10 Employees at NPR Took Home $20 Million in Compensation
10 of the most highly compensated employees of NPR (a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization headquartered in Washington, DC, that serves as a national syndicator to about 1,100 public radio stations through its member organizations (246) and member stations (about 1,000), and strives to keep the public informed of events, ideas, and cultures through its programming) in 2024 received $20 million in compensation from 2020-2024 (note: highly compensated employees in any of the years 2020-2023 but not in 2024 are not included): Read more 
Executive Compensation at NPR (2024)
NPR (National Public Radio) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that serves as a national syndicator to nearly 1,100 public radio stations through its 246 member organizations that operate more than 1,000 associated public radio stations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NPR strives to keep the public informed of events, ideas, and cultures through its programming.
In 2024, NPR raised $325 million (compared to $302 million in 2023 and $306 million in 2022), primarily from program services and contributions, gifts, and grants. Expenses totaled $307 million (not including $8 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being compensation. 1,383 employees were compensated $186 million, which equates to an average compensation of $134,000. However, only 741 employees (54% of total employees) received more than $100,000. Read more
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? Read more
Executive Compensation at the National Geographic Society (2023)
The National Geographic Society (NGS) is a tax-exempt non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization based in Washington, DC that primarily relies on investment income (gains on the sale of investments, dividends, interest, etc), royalties, and contributions for revenue.
With $1.5 billion in net assets (down $250 million from 2021 due to unrealized losses on investments in 2021 that were partially offset by gains in 2023), NGS has the ability to rely on these resources to keep their programs going when contributions, gifts, and grants (roughly $20-$90 million annually) are not enough, and when revenue greatly decreases due to unforeseen circumstances, like the pandemic in 2020. Read more
Executive Compensation at PBS (2023)
PBS (Public Broadcasting System) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) television program distributer and broadcaster of educational television content through its 153 member public television licensees.
In 2023, PBS reported total revenue of $544 million (which is consistent with previous years). However, $165 million were non-cash contributions of donated broadcast rights which means total cash revenue was $379 million, most of which came from membership dues and contributions, gifts, and grants. Read more
Executive Compensation at NPR (2023)
NPR (National Public Radio) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that serves as a national syndicator to about 800 public radio stations through its member stations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NPR strives to keep the public informed of events, ideas, and cultures through its programming.
In 2023, NPR raised $302 million (compared to $306 million in 2022), primarily from program services and contributions, gifts, and grants. Expenses totaled $308 million (not including $8 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being compensation. 1,508 employees were compensated $194 million, which equates to an average compensation of $129,000. However, only 715 employees (47% of total employees) received more than $100,000. Read more
Where Does $100 to NPR Go (2023)?
NPR (National Public Radio) – the radio station that people love to love – 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.
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, if you gave $100 to NPR, how was it spent? Read more
Executive Compensation at the National Geographic Society (2022)
The National Geographic Society (NGS) is a tax-exempt non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization based in Washington, DC that primarily relies on investment income (gains on the sale of investments, dividends, interest, etc), royalties, and contributions for revenue. With $1.5 billion in net assets (down $250 million since last year due to unrealized losses on investments), NGS has the ability to rely on these resources to keep their programs going when contributions, gifts, and grants (roughly $20-$50 million annually) are not enough, and when revenue greatly decreases due to unforeseen circumstances, like the pandemic in 2020. Read more
Executive Compensation at the National Geographic Society (2021)
When we think of the National Geographic Society (NGS), we often think of the magazine, which according to my childhood friends, was the first magazine they could look through to see naked people. But, the National Geographic Society is so much more than just the magazine. In their own words, they “identify and invest in an international community of explorers: leading scientists, educators, storytellers, conservationists, technologists, and many other change makers who help us define some of the critical challenges of our time….”
The NGS is a tax-exempt non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization based in Washington, DC that primarily relies on investment income (gains on the sale of investments, dividends, interest, etc), royalties, and contributions for revenue. With $1.7 billion in net assets, NGS has the ability to rely on these resources to keep their programs going when contributions, gifts, and grants (roughly $20-$50 million annually) are not enough, and when revenue greatly decreases due to unforeseen circumstances, like the pandemic in 2020. Read more
Executive Compensation at NPR (2022)
NPR (National Public Radio) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization that serves as a national syndicator to about 800 public radio stations through its member stations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NPR strives to keep the public informed of events, ideas, and cultures through its programming.
In 2022, NPR raised $306 million (compared to $288 million in 2021), primarily from program services and contributions, gifts, and grants. Expenses totaled $307 million (not including $8 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being compensation. 1,388 employees were compensated $183 million, which equates to an average compensation of $132,000. However, only 671 employees (48% of total employees) received more than $100,000. Read more
