Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1969 and based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a membership organization composed of more than 350 local public noncommercial television stations serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. As a multi-platform media organization, PBS functions as America's largest classroom, providing educational and cultural content to the public.
Key facts about Public Broadcasting Service
- EIN
- 52-0899215
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,957,753
- Grants made (2024)
- 94
- Average grant
- $84,657
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $654,554,638
- Primary geography
- Virginia (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Public Broadcasting Service funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Public Broadcasting Service's 94 itemized 2024 grants were Virginia (65%) and Connecticut (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (2 grants), Philadelphia, PA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 94 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part Iv: #9" (49 grants), "See Part Iv: #8, #9" (8 grants) and "See Part Iv: #8" (8 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$654.6M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.0M
+69.1% YoY
Grant Count
94
+123.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
-24.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
PBS's mission is to inform, to inspire, and to educate.
The organization's primary program areas include:
Content and Promotion: Development and distribution of diverse content across multiple platforms, including approximately 3,000 hours of broadcast services provided to member public television licensees. Programming encompasses documentaries, non-commercialized news programs, and content focused on music, theater, dance, and art.
Educational Media: Educational programming designed to help prepare children for success in school and in life, with commitment to bringing media into the classroom and helping educators engage students in new ways.
Media Enterprise Program: Production and distribution of videocassettes, DVDs, and program-related educational products (teacher and student guides, indexed multimedia products, books, and software) to schools, colleges, universities, libraries, businesses, government agencies, and consumers.
Grantmaking
PBS operates through the **PBS Foundation**, a subordinate organization established in 2004 to enlist philanthropic support of public broadcasting through special initiatives funds and endowment building.
Ready to take the next step with Public Broadcasting Service?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PBS's primary geographic focus includes New York, California, and Pennsylvania, though its reach extends nationally through its network of member stations across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Public Broadcasting Service (2024):
- Total Assets: $654,554,638
- Total Revenue: $558,177,775
- Total Expenses: $550,651,752
- Total Liabilities: $233,000,000
- Number of Employees: 655
PBS Foundation (Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025):
- Total Assets: $71,260,640
- Total Revenues: $53,653,774
- Total Expenses: $38,828,422
- Number of Employees: 21
Federal Support: PBS received federal awards totaling $205,739,593 in 2023, including $205,439,593 from the Department of Commerce and $300,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $654,554,638 | $641,227,961 | $589,216,027 |
| Revenue | $558,177,775 | $544,038,860 | $542,977,687 |
| Expenses | $550,651,752 | $541,696,112 | $506,773,194 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $10,731,693 | $8,453,544 | $9,491,639 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
362 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Pbs Foundation ($5,121,418), Connecticut Public Broadcasting (wedh) ($400,860), Wgbheducationalfoundation ($332,882).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PBS FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA | SEE PART IV: #1 | $5,121,418 |
| CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING (WEDH) HARTFORD, CT | SEE PART IV: #2 | $400,860 |
| WGBHEDUCATIONALFOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | SEE PART IV: #7 | $332,882 |
| ROLLER COASTER ROAD PRODUCTIONS LLC BROOKLYN, NY | SEE PART IV: #7 | $130,608 |
| KQED-TV SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SEE PART IV: #7 | $129,823 |
| MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING (METV) LEWISTON, ME | SEE PART IV: #2, #6 | $94,130 |
| WJCT-TV JACKSONVILLE, FL | SEE PART IV: #2 | $88,890 |
| MIGHTY PICNIC PHILADELPHIA, PA | SEE PART IV: #4 | $84,226 |
| THE AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY INC BROOKLYN, NY | SEE PART IV: #7 | $83,835 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH (KUENKUED) SALT LAKE CITY, UT | SEE PART IV: #3, #8, #9 | $77,439 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Paula Kerger serves as Principal Officer of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paula A Kerger | President & CEO | 32 | $1,162,720 |
| Amy Shaw | Director | 2 | — |
| Catherine Robb | PBS Board Vice-Chair | 3.5 | — |
| Chuck Hagel | Director | 2 | — |
| Courtney Pledger | PBS Board Vice-Chair (AS OF 09/23) | 3.5 | — |
| Dolores Fernandez Alonso | Director | 1 | — |
| Ed Ulman | Director | 1.5 | — |
| Franz Joachim | Director | 3 | — |
| Geoff Sands | Director | 2 | — |
| Greg Petrowich | Director (AS OF 09/23) | 1 | — |
| Gunjan Kedia | Director | 3 | — |
| Holden Thorp | Director | 2 | — |
| Jayme Swain | Director | 3 | — |
| Jorge Plasencia | Director | 1 | — |
| Kevin Martin | Director | 2 | — |
| Larry Irving | PBS Board Chair | 4 | — |
| Lisa Shumate | Director | 2 | — |
| Mark Contreras | Director | 1 | — |
| Marvin Irby | Director | 3 | — |
| Maxine Clark | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael Isip | Director | 2 | — |
| Mildred Garcia | Director | 1.5 | — |
| Molly Phillips | PBS Board Vice-Chair (THRU 09/23) | 3.5 | — |
| Rob Dunlop | Director | 2 | — |
| Sandra Cordova Micek | Director | 2 | — |
| Shae Hopkins | Director | 2 | — |
| Tina Sharkey | Director | 1 | — |
| Vivian Riefberg | Director | 2 | — |
| Ira Rubenstein | Chief Digital & Marketing Officer | 40 | $607,379 |
| Jonathan Barzilay | Chief Operating Officer | 39 | $749,457 |
| Katherine S Lauderdale | Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary | 35 | $539,389 |
| Mary L Plantamura | Associate GC, Corporate Secretary & PBS Compliance Office | 40 | $256,939 |
| Rhonda Holt | Chief Technology Officer | 40 | $503,215 |
| Tom E Tardivo | Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | 35 | $520,536 |
| Sara E DeWitt | SVP & GM, PBS KIDS | 40 | $393,454 |
| Scott Nourse | SVP, Product & Innovation | 40 | $413,994 |
| Sylvia M Bugg | Chief Program Exec & GM, Gen. Audiences | 40 | $464,820 |
| Adriano Schmid | VP, Digital Strategy, Ops, & Business Intel | 40 | $347,422 |
| Cecilia B Loving | SVP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | 40 | $361,563 |
| Jeremy M Gaines | SVP, Corporate Communications | 40 | $424,381 |
| Jill D Patrone | VP & Deputy General Counsel | 35 | $345,616 |
| Michael D Jacobson | SVP, Human Resources | 40 | $381,518 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Public Broadcasting Service fund?
PBS's mission is to inform, to inspire, and to educate. The organization's primary program areas include: • **Content and Promotion**: Development and distribution of diverse content across multiple platforms, including approximately 3,000 hours of broadcast services provided to member public television licensees. Programming encompasses documentaries, non-commercialized news programs, and content focused on music, theater, dance, and art. • **Educational Media**: Educational programming design…
How do I apply for a grant from Public Broadcasting Service?
PBS operates through the **PBS Foundation**, a subordinate organization established in 2004 to enlist philanthropic support of public broadcasting through special initiatives funds and endowment building. **PBS Foundation Grantmaking Activity (Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025):** • Total giving: $34,407,244 in restricted grants to Public Broadcasting Service • Grant focus areas: Content for Lynn Novick productions, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s productions, and programming for Arts, News and Public A…
Where does Public Broadcasting Service make grants?
PBS's primary geographic focus includes New York, California, and Pennsylvania, though its reach extends nationally through its network of member stations across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
What size grants does Public Broadcasting Service award?
In 2024, Public Broadcasting Service awarded 94 grants totaling $8.0M — an average of about $85K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Public Broadcasting Service's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc
ARLINGTON, VA
Assets
$229.4M
Grants
71
Total Given
$994K
Ibm International Foundation
ARMONK, NY
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Shell Usa Company Foundation
HOUSTON, TX
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
4,650
Total Given
$16.0M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Bessemer Giving Fund
WOODBRIDGE, NJ
Assets
$948.2M
Grants
1,653
Total Given
$138.5M
Aetna Foundation Inc
HARTFORD, CT
Assets
$16.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
The Ayco Charitable Foundation
COHOES, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
4,719
Total Given
$287.7M
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in Virginia
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.