Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,725,176
Total expenses
$7,764,560
Contributions and grants received
$7,076,900
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$584,081
Other revenue
$64,195
Total assets, end of year
$6,133,151
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,761,628
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,371,523
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,175,625
Management and general expenses
$1,174,906
Fundraising expenses
$2,414,029
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,175,625

Program services were 53.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $262,316

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,814,584

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $71,638

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $133,360 · excluded $133,360

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $250

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $250

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $250 · related or exempt $250

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,273,639

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $822,918

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $450,721

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $450,721 · excluded $450,721

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $174,611

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $121,449

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $53,162 · excluded $53,162

  • 11a · Other revenue: DATA CHANNELS

    total $9,835 · related or exempt $9,835

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $948 · related or exempt $948

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $10,783

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $409,144 · program services $46,836 · management and general $245,218 · fundraising $117,090

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,465,706 · program services $1,839,828 · management and general $451,922 · fundraising $1,173,956

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $45,231 · program services $27,293 · management and general $6,732 · fundraising $11,206

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $332,392 · program services $173,353 · management and general $54,503 · fundraising $104,536

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $276,560 · program services $138,794 · management and general $51,397 · fundraising $86,369

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $8,575 · management and general $8,575

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $54,856 · management and general $54,856

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $32,278 · management and general $32,278

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $215,844 · fundraising $215,844

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $13,084 · management and general $13,084

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $45,906 · program services $35,148 · fundraising $10,758

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $59,463 · management and general $511 · fundraising $58,952

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $8,469 · program services $1,020 · management and general $4,029 · fundraising $3,420

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $212,316 · program services $102,516 · management and general $33,601 · fundraising $76,199

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $821,151 · program services $543,944 · management and general $122,790 · fundraising $154,417

  • 17 · Travel

    total $42,428 · program services $14,891 · management and general $14,507 · fundraising $13,030

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $2,220 · program services $175 · management and general $500 · fundraising $1,545

  • 20 · Interest

    total $32,623 · management and general $32,623

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $84,320 · program services $61,502 · management and general $10,237 · fundraising $12,581

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $54,101 · program services $32,559 · management and general $9,664 · fundraising $11,878

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM FEES

    total $1,055,353 · program services $1,055,353

  • 24b · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE

    total $147,854 · fundraising $147,854

  • 24c · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $121,240 · program services $17,452 · fundraising $103,788

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK AND TRANSACTION FE

    total $118,457 · management and general $13,900 · fundraising $104,557

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $104,989 · program services $84,961 · management and general $13,979 · fundraising $6,049

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $338,242 · end of year $296,397

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $387,181 · end of year $652,065

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $244,119 · end of year $285,766

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $91,086 · end of year $91,241

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $2,181,371

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $1,894,280

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $364,510 · end of year $287,091

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,417,092 · end of year $3,667,635

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,219,633 · end of year $852,956

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $469,635 · end of year $560,673

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $194,458 · end of year $434,828

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $502,316

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,399,661 · end of year $766,127

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,805,678 · end of year $3,577,375

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $690,115 · end of year $794,148

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS, ENRICHES, AND INSPIRES. OUR VISION IS TO HELP CREATE A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY GROUNDED IN OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

  • WFAE IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE CHARLOTTE REGION AND ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS. WFAE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY GROUNDED IN OUR SHARED HUMANITY. OUR VISION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS, ENRICHES AND INSPIRES. PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS:WFAE'S NEWSROOM CONTINUED ITS YEAR-LONG LOOK AT CHARLOTTE'S "CORRIDORS OF OPPORTUNITY" - SIX DIVERSE, ECONOMICALLY-DISADVANTAGED PARTS OF EAST, WEST AND NORTH CHARLOTTE. THESE CORRIDORS ARE DESIGNATED BY THE CITY AS FOCUS AREAS FOR INVESTMENT. FROM JULY TO DECEMBER, THE NEWSROOM PRODUCED MORE THAN 20 STORIES THAT LOOKED AT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CHALLENGES, PLANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THESE AREAS HOME. IN JANUARY, THE NEWSROOM LAUNCHED "FINDING JOY," A SERIES OF STORIES THAT BRING BRIGHT SPOTS TO THE NEWS LANDSCAPE. THE STORIES HAVE RANGED FROM A 5-YEAR-OLD RAP SENSATION AND PLAYING THE PIANO AT AGE 95 TO CARING FOR ORPHANED OWLS AND COMPLETING A 60,000-PIECE PUZZLE. "CHARLOTTE TALKS" CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AS THE 'TALK SHOW OF RECORD' FOR THE REGION. HOST MIKE COLLINS HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH EXPERTS, POLITICIANS, AUTHORS AND OTHERS ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS RACIAL WEALTH DISPARITY, ONLINE SPORTS BETTING, PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES. THE SHOW CONTINUED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE AND ITS WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP WITH LOCAL REPORTERS. REPORTER ANN DOSS HELMS REPORTED ON LOCAL AND STATE EDUCATION ISSUES INCLUDING SCHOOL BOARD RACES, BOOK BANS AND TEACHER PAY. SHE ALSO PRODUCED "RENAISSANCE WEST: A SLOW REBIRTH," A THREE-PART SERIES ABOUT REVITALIZING A WEST CHARLOTTE NEIGHBORHOOD THOUGH AN EDUCATION VILLAGE APPROACH TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. REPORTER STEVE HARRISON DELVED INTO ISSUES SUCH AS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, VOTER ID LAWS AND TRANSIT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. WITH GRANTS FROM THE SALAMANDER AND GREEN SOUTH FOUNDATION FUNDS, WFAE CONTINUED ITS CLIMATE COVERAGE. REPORTERS DAVID BORAKS AND ZACHARY TURNER EXAMINED HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE CAROLINAS. THEIR STORIES FOCUSED ON BIODIVERSITY, LITHIUM MINING, DUKE ENERGY AND A PEOPLE-POWERED BIKE LANE SWEEPER. OUR SERIES, "FRACTURED," CONTINUED TO HAVE IMPACT WITH A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCED BY PARTNER AND FUNDER FRONTLINE. WFAE HOSTED A SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION FOR THE COMMUNITY. "FRACTURED" ALSO RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION WITH A GRACIE AWARD. THE NEWSROOM LOOKED AT RACE AND EQUITY IN THE REGION WITH STORIES ABOUT FOOD DESERTS, LATINO WAGES, BLACK ADULTS LEARNING TO SWIM, JOBS THAT OFFER PAYCHECK AND INDEPENDENCE TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND AND A KING CAKE TO FEED 700 PEOPLE. OUR EQUALIBRIUM LIVE SERIES HOSTED A CONVERSATION WITH JOURNALIST JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS ABOUT HOW WE DEFINE "AMERICAN" IDENTITY. WFAE LAUNCHED "NEWSWORTHY," A DAILY NEWS PODCAST THAT DELIVERS LOCAL HEADLINES AND IN-DEPTH FEATURE REPORTING. WFAE PARTNERED WITH FORMER WFAE REPORTER BEN BRADFORD ON THE PODCAST "LANDSLIDE." IT TRACES THE ROOTS OF OUR MODERN POLITICAL DIVISIONS BACK TO THE ELECTION THAT SET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THE PATH TO BECOMING THE SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE PARTY IT IS TODAY. THE "SOUTHBOUND" PODCAST CONTINUED TO TALK WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN THE SOUTH. HOST TOMMY TOMLINSON SPOKE WITH SOUTHERNERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE - FROM AUTHORS AND SPORTS WRITERS TO MUSICIANS AND COMEDIANS. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC PUBLICATIONS AND EDITOR & PUBLISHER MAGAZINE RECOGNIZED REPORTER KAYLA YOUNG FOR ARTICLES SHE PRODUCED AS PART OF AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LA NOTICIA AND WFAE. JU-DON MARSHALL, WFAE'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, WAS NAMED THE 2023 WOMAN OF THE YEAR BY THE MECKLENBURG TIMES AND NORTH CAROLINA LAWYERS WEEKLY.

    Expenses $3,740,126

  • BROADCASTING AND ENGINEERING - EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH BROADCAST STUDIOS, TRANSMITTERS, TOWERS, AND ANTENNAS, ENGINEER, IP INTERCONNECTS, SATELLITE FACILITIES, UTILITIES, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR STUDIOS, TRANSMITTERS, TOWERS, AND ANTENNAS.

    Expenses $347,529

  • PROGRAM INFORMATION - PROMOTION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS OF INTEREST TO OUR LISTENERS. COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOSTING FORUMS, BRINGING IN PUBLIC RADIO PERSONALITIES TO SPEAK AND OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMING OUR LISTENERS BY NEWSLETTERS, E-BLASTS, OUTREACH MATERIALS.

    Expenses $87,970

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Richard Lancaster

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Glenn Stewart

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Chris Cicoletti

    BOARD CHAIR 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Mark Ethridge

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul Freestone

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Riaz Bhamani

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Tabor Engel

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sharon Blalock

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dick Sesler

    BOARD MEMBER 2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gene Cochrane

    BOARD MEMBER 2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Diana Quarry

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Matthew Socha

    TREASURER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Nichelle Levy

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Judith Schindler

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kristoffer Shepard

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kathleen Price

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gray Dyer

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Cleghorn

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jen Stuart

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Laura Meyer Wellman

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & SECRETARY 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jennifer Beightley

    SECRETARY 2023 & BOARD MEMBER 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Ann Caulkins

    BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Eric Frazier

    BOARD MEMBER 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Elizabeth McKee

    BOARD MEMBER 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ju-Don Marshall

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $222,245
    From this org
    $203,221
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,024
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $203,221
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,590
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,434
    Filer's total
    $222,245
  • Douglas Handy

    COO/CFO

    Total calculated
    $165,810
    From this org
    $149,871
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,939
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,871
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,767
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,172
    Filer's total
    $165,810
  • Jobie Sprinkle

    DIRECTOR OF IT/ENGINEERING

    Total calculated
    $132,790
    From this org
    $119,270
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,520
    Hours/week
    40
  • Penda Howell

    CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER THRU 1/31/23

    Total calculated
    $148,942
    From this org
    $148,223
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $719
    Hours/week
    40
  • Lisa Gergely

    CORP. DEVELOPMENT MGR THRU 9/30/23

    Total calculated
    $140,039
    From this org
    $128,364
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,675
    Hours/week
    40
  • Joel Sprouse

    SENIOR CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

    Total calculated
    $136,938
    From this org
    $128,843
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,095
    Hours/week
    40
  • Debra Turner Bailey

    CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $155,076
    From this org
    $140,579
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,497
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,579
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,119
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,378
    Filer's total
    $155,076
  • H Joseph O'Connor

    PRESIDENT AND CEO THRU 3/6/23

    Total calculated
    $132,435
    From this org
    $128,063
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,372
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $128,063
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,732
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,640
    Filer's total
    $132,435

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Tax indemnification and gross-up payments
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
MOVING EXPENSES FOR NEW HIRES WERE GROSSED UP TO COVER THE TAX BURDEN.
PART I, LINE 4A
PENDA HOWELL - SEVERANCE THROUGH 10/31/2023 IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,748

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
20 February 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202540529349300719

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.