How Donations Are Used at PBS (2024)

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) television program distributer and broadcaster of educational television content (about 3,000-4,000 hours in 2024) through its 172 member public television licensees.

PBS is funded primarily from membership dues and contributions, gifts, and grants. The following information is noteworthy:

In 2024, PBS reported total revenue of $558 million. However, $146 million were non-cash contributions of donated broadcast rights which means total cash revenue was $412 million from:

• $218 million of which came from membership dues
• $125 million from contributions, gifts, and grants
• $ 53  million from Program Revenue, Subsidiary Income, and Service Fees
• $ 16  million from Investment Income, Royalties, and Other Gains

Total expenses were $551 million. However, $146 million were donated broadcast rights and $6 million was depreciation, meaning cash expenses were $399 million (97% of cash revenue), categorized as follows:

• $106  million (26% of cash revenue):  Compensation
• $ 53 million (13% of cash revenue):  Fees for Services
• $179 million (43% of cash revenue):  Program Rights, Communications, and Royalties
• $ 28 million (7% of cash revenue):  Office-Related Expenses
• $ 21 million (5% of cash revenue):  Advertising and Promotion
• $  8  million (2% of cash revenue):  Grants
• $  4 million (1% of cash revenue):  Travel and Conferences

As illustrated above, the largest expense was program rights communications and royalties ($179 million) followed by compensation ($106 million) for the 655 employees who received an average compensation of $162,000. Fees for services were fees paid to non-employees, primarily ($46 million) described as “other” with no detail provided.

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

 $100:  Revenue

-$ 26:  Compensation

-$ 13:  Fees for Services

-$ 43:  Program Rights, Communications, and Royalties

-$  7:  Office-Related Expenses

-$  5:  Advertising and Promotion

-$  1:  Travel and Conferences

-$ 95:  Subtotal: Organization Expenses

 $   5:  Revenue Remaining

–$  2:  Grants

 $  3:  Revenue Remaining:  To Genera Fund

PBS used $97 of every $100 in cash revenue to pay for organization expenses.  Excess revenue was added to the general fund. Net assets at year-end were $421 million.

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