Public Media Institute
Public Media Institute is a Chicago-based public charity that creates and presents cultural programming through socially engaged projects, performances, publications, festivals, broadcasting, and visual art exhibitions. Its 2024 filing reports 10 grants totaling $182,200.
Public Media Institute at a glance
In short: Public Media Institute gave $182K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), top state Minnesota. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $182,200
- +160.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +150.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,220
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $1,645,083
- -36.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (6 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Public Media Institute
- Contact
Mailing address: 3219 S Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (773) 837-0145
Website: https://publicmediainstitute.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Public Media Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Contratiempo ($22K). Together the top 10 received $182K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest listed recipient-state shares were Minnesota (22%), Illinois (12%), Missouri (11%), Ohio (11%), and Iowa (11%). The listed grants also included recipients in South Dakota, Kansas, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Public Media Institute open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 10 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2021) to $182K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $182K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contratiempo Chicago, IL | Supporting Grant | $22,200 |
| Charlotte Street Foundation Kansas City, MO | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| CONFLUENCE Studio Community Minneapolis, MN | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| Manoomin Arts Initiative Edina, MN | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| Par-Projects Cincinnati, OH | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| Public Space One Iowa City, IA | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| Racing Magpie Rapid City, SD | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| School for Rural Culture Matfield Green, KS | Supporting Grant | $20,000 |
| Big Car Media Indianapolis, IN | Supporting Grant | $10,000 |
| Wormfarm Insitute Reedsburg, WI | Supporting Grant | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,645,083 | $784,000 | $1,661,249 | $182,200 | 10 |
| 2023 | $2,589,302 | $2,989,011 | $1,214,006 | $70,000 | 4 |
| 2022 | $531,843 | $882,376 | $1,189,971 | $74,872 | 7 |
| 2021 | $772,433 | $1,102,184 | $1,388,522 | $1,500 | Total only |
| 2020 | $1,022,361 | $1,657,968 | $751,673 | $6,500 | Total only |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Public Media Institute’s mission is to create, incubate, and sustain innovative and equitable cultural programming. Its stated activities include producing and presenting socially engaged projects, music and art performances, books and magazines, community aid platforms, festivals, radio and video broadcasting, and visual art exhibitions.
The organization’s 2024 filing describes MdW as an annual program convening Midwest artists and arts organizations to connect and exchange ideas. It describes Buddy as a shop for Chicago artists and small manufacturers, Lumpen Media as an online television and 24-hour radio station providing opportunities to produce and air original moving-image work, and Co-Prosperity as a venue for exhibitions, screenings, presentations, festivals, meetings, and performances.
In 2024, grantees included organizations with varied arts and community missions. Racing Magpie described its mission as elevating and amplifying Native and other artists and their communities through education, cultural, and research programs. Public Space One described itself as an artist-led, community-driven contemporary art center. Charlotte Street Foundation said it works to cultivate a multidisciplinary arts ecosystem and support artists engaging with the Kansas City art community. Big Car Media described its work as bringing art to people, supporting communities, and using engagement-based arts to boost neighborhood livability.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Public Media Institute reported 10 grants totaling $182,200. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $22,200, with a median of $20,000. Every listed grant had the stated purpose “supporting grant.”
Notable 2024 grants included $22,200 to Contratiempo in Chicago; $20,000 each to Charlotte Street Foundation in Kansas City, Confluence Studio Community and Manoomin Arts Initiative in Minnesota, PAR-Projects in Cincinnati, Public Space One in Iowa City, Racing Magpie in Rapid City, and School for Rural Culture in Matfield Green; and $10,000 each to Big Car Media in Indianapolis and Wormfarm Institute in Reedsburg.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nicholas Wylie as managing director; Edward Marszewski as chairman; Brenda Hernandez as vice chairman; Logan Bay as treasurer; and John Babbington as secretary. Directors listed were Maria Marszewski, Rev Dr Joseph Henry, Rachael Olson-Marszewski, and Scottie McNiece.
Public Media Institute is led by Edward Marszewski, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward Marszewski
Chairman
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$25K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Nicholas Wylie
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$31K (2020) → $63K (2024)
Joseph Henry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Marszewski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachael Olson-Marszewski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scottie McNiece
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Hernandez
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Babbington
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Logan Bay
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $63K, to Nicholas Wylie (Managing DIR.).
Frequently asked questions about Public Media Institute
How much does Public Media Institute give each year?
Public Media Institute gave $182K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $70K across 4 grants.
What is Public Media Institute's typical grant size?
Public Media Institute's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $18,220, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Public Media Institute that year got $20K on average.
Where does Public Media Institute give grants?
Public Media Institute's top state is Minnesota, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (12%) and Missouri (11%).
Does Public Media Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Public Media Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Supporting Grant" (10 grants).
Who are Public Media Institute's largest grantees?
Public Media Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Contratiempo ($22,200), Charlotte Street Foundation ($20,000) and CONFLUENCE Studio Community ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Public Media Institute?
Public Media Institute reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $784K.
What does Public Media Institute fund?
Public Media Institute’s mission is to create, incubate, and sustain innovative and equitable cultural programming. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Public Media Institute?
Public Media Institute has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check publicmediainstitute.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Public Media Institute's EIN?
Public Media Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2448077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Public Media Institute funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Public Media Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Public Media Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/public-media-institute-morg_66dd61e3f692458ebdf2724474f5cbdd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202448077_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Public Media Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/public-media-institute-morg_66dd61e3f692458ebdf2724474f5cbdd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Media Institute'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.
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