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UNIVERSITY RADIO FOUNDATION INC

EIN 56-1803808 CHARLOTTE, NC

Revenue 2023
$7,725,176
Expenses 2023
$7,764,560

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

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A34Z
Classification
1000
Street
8801 J M KEYNES DR STE 91

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

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.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • 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

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2023
    Revenue
    $7,725,176
    Expenses
    $7,764,560
    Contributions
    $7,076,900
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $7,055,431
    Expenses
    $8,778,993
    Contributions
    $6,935,407
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $7,697,570
    Expenses
    $7,873,360
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,517,172

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,498,776
    Expenses
    $7,423,211
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,466,410

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $7,383,276
    Expenses
    $7,177,107
    Assets (EOY)
    $7,638,876

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $7,330,762
    Expenses
    $7,023,695
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,552,368

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,849,360
    Expenses
    $6,821,769
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,394,390

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,003,323
    Expenses
    $5,696,175
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,230,581

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,034,323
    Expenses
    $5,202,190
    Assets (EOY)
    $5,562,564

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,855,405
    Expenses
    $4,968,506
    Assets (EOY)
    $5,933,158

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.