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Thurston Community Television

EIN 91-1269977 · Olympia, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NON-COMMERCIAL MEDIA SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING.

Income
$204,206
Spending
$627,303
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$72,850, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 207% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 78% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $213,284 spent. PRODUCTION SERVICES - TCTV PROVIDES CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL STAFF NECESSARY TO PRODUCE NON-COMMERCIAL VIDEO PROGRAMMING FRO SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. WE CREATE UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR OUR CLIENTS INCLUDING GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND CULTURAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING.
  2. $150,552 spent. MEDIA EDUCATION & EQUIPMENT RESOURCES - TCTV PROVIDES MEDIA PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS FOR RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SERVICE AREA. WE OFFERED WORKSHOPS AND CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO USE OUR EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO PRODUCE VIDEO PROGRAMMING. ADDITIONALLY WE HELD SUMMER CAMPS ATTENDED BY YOUTH AGES 8-16. TCTV MAKES EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO TRAINED MEMBERS.
  3. $75,276 spent. CABLE SYSTEM CHANNEL MANAGEMENT - TCTV IS THE ONLY LOCAL TELEVISION RESOURCE IN GREATER THURSTON COUNTY, WA. WE MANAGE FOUR LOCAL CABLE CHANNELS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL, GOVERNMENTAL (PEG) ACCESS CHANNELS CARRY PROGRAMS PRODUCED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS.
  4. $69,001 spent. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & YOUTH MEDIA - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS ADDRESS THE COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND TARGETED POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE TO CRAFT EFFECTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNICATION NEEDS.
  5. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & YOUTH MEDIA - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS ADDRESS THE COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND TARGETED POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE TO CRAFT EFFECTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNICATION NEEDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 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 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.