION AND INCREASING ELECTRONIC ACTIVITY PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO DO SO. INTERACTIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS REGARDING SERVICES IS A MAJOR GOAL.

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 1977.

    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.