How NPR Spends Revenue (2024)

NPR (National Public Radio) – the radio station that people love to love or love to hate- is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that works with its member stations to foster a more informed public by providing a deeper understanding of events, ideas, and cultures.  In the news recently, criticized by conservatives for having a leftist slant, NPR has challenges in convincing the public of its nonpartisan reporting of the news.

Based in Washington, DC, NPR is also noteworthy for its on air fundraising although most people would be surprised to learn that public support in the form of contributions, gifts, and grants is not the number one source of revenue. Instead, program service revenue (station programming fees, digital media sponsorships, membership dues from member stations, distribution, and digital services) is the primary source of revenue for NPR followed by contributions, gifts, and grants.  So, the viability of NPR’s future rests with the stations that purchase their content and the support of the public.

So, if you gave $100 to NPR, how was it spent?

• $57 went to pay employees,
• $15 went to buy content and pay representation fees;
• $20 was used for office expenses, fees for services by non-employees, advertising and promotion, interest and other expenses; and
• $2 was used for grants.

It is important to note NPR spent $97 for every $100 in revenue in 2024 with the excess ($10 million) added to the general fund.

Key information to know about NPR include:

1. NPR is headquartered in Washington, DC.
2. NPR consists of 4 tax-exempt non profit organizations:  National Public Radio, Inc (NPR), NPR Foundation, American Coalition for Public Radio, NPR International Operations Inc), 2 organizations taxable as a partnership (National Public Media LLC, Podcast Media LLC) and 1 organization taxable as a corporation (NPR Asset Holding Company).
3. Of the 28 directors listed on the Form 990 (2023 for the year ending September 30, 2024), 14 are male while 14 are female.
4. NPR has 1,383 employees (120 less than in 2023); 741 (54%) received more than $100,000 in compensation in 2024.
5. NPR raised $325 million in 2024; $23 million more than in 2023.   $204 million (63%) came from program service revenue while $112 million (34%) came from contributions, gifts, and grants.
6. NPR also has a foundation called the NPR Foundation, a separate non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) that raised $23 million in 2024 and gave NPR $29 million which they were able to do because the foundation has nearly $400 million in net assets. The foundation operates out of the same address as NPR.
7. In 2017-2018, NPR spent less than the organization raised which is in contrast to previous years when the organization consistently spent more than they raised resulting in the net fund balance decreasing from a high of $175 million in 2012 to a low of $124 million in 2016 before reversing course. By 2021, net assets were up to $151 million.  In 2022, NPR spent $1 million more than the organization received and reported $9 million in unrealized losses on investments causing net assets to decrease to $141 million. In 2023, net assets dropped to $133 million because the organization spent more than they raised (which was partially offset by $5 million in unrealized gains on investments). By  2024, NPR reported net assets of $151 million because the organization spend $10 million less than they raised and $7 million in unrealized gains on investments.
8. NPR has total assets of $408 million, concentrated in real estate  ($189 million) -mostly land and buildings – and cash and securities ($144 million). Liabilities total $257 million, most of which are secured mortgages and notes payable ($193 million).
9. At year-end (September 30, 2024) NPR had $151 million in net assets (note:  the NPR Foundation has about $404 million of net assets).
10. NPR also provides news and information services outside of the US – primarily in East Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa.
11. NPR did not pay for first class or charter travel, companion travel, personal services, health of social club dues or initiation fees, a residence for personal use or housing allowance, or discretionary spending accounts.  NPR made gross up payments or provide tax indemnification.

In 2024, NPR reported total expenses of $307 million (not including $8 million in depreciation).  These expenses were categorized as follows:

• $186 million (57% of revenue):  Compensation
• $ 33 million (10% of revenue):  Content Acquisition
• $ 30 million (9% of revenue):  Office-Related Expenses
• $ 16 million (5% of revenue):  Representation Fees
• $ 14 million (4% of revenue):  Fees for Services (primarily other, no detail provided)
• $  8 million (2% of revenue):  Other Expenses (primarily other with no detail provided, lease and fees)
• $  5 million (2% of revenue):  Interest
• $  7 million (2% of revenue):  Travel and Conferences
• $  4 million (1% of revenue):  Advertising and Promotion
• $  5 million (2% of revenue):  Grants

As illustrated above, the largest expense for NPR is compensation for the 1,383 employees who received $186 million. The average compensation was $134,000. However, only 741 employees (54%) received more than $100,000 in compensation. The most highly compensated employee was John Lansing, the former (left in April, 2024) President and CEO who received $610,610.

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

$100:  Revenue

-$ 57:  Compensation

-$  9:  Office-Related Expenses

-$ 10:  Content Acquisition

-$  5:  Representation Fees

-$  4:  Fees for Services

-$  2:  Travel and Conferences

-$  1: Advertising and Promotion

-$  2:  Interest

-$  2:  Grants

-$  2  Other Expenses

-$ 94: Total Expenses

As illustrated above, by far the largest expense for NPR is compensation for the 1,383 employees.  $57 out of every $100 in revenue was spent on compensating employees.  Office expenses, fees for services, travel and conferences, advertising and promotion, interest and other expenses use up $20 more.  Content acquisition and representation fees use up $15 of every $100.  Grants used $2 out of every $100.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2023 for the year ending September 30, 2024) for NPR, click here.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2023 for the year ending September 30, 2024) for the NPR Foundation, click here.