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High Desert Radio Project

EIN 92-2569346 · Reno, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HIGH DESERT RADIO PROJECT, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT RADIO STATION THAT CHAMPIONS MUSIC AND IDEAS THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, NON-COMMERCIAL RADIO IN RENO AND BEYOND. BROADCASTING LIVE AT KWNK-LP 97.7 FM IN NORTHERN NEVADA. KWNK 97.7 IS A PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY OUR COMMUNITYS VOICE, TASTES AND CULTURE THROUGH FM RADIO AND VOLUNTEER-PRODUCED PROGRAMMING THAT AUTHENTICALLY REFLECTS OUR CITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR IDENTITIES.

Income
$94,601
Spending
$94,516
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
3

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (3)
  1. THE PURPOSE OF HDRP IS TO CARRY OUT ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR WHICH AN ORGANIZATION MAY BE EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER 26 U.S.C. 501(C)(3). WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED, PROMOTED AND CARRIED ON, AND FOR WHICH HDRP IS FORMED, IS TO OPERATE ONE OR MORE FCC-LICENSED LOW POWER FM (LPFM) OR FM NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES INCLUDING LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC ADVANCEMENT, LESSENING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD TENSIONS, ELIMINATING PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW. THE PURPOSE OF HDRP IS TO CARRY OUT ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR WHICH AN ORGANIZATION MAY BE EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER 26 U.S.C. 501(C)(3). WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED, PROMOTED AND CARRIED ON, AND FOR WHICH HDRP IS FORMED, IS TO OPERATE ONE OR MORE FCC-LICENSED LOW POWER FM (LPFM) OR FM NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES INCLUDING LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC ADVANCEMENT, LESSENING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD TENSIONS, ELIMINATING PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW.
  2. $94,516 spent. THE PURPOSE OF HDRP IS TO CARRY OUT ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR WHICH AN ORGANIZATION MAY BE EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER 26 U.S.C. 501(C)(3). WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED, PROMOTED AND CARRIED ON, AND FOR WHICH HDRP IS FORMED, IS TO OPERATE ONE OR MORE FCC-LICENSED LOW POWER FM (LPFM) OR FM NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES INCLUDING LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC ADVANCEMENT, LESSENING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD TENSIONS, ELIMINATING PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW.
  3. THE PURPOSE OF HDRP IS TO CARRY OUT ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR WHICH AN ORGANIZATION MAY BE EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER 26 U.S.C. 501(C)(3). WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED, PROMOTED AND CARRIED ON, AND FOR WHICH HDRP IS FORMED, IS TO OPERATE ONE OR MORE FCC-LICENSED LOW POWER FM (LPFM) OR FM NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES INCLUDING LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC ADVANCEMENT, LESSENING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD TENSIONS, ELIMINATING PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW.

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 May 2024.

    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.