Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a public charity based in Arlington, Virginia, incorporated in 1969. It is a membership organization that works with member stations to serve the American public through programming and services intended to educate, inspire, entertain, and express diverse perspectives.
Public Broadcasting Service at a glance
In short: Public Broadcasting Service gave $8.2M across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $227K), mostly in Virginia. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,160,165
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -61.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $226,671
- +167.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $23,550
- Total assets
- $752,838,793
- +15.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (15 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Public Broadcasting Service
- How to Apply
-
For general-audience programming consideration, submit materials through the PBS General Audience Programming Submission Portal. PBS does not accept proposal materials sent by postal delivery or email.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1225 S Clark Street, Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (703) 739-5000
Website: https://pbs.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Public Broadcasting Service funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was PBS Foundation ($5.8M). Together the top 10 received $7.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
409 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 345 grants of 409 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 81% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, followed by New York (4%), California (3%), Massachusetts (2%), and Oregon (1%). These figures describe the locations of grant recipients, not a stated geographic eligibility policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Public Broadcasting Service open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 36 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $101K; repeat grants $316K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $22K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2022) to $21.3M (2019). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $8.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PBS Foundation Arlington, VA | See Part IV: #1 | $5,836,076 |
| WETA Greater Washington Ed Telecom Arlington, VA | See Part IV: #6, #2, #5 | $744,750 |
| Second Peninsula LLC Los Angeles, CA | See Part IV: #5 | $150,200 |
| Firelight Films Inc New York City, NY | See Part IV: #5 | $146,976 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | See Part IV: #2, #5 | $144,913 |
| Balance Productions LLC Portland, OR | See Part IV: #5 | $119,200 |
| Wnetwliw New York, NY | See Part IV: #2, #5 | $110,300 |
| Independent Television Service (ITVS) San Francisco, CA | See Part IV: #5 | $110,100 |
| Univ of Utah (KUENKUED) Salt Lake City, UT | See Part IV: #3 | $104,389 |
| Western NY Public BRDCST Assoc (WNED) Buffalo, NY | See Part IV: #6, #4 | $65,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 grant total covers 36 grants; the 2024 total covers 94, and the 2023 total covers 45.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $752,838,793 | $696,585,777 | $584,483,243 | $8,160,165 | 36 | $17,661,828 |
| 2024 | $654,554,638 | $558,177,775 | $550,651,752 | $7,957,753 | 94 | $10,731,693 |
| 2023 | $641,227,961 | $544,038,860 | $541,696,112 | $4,932,196 | 45 | $8,453,544 |
| 2022 | $589,216,027 | $542,977,687 | $506,773,194 | $2,376,264 | 23 | $9,491,639 |
| 2021 | $565,452,721 | $502,085,658 | $448,645,167 | $13,025,752 | 211 | $10,447,090 |
| 2020 | $494,836,049 | $550,502,628 | $552,098,934 | $13,316,027 | 125 | $3,271,676 |
| 2019 | $471,597,021 | $463,343,885 | $499,334,168 | $21,328,767 | 82 | $15,421,971 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
PBS’s stated mission is to serve the American public, in partnership with its member stations, with high-quality programming and services that use media to educate, inspire, entertain, and express diverse perspectives. Its website identifies focus areas including PBS KIDS; democracy, civics, and journalism; science and nature; and the arts.
The 2025 filing lists grants to public broadcasting organizations, educational institutions, and production-related organizations. Among the recipients, WETA describes its mission as producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. WGBH says it enriches lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, while Independent Television Services says it brings innovative programming to public television audiences, including programming addressing underserved minority audiences. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not PBS’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, PBS reported 36 grants totaling $8,160,165. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $5,836,076, with a median of $23,550. The largest grants included $5,836,076 to PBS Foundation, $744,750 to WETA Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, $150,200 to Second Peninsula LLC, $146,976 to Firelight Films, and $144,913 to WGBH Educational Foundation.
PBS’s website describes a separate process for submitting general-audience programming proposals. Submissions go through the PBS General Audience Programming Submission Portal; the requested materials include a project treatment, itemized budget, production schedule, and biographies or résumé information for key personnel. PBS says proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis and evaluated on factors including proposal or work quality, compliance with its standards and practices, production-team credentials, content priorities, and the financial request. Its website also notes that PBS has limited opportunities and funding for new shows and specials. This is a programming proposal process, not an application process for the grants reported in the filing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paula A. Kerger as President and CEO. It also lists Amy Shaw, Bob Culkeen, Carla McCabe, Chuck Hagel, Dolores Fernandez Alonso, Ed Ulman, and Franz Joachim as directors. Catherine Robb is listed as PBS Board Vice-Chair; Courtney Pledger is listed as PBS Board Vice-Chair through May 2025. The filing specifies that Bob Culkeen’s director service was as of June 2025, Carla McCabe’s was as of September 2024, and Franz Joachim’s was through June 2025.
Public Broadcasting Service is led by Paula A Kerger, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 15 of 44 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paula A Kerger
President & CEO
President & Chief Executive Officer → President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$939K (2019) → $1.5M (2025)
Larry Irving
Pbs Board Chair
Elected Chair of the Board → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Pbs Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Martin
Director
Director & Board Prof Vice Chair → Elected Prof Vc to, 2021
Elected Prof Vc to → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Shumate
Director
Director & Board Prof Vice Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maxine Clark
Director
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2021
Board Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shae Hopkins
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Riefberg
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geoff Sands
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Sharkey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gunjan Kedia
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin Irby
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Isip
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mildred Garcia
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Cordova Micek
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Shaw
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ed Ulman
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holden Thorp
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jorge Plasencia
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Contreras
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dolores Fernandez Alonso
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Franz Joachim
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Hagel
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Petrowich
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Dunlop
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Culkeen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carla McCabe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Goldberg
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ira Rubenstein
Chief Digital & Marketing Officer
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$447K (2019) → $646K (2025)
Jayme S. Swain
Pbs Board Vice Chair
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Operations → Director, 2022
Director → Pbs Board Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$374K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Jonathan Barzilay
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2019
39 hrs/week
$637K (2019) → $769K (2025)
Katherine S Lauderdale
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary
Chief Legal Officer & Corp. Secretary → Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$453K (2019) → $547K (2025)
Mary L Plantamura
Associate Gc, Corporate Secretary & Pbs Compliance Officer
Associate General Counsel & Assistant → Associate Gc & Assistant Corp. Secretary, 2021
Associate Gc & Assistant Corp. Secretary → Associate Gc, Corporate Secretary & Pbs Compliance Officer, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$208K (2019) → $313K (2025)
Rhonda D. Holt
Chief Technology Officer
Vice President, Software Development & Operations → Vice President & Information Technology, 2020
Vice President & Information Technology → Chief Technology Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$293K (2019) → $536K (2025)
Scott Nourse
Senior Vice President, Product & Innovation
Vice President & Digital Product Development → Senior Vice President, Product & Innovation, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$285K (2019) → $425K (2025)
Thomas E Tardivo
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Chief Finance Offcr & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$380K (2019) → $522K (2025)
Jeremy M Gaines
Senior Vice President & Corporate Communications
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$364K (2020) → $428K (2025)
Sylvia M Bugg
Chief Programming Executive, Gm & General Audience Programming
Chief Program Executive, Gm & General → Chief Program Executive, Gm & General Audiences, 2024
Chief Program Executive, Gm & General Audiences → Chief Programming Executive, Gm & General Audience Programming, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$231K (2021) → $478K (2025)
Michael D Jacobson
Senior Vice President & Human Resources
Senior Vice President & Human Resources → Senior Vice President & Human Services, 2023
Senior Vice President & Human Services → Senior Vice President & Human Resources, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$348K (2022) → $401K (2025)
Sara E DeWitt
Senior Vice President, Gm & Pbs Kids
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$336K (2022) → $412K (2025)
Cecilia B Loving
Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Senior Vice President & Dei → Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$355K (2023) → $383K (2025)
Jill D Patrone
Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$346K (2024) → $342K (2025)
Susanne Elkins
Senior Vice President & Station Services
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$378K (2025)
Catherine Robb
Pbs Board Vice Chair
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2023
Board Vice Chair → Pbs Board Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Pledger
Pbs Board Vice Chair
Director → Pbs Board Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (46)
- Former: Molly M. Phillips (2019–2024) — Pbs Board Vice Chair
- Former: Adriano Schmid (2024) — Vice President, Digital Strategy, Ops & Business Intel
- Former: Tom E Tardivo (2024) — Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
- Former: Charles T. Hagel (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Deborah Acklin (2019–2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 722
- Former: Gary Stokes (2019–2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 10/2022
- Former: Lesli J. Rotenberg (2019–2023) — Former Chief Program Executive & Pbs Kid
- Former: Robert Dunlop (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jon Abbott (2021–2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 12/2022
- Former: Amy S. Wigler (2022–2023) — Vice President & Marketing
- Former: Paul Hunton (2022–2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 922
- Former: JAMES DUNFORDTo (2023) — Senior Vice President & Station Services
- Former: Donald A. Baer (2019–2022) — Board Chair · Filing note: Thru 12/2021
- Former: Kliff Kuehl (2019–2022) — Director · Filing note: Thru 921
- Former: Mario P. Vecchi (2019–2022) — Former Chief Tech. Officer · Filing note: Thru 521
- Former: Perry Simon (2019–2022) — Former Chief Program Executive & Gm General · Filing note: Thru 820
- Former: Robert Sachs (2019–2022) — Director · Filing note: Thru 12/2021
- Former: Ronnie Agnew (2019–2022) — Director · Filing note: Thru 921
- Former: Tom Rieland (2019–2022) — Director · Filing note: Thru 921
- Former: James Dunford (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President & Station Services
- Former: Susi Elkins (2020–2022) — Director · Filing note: Thru 522
- Former: AFSANEH BESCHLOSSthru (2022) — Director
- Former: Craig A. Sperlingthru (2022) — Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
- Former: LESLI J ROTENBERGthru (2022) — Former Chief Program Executive & Pbs Kid
- Former: Molly M. Phillipsas Of (2022) — Elected Vc
- Former: Afsaneh Beschloss (2019–2021) — Board Vice Chair · Filing note: Thru 92320
- Former: Becky Magura (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Erroll B. Davis Jr. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Evan Smith (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Kim Johnson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Neal Shapiro (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ramon Rodriguez (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Linda Simensky (2020–2021) — Vice President & Head of Pbs Kids Content
- Former: Don Wilcox (2021) — Vice President, Multiplatform Mktg & Conte · Filing note: Thru 1620
- Former: Allan Landon (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Craig A. Sperling (2019–2020) — Vice President & Deputy General Counsel
- Former: John J. Dougherty (2019–2020) — Vice President & Program Bus Aff
- Former: Molly Corbett Broad (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Rich Homberg (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Roy Clem (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Simon Perry (2020) — Chief Program Executive, Gm & General
- Former: Barbara L. Landes (2019) — CFO & Treasurer
- Former: Beth C. Hoppe (2019) — Chief Program Executive
- Former: Bill Imada (2019) — Director
- Former: Brian Sickora (2019) — Director
- Former: Thomas Karlo (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.5M, to Paula A Kerger (President & CEO). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Public Broadcasting Service
How much does Public Broadcasting Service give each year?
Public Broadcasting Service gave $8.2M across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $8.0M across 94 grants.
What is Public Broadcasting Service's typical grant size?
Public Broadcasting Service's median grant in 2025 was $23,550, and its average grant was $226,671, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Public Broadcasting Service that year got $101K on average.
Where does Public Broadcasting Service give grants?
Public Broadcasting Service gives mostly in Virginia: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Arlington, VA (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Chattanooga, TN (2 grants).
Does Public Broadcasting Service give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Public Broadcasting Service's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV: #4" (12 grants), "See Part IV: #6" (11 grants) and "See Part IV: #5" (4 grants).
Who are Public Broadcasting Service's largest grantees?
Public Broadcasting Service's largest 2025 grantees include PBS Foundation ($5,836,076), WETA Greater Washington Ed Telecom ($744,750) and Second Peninsula LLC ($150,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Public Broadcasting Service?
Public Broadcasting Service reported $752.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $696.6M.
What does Public Broadcasting Service fund?
PBS’s stated mission is to serve the American public, in partnership with its member stations, with high-quality programming and services that use media to educate, inspire, entertain, and express diverse perspectives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Public Broadcasting Service?
For general-audience programming consideration, submit materials through the PBS General Audience Programming Submission Portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Public Broadcasting Service's EIN?
Public Broadcasting Service's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0899215. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Public Broadcasting Service's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Virginia
Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc
Arlington, VA
WETA funds station support for public media organizations, with grants typically around $10,000 (2025 awards ranged from $6,000 to $48,000). Its grants reached organizations in multiple states, while its broadcasting and community services focus on Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$229.4M
Grants
71
Total Given
$994K
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Lansdowne, VA
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation funds education programs that help exceptionally promising students with financial need, including college access, academic enrichment, and support for talented students. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6 to $515,000, with a median of $7,702; it funds across the United States, with most grant dollars going to Virginia. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to its website for current application instructions and eligibility.
Assets
$940.1M
Grants
1,419
Total Given
$25.1M
Donors Trust Inc
Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust supports charities and programs in social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though awards ranged from $5,038 to $35 million, and recipients were concentrated in Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Texas, and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests; donor-advisors recommend grants through their accounts.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
919
Total Given
$282.1M
The Community Foundation Inc
Richmond, VA
The Community Foundation funds health and wellness, education, economic prosperity, and community vibrancy, along with other causes through donor-advised and field-of-interest funds. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,795,000, with a median of $25,000; 78% of grant dollars went to Virginia recipients. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$852.4M
Grants
917
Total Given
$61.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Public Broadcasting Service funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/public-broadcasting-service-morg_4ea04cdf03a94647a78f97d99eaf77e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_520899215_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Public Broadcasting Service funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/public-broadcasting-service-morg_4ea04cdf03a94647a78f97d99eaf77e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Public Broadcasting Service's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Public Broadcasting Service down — hundreds of funders to go?