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 LancasterRICHARD LANCASTER
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Glenn StewartGLENN STEWART
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Chris CicolettiCHRIS CICOLETTI
BOARD CHAIR 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Mark EthridgeMARK ETHRIDGE
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Paul FreestonePAUL FREESTONE
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Riaz BhamaniRIAZ BHAMANI
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mary Tabor EngelMARY TABOR ENGEL
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sharon BlalockSHARON BLALOCK
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Dick SeslerDICK SESLER
BOARD MEMBER 2023
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Gene CochraneGENE COCHRANE
BOARD MEMBER 2023
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Diana QuarryDIANA QUARRY
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Matthew SochaMATTHEW SOCHA
TREASURER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Nichelle LevyNICHELLE LEVY
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Judith SchindlerJUDITH SCHINDLER
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kristoffer ShepardKRISTOFFER SHEPARD
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kathleen PriceKATHLEEN PRICE
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Gray DyerGRAY DYER
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John CleghornJOHN CLEGHORN
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jen StuartJEN STUART
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Laura Meyer WellmanLAURA MEYER WELLMAN
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & SECRETARY 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jennifer BeightleyJENNIFER BEIGHTLEY
SECRETARY 2023 & BOARD MEMBER 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Ann CaulkinsANN CAULKINS
BOARD MEMBER 2023 & 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Eric FrazierERIC FRAZIER
BOARD MEMBER 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Elizabeth McKeeELIZABETH MCKEE
BOARD MEMBER 2024
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ju-Don MarshallJU-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 HandyDOUGLAS 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 SprinkleJOBIE 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 HowellPENDA 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 GergelyLISA 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 SprouseJOEL 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 BaileyDEBRA 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'ConnorH 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
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