Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$26,233,509

Total expenses

$23,068,533

Contributions and grants received

$21,287,546

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$1,544,563

Investment income

$2,298,638

Other revenue

$1,102,762

Total assets, end of year

$38,097,388

Total liabilities, end of year

$7,562,476

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$30,534,912

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$16,115,334

Management and general expenses

$2,402,379

Fundraising expenses

$4,550,820

Program service expenses (Part III)

$16,115,334

Program services were 69.9% 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.

Mission and programs · 2024

• BROADCAST: DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA OPERATES WTVS DETROIT PBS, WHICH CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS THE ONLY COMMUNITY LICENSED, INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT TELEVISION STATION IN METROPOLITAN DETROIT, BROADCASTING ON FIVE DIGITAL CHANNELS: 56.1, 56.2 (DETROIT PBS KIDS), 56.3 (CREATE), 56.4 (WORLD), AND 56.5 (MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL). DETROIT PUBLIC MEDIA ALSO MANAGES 90.9 WRCJ FM, DETROIT'S ONLY PUBLIC RADIO STATION DEDICATED TO CLASSICAL AND JAZZ.VIEWERSHIP AND PUBLIC TRUST FOR DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION:DETROIT PBS IS THE ONLY PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION IN THE DETROIT MARKET AND MICHIGAN'S MOST-WATCHED PUBLIC STATION, REGULARLY VIEWED BY SOME NEARLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AND CANADA.PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS BEEN NAMED THE MOST TRUSTED INSTITUTION IN AMERICA FOR 22 YEARS IN A ROW (SOURCE: MARKETING & RESEARCH RESOURCES, JANUARY 2025). 90.9 WRCJ FM IS LISTENED TO BY MORE THAN 150,000 LISTENERS IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN EACH WEEK AND IS STREAMED WORLDWIDE ON WRCJFM.ORG.

  Expenses $6,222,381 · Revenue $294,509

• PRODUCTION & CONTENT CREATION:THE PRODUCTION TEAM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE CONTENT IN SPACES ACROSS METRO DETROIT INCLUDING THE DETROIT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LAWERENCE TECH UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS TAKING THE DETROIT PBS HD PRODUCTION TRUCK ON THE ROAD TO CAPTURE IMPORTANT CONFERENCES, EVENTS, AND CONCERTS. BELOW ARE PRODUCTIONS BY CATEGORY.ARTS AND CULTURE: DETROIT PERFORMS: LIVE IS A TELEVISION SERIES WITH A DIGITAL PRESENCE. THE SERIES HAS BEEN RECORDED AT THE MARYGROVE CONSERVANCY THEATER AND FEATURES DETROITERS PERFORMING LIVE ON STAGE WITH A DIFFERENT ARTS AND CULTURAL PARTNER CURATING EACH EPISODE. THIS FORMAT ASSURES A DIVERSE LINEUP OF MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, STORYTELLERS, ACTORS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE ARTISTS, ALL PRESENTING ORIGINAL MATERIAL. SPHINX FINALS CONCERT: DETROIT PBS PARTNERED WITH THE SPHINX ORGANIZATION TO LIVESTREAM AND BROADCAST THE 28TH ANNUAL SPHINX FINALS COMPETITION CONCERT. THE SPHINX COMPETITION OFFERS YOUNG BLACK AND LATINX CLASSICAL STRING PLAYERS A CHANCE TO COMPETE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED PANEL OF JUDGES AND TO PERFORM WITH ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS IN A COMPETITION SETTING. LIVE STREAMING AND BROADCAST SERVICES: DETROIT PBS REGULARLY PROVIDES PRODUCTION SERVICES TO CONNECT EVENTS WITH LARGER AUDIENCES. PARTNERS IN FY25 INCLUDED "MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE", "DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL", "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL", "CONCERT OF COLORS", "DETROIT FUTURE CITY EQUITY FORUM AND MORE. 90.9 WRCJ: DETROIT'S ONLY CLASSICAL AND JAZZ RADIO STATION PRODUCED CONCERT BROADCASTS BY THE DETROIT OPERA AND THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND RECORDED CONCERTS FROM MICHIGAN PHILHARMONIC AND ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. IN ADDITION, EACH WEEK 90.9 WRCJ HOSTS AN HOUR OF CLASSICAL CONCERTS FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH FEATURES FACULTY ARTISTS, STUDENT ENSEMBLES, AND GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, CAPTURED IN PERFORMANCE AT COOK RECITAL HALL, FAIRCHILD THEATRE AND WHARTON CENTER COBB GREAT HALL ON THE MSU CAMPUS.CHILDREN AND EDUCATION:DETROIT PBS KIDS IS A DIGITAL BROADCAST CHANNEL (56.2) AND ONLINE SERVICE THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING 24/7 AND IS CONSISTENTLY ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED PBS KIDS CHANNELS IN THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, DETROIT PBS KIDS PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMING TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEET-UPS REACHING APPROXIMATELY 10,700 PARTICIPANTS IN FY25.ADDITIONALLY, A TOTAL OF 22 VIDEOS WERE PRODUCED (11 IN ENGLISH AND 11 IN SPANISH) TO SHARE RESOURCES WITH CAREGIVERS ON DEVELOPING LITERACY SKILLS IN YOUNG CHILDREN.THE MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL (MLC) LAUNCHED AS A STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL MICHIGAN PBS STATIONS IN JANUARY 2021. IT IS A 24/7 BROADCAST CHANNEL, STREAMING SERVICE AND ROBUST WEBSITE WITH ON-DEMAND VIDEO AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, OPERATED THROUGH DETROIT PBS. THE MLC OFFERS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE STANDARDS ALIGNED AND FOLLOW THE MICHIGAN EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR. AN ESTIMATED 500,000 VIEWERS WATCH EACH MONTH ACROSS THE STATE. IN FY25, DETROIT PBS PRODUCED 12 "READ, WRITE, ROAR! 4TH AND 5TH GRADE" EPISODES WHICH PROVIDE LESSONS TO SUPPORT LITERACY SKILLS WHICH ARE AIRED ON BROADCAST AND AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON DEMAND. FIVE NEW EPISODES OF "ON LOCATION" A DIGITAL SERIES WERE PRODUCED TO BRING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FROM UNIQUE PLACES FROM ACROSS THE STATE DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS. READY TO LEARN: THROUGH THE READY TO LEARN INITIATIVE, DETROIT PBS PROVIDES FREE, EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND SUPPORTING LEARNING RESOURCES THAT HELP EDUCATORS, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS BUILD EARLY SCIENCE AND LITERACY SKILLS FOR AMERICA'S CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE DETROIT PBS MAIN CHANNEL 56.1 BROADCASTS PBS KIDS PROGRAMMING FOR 7 HOURS EACH WEEKDAY, PROVIDING TRUSTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS WERE HOSTED BY THE MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL. FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WERE OFFERED TO EDUCATORS INCLUDING LABS: LEARN AND BUILD STATEWIDE, WHICH PROVIDES ONGOING TEACHER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH A DIGITAL PLATFORM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORUTNTIES, AND SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE STATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MLC HOSTED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON WEBINARS AND PRESENTATIONS TO SHOW TEACHERS HOW TO USE MLC CONTENT AND RESOURCES. IN FY25, THE MLC LAUNCHED A NEW DIGITAL PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS, "PLANNING PERIOD", HIGHLIGHTING STANDARDS-ALIGNED CONTENT THAT CAN BE USED IN CLASSROOMS. 18 EPISODES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SO FAR.LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC POLICY ONE DETROIT WEEKLY SERIES: THE DETROIT PBS WEEKLY NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOW "ONE DETROIT" EMPHASIZES ON-LOCATION INTERVIEWS AND FIELD REPORTS OF AUTHENTIC STORIES FROM THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT. THE SERIES CAPTURES THE CHARACTER, CULTURE AND CONCERNS OF METRO DETROIT, TAKING VIEWERS BEYOND THE HEADLINES TOWARD A DEEPER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT AND COULD HOLD FOR ITS 4 MILLION RESIDENTS. AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL: A WEEKLY SERIES OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE. SPECIALS THIS YEAR INCLUDED CONTINUED COVERAGE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN DETROIT, "DESTINATION DETROIT" EVENTS CAPTURING STORIES FROM FAMILIES ON THEIR MIGRATION STORIES AS WELL AS VIRTUAL SCREENINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING THE CHARLES WRIGHT MUSEUM, BLACK CHURCHES, ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS ADVISORY GROUP AND MORE.MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE: FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, DETROIT PBS AND THE DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER TO MAKE THE STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AT THE MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE AVAILABLE TO ALL MICHIGANDERS. IN MAY 2025, THE CONFERENCE WAS STREAMED 159,918 TIMES, WITH 11,410 BROADCAST VIEWS. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT GREAT LAKES BUREAU: DETROIT PBS CONTINUED ITS YEAR-ROUND REPORTING ON GREAT LAKES ISSUES WITH MULTIPLATFORM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTENT. GREAT LAKES MONTHLY SERIES: THIS SERIES PROVIDES IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF NEWS, ISSUES, EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE GREAT LAKES AND THE REGION'S COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS. A NEW EPISODE IS PRODUCED EACH MONTH. EPISODES AIRED ON 191 CHANNELS IN 118 MARKETS ACROSS 38 STATES IN THE LAST YEAR. PREVIOUS EPISODES AIR WEEKLY ON THE DETROIT PBS MAIN CHANNEL, AND TWICE A WEEK ON THE MICHIGAN LEARNING CHANNEL. IN THE PAST YEAR, THIS PROGRAM REACHED OVER 2 MILLION VIEWERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.GREAT LAKES VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT: WATCH PARTIES AND TOWN HALLS CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AUDIENCES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS AND PEOPLE. EACH MONTH, A WATCH PARTY HIGHLIGHTS THE NEWEST EPISODE AND PROVIDES A DEEPER LOOK AT A FEATURED TOPIC. A SERIES OF NEW VIRTUAL EVENTS, INLCUDING A "GREAT LAKES ADVENTURE" SERIES HIGHLIGHTED HOBBY SPECIFIC FEATURES INCLUDING ROCKHOUNDING AND SHIPWRECK CONTENT. ALMOST 39,000 PEOPLE VIEWED THESE VIRTUAL EVENTS IN FY25.OTHER INITIATIVES PBS BOOKS: PBS BOOKS HOSTED A VARIETY OF AUTHOR TALKS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS, FREE FOR THE PUBLIC, WHILE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO OVER 2,000 LIBRARIES. A SERIES OF AUTHOR TALKS INCLUDED CONNECTIONS TO PBS NATIONAL CONTENT INCLUDING "MASTERPIECE", "INDEPENDENT LENS", AND MORE. PBS BOOKS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO HOST AUTHOR TALKS, HIGHLIGHTING THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL. PBS BOOKS LAUNCHED "PBS READERS CLUB" IN 2024, CONNECTING READERS TO PBS PROGRAMMING THROUGH BOOKS. IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, READERS CLUB SAW 3.57 MILLION VIEWS OF LIVESTREAM EPISODES, ALMOST 500,000 ENGAGEMENTS, OVER 106,000 PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THE FACEBOOK GROUP, 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO THE NEWSLETTER. PBS BOOKS SUPPORTS LIBRARIES AND PBS STATIONS NATIONWIDE IN THEIR EFFORT TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING, CULTURE, AND CONVERSATION.

  Expenses $6,891,808 · Revenue $1,275,977

• ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH DETROIT PBS AND 90.9 WRCJ ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. WE PROVIDE ON-AIR AND ONLINE RESOURCES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA DIALOGUE WITH A GOAL OF FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE, COLLABORATION AND ACTION. IN ADDITION TO THE PRODUCTIONS ABOVE, EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR INCLUDED: AAPI STORY SERIES: DETROIT PBS IS COMMITED TO LIFTING UP AND CELEBRATING THE LIVES, IMPACTS, VOICES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THE REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. DETROIT PBS HAS HIGHLIGHTED EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, AND RICH CULTURAL BENEFITS TO THE REGION FROM THE AAPI COMMUNITY THROUGH REGULAR COVERAGE AND STORIES. THE AAPI ADVISORY GROUP, FORMED IN 2022 CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY TO ADVISE ON OPPORTUNITIES AND STAY INFORMED WITH PERSPECITVIES FROM THE REGION. EDUCATION COMMUNITY EVENTS: DETROIT PBS KIDS BRINGS RESOURCES DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES, REACHING FAMILIES WHO ARE HARD TO REACH. IN FY25 THE EDUCATION TEAM ATTENDED AND HOSTED 112 IN-PERSON EVENTS, REACHING OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE PBS KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PARTNER AND OUTREACH EVENTS, LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND MORE. BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY WAS HELD AS AN IN-PERSON EVENT IN AUGUST 2024. DETROIT PBS HOSTED THIS EVENT AT EASTERN MARKET AND WELCOMED 765 GUESTS ACROSS TWO TIMED SESSIONS. THE FREE EVENT INCLUDED A DANCE PARTY WITH DANIEL TIGER ON STAGE, STORYTELLING, AND 50 COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED FREE RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. PROMOTION FOR FREE PRESCHOOL AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WERE SHARED AT THE EVENT. TWO BUSES PICKED UP FAMILIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE EVENT. DETROIT PBS COLLECTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR FAMILIES WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THEM DURING THE EVENT. CARL THE COLLECTOR EVENT: DETROIT PBS PARTNERED WITH THE MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER TO HOST A SENSORY FRIENDLY SCREENING OF CARL THE COLLECTOR. THIS EVENT INCLUDED A SCREENING EVENT ALONG WITH FREE ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES. A TOTAL OF 384 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED.SESAME STREET IN COMMUNITIES WORKSHOPS FOR CAREGIVERS ARE CONDUCTED REGULARLY AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT DETROIT AND EXPANDED TO OFFER "PUBLIC" MEET-UPS EACH MONTH. THE SERIES SUPPORTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN. WORKSHOPS COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO PARENT NEEDS AND CONCERNS, OFFERING TOOLS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. GREAT MIGRATIONS/DESTINATION DETROIT: DETROIT PBS HOSTED A NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND PROGRAMS LOCALLY IN CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL PBS SERIES, GREAT MIGRATIONS. AS PART OF THIS ENGAGEMENT, ONE DETROIT AND DETROIT PBS HOSTED EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MICHIGAN CENTRAL TO CAPTURE STORIES OF DETROITERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN COMING TO DETROIT. THIS HAS LAUNCHED INTO A LARGER PROJECT, WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND RECORD THEIR FAMILY STORIES. TECH JOBS EXPLAINED: DETROIT PBS HAS PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER OF PBS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON "JOBS EXPLAINED" A DIGITAL SERIES FOCUSED ON BRINGING CAREER CONTENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TEAM PRODUCED OVER 250 SHORT FORM VIDEOS ON TIK TOK, INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AROUND THE TECH SECTOR FOR THIS PROJECT. COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: AS PART OF THE ONE DETROIT BUREAU'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STORYTELLING, DETROIT PBS ENGAGES WITH DETROIT NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL THROUGH REGULAR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES AND STORIES OF DETROIT. FREE MOBILE APPS FOR DETROIT PBS AND 90.9 WRCJ CONTINUE TO BE USED BY USERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

  Expenses $3,001,145

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

14 October 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202512939349300141

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

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