Wnet FY2024 filing

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Wnet is a multi-media public service non-profit that delivers lifelong learning and meaningful experiences to our communities. Our content inspires curiosity, encourages action and nurtures dreams.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-2810489) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$5.2M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $5.0M a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
69% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$5.2M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
0.8 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $247.5M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
0.8 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $482K
11 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$29.8M
7% of total assets
Liabilities are 7% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
30
of 30 voting members
30 of 30 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$138.4M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$131.4M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$379.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$138.4M
FY2024▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$130.5M
FY2021$138.0M
FY2022$152.9M
FY2023$111.1M
FY2024$138.4M
FY2025$119.1M
Expenses
$131.4M
FY2024▼ -1%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$123.7M
FY2021$115.7M
FY2022$131.8M
FY2023$133.3M
FY2024$131.4M
FY2025$124.3M
Net assets
$379.0M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$294.0M
FY2021$357.0M
FY2022$349.4M
FY2023$347.9M
FY2024$379.0M
FY2025$388.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2009.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $90.8M Management & general 17% · $21.9M Fundraising 14% · $18.6M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

50 people listed on the 990; $5.2M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
President, CEO
$787,221Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Programming
$415,825Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Advancement Chief Strategy Officer
$368,138Pt VII · Sec A
VP, CFO & Treasurer
$360,256Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Producer
$353,691Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Business Development, Clo & Secretary
$353,362Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer (through 3/1/24)
$315,064Pt VII · Sec A
VP, General Manager, Wliw 21
$311,634Pt VII · Sec A

Neal Shapiro’s $800K as President, CEO is at the 58th percentile of top reported officer pay among 53 $100M+ arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Neal Shapiro$799,774$787,221$854,024$728,737$717,834$715,877
Hari Sreenivasan———$441,553$439,498$411,119
Vanessa Wise$428,805$368,138$350,991$320,219$314,554$319,136
Stephen Segaller$420,360$415,825$421,940$388,026$383,438$388,875
David Horn$318,362$353,691$347,716$315,043$325,051$394,261
Debasish Mishra$392,800$306,020$313,410$277,455——
Tamisha Chestnut$383,359$291,650————
Daniel Greenberg$382,790—$278,205——$248,359

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Wnet executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Produces and broadcasts educational public media programming and digital curriculum resources to inspire lifelong learning for audiences of all ages.

Questions for Wnet

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3 programs · $90.8M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

National and Local Program Services

Through thirteen productions LLC, wliw LLC, interactive engagement group LLC, audio enterprise group LLC, public media new jersey, inc., wnet produces both national and local television and radio programming of the highest possible quality for distribution to other public broadcasting stations including thirteen.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-2810489) · Dispute this line
$58.1Mprogram expense
02

Television Broadcast Station and Operations

Technical operations provides the transmission of the broadcast signal within the new york city television market. During the 2023/2024 fiscal year on a 24-HOUR daily schedule, wnet broadcasts over 78,800 hours to the new york city market on stations wnet and wliw.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-2810489) · Dispute this line
$28.9Mprogram expense
03

Education

Wnet produces a range of educational programming targeted for the full range of our audience, including pre-k through high school and college, as well as for life-long learners. This includes original programming that directly supports the development of math, foundational reading and social emotional learning skills for our youngest…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2023. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-2810489) · Dispute this line
$3.9Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
See all 11 funders →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $1.8M federal money spent
Promotion of the Humanities_public ProgramsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.164 · Direct$1.3M
Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)National Science Foundation · ALN 47.076 · Direct$266K
Ready-To-Learn TelevisionDepartment of Education · ALN 84.295 · Through Cpb, Ed Grant, Ready-To-Learn Community$87K
Promotion of the Arts_grants to Organizations and IndividualsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.024 · Direct$83K
Education Research, Development and DisseminationDepartment of Education · ALN 84.305 · Through Education Development Center, US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences Research and Development Grant$30K

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $1.7M federal money spent
Promotion of the Humanities_public ProgramsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.164 · Direct$1.1M
Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)National Science Foundation · ALN 47.076 · Direct$485K
Ready-To-Learn TelevisionDepartment of Education · ALN 84.295 · Through Cpb, Ed Grant, Ready to Learn Community$103K
Education Research, Development and DisseminationDepartment of Education · ALN 84.305 · Through Edc, U.s. Doe, Institute of Education Sciences (ies) Research and Development Grant$49K
Promotion of the Arts_grants to Organizations and IndividualsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.024 · Direct$12K

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $1.6M federal money spent
Education and Human ResourcesNational Science Foundation · ALN 47.076 · Direct$1.1M
Promotion of the Humanities_public ProgramsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.164 · Direct$300K
Education Research, Development and DisseminationDepartment of Education · ALN 84.305 · Through Education Development Center$68K
Ready-To-Learn TelevisionDepartment of Education · ALN 84.295 · Through Center for Public Broadcasting, Ready to Learn Community$66K
Promotion of the Arts_grants to Organizations and IndividualsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.024 · Direct$40K

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $2.4M federal money spent
Promotion of the Humanities_public ProgramsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.164 · Direct$1.1M
Education and Human ResourcesNational Science Foundation · ALN 47.076 · Direct$1.1M
Ready-To-Learn TelevisionDepartment of Education · ALN 84.295 · Through Cpb, Ed Grant, Ready to Learn Community$69K
Promotion of the Arts_grants to Organizations and IndividualsNational Endowments for the Arts and Humanities · ALN 45.024 · Direct$65K
Education Research, Development and DisseminationDepartment of Education · ALN 84.305 · Through Edc, US Department of Education$33K

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$138.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$125.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$6.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.7M
Money outPt IX
$131.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$90.8M
Managementcol C$21.9M
Fundraisingcol D$18.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$379.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.4M
Total assetsLn 16$408.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
50
listed · VII A
PaidVII A15
Voting boardVI 1a30
IndependentVI 1b30
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$125.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$19.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$6.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$582K
Gains on assetsLn 7$3.4M
Total revenueLn 12$138.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$8.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.4M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$76.7M
Accounts receivableLn 4$680K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$12.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$247.5M
Other assetsLn 15$45.0M
Total assetsLn 16$408.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29.8M
Net assetsLn 32$379.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5630
VolunteersI 645
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$1.9M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$1.3M
Share of the $241.6M endowmentSch D 1g0.56%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY24FY23FY22FY21FY20
End of yearLn 1g$241.6M$218.9M$200.9M$221.5M$159.4M
AddedLn 1b$2.8M$4.4M$11.3M$22.8M$7.1M
SpentLn 1d–1f$9.4M$8.4M$7.5M$7.3M$6.6M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$13.2M$8.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$229.4M$247.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19.1M$17.6M
Total assetsLn 16$386.9M$408.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$39.0M$29.8M
Net assetsLn 32$347.9M$379.0M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$4.1M$1.2M$2.5M$426K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$41.1M$27.1M$8.2M$5.8M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2.1M$1.5M$369K$200K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$6.4M$4.0M$1.5M$968K
Payroll taxesLn 10$3.1M$2.0M$668K$449K
Management feesLn 11a$2.8M$830K$680K$1.3M
Legal feesLn 11b$439K$0$439K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$264K$0$264K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$100K$0$100K$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$785K$785K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1.3M$0$1.3M$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4.3M$3.6M$414K$276K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.9M$1.6M$181K$145K
Office expensesLn 13$9.7M$2.7M$2.1M$5.0M
Information technologyLn 14$196K$0$196K$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$9.7M$7.0M$1.8M$861K
TravelLn 17$619K$498K$86K$34K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$555K$90K$84K$382K
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2.9M$1.7M$610K$655K
InsuranceLn 23$840K$502K$231K$106K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$38.1M$36.6M$236K$1.3M
Total functional expensesLn 25$131.4M$90.8M$21.9M$18.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 12, 2026 $119.1M$124.3M−$5.2M$388.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 13, 2025 $138.4M$131.4M$7.0M$379.0M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 15, 2024 $111.1M$133.3M−$22.2M$347.9M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 4, 2023 $152.9M$131.8M$21.1M$349.4M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 13, 2022 $138.0M$115.7M$22.4M$357.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 14, 2021 $130.5M$123.7M$6.8M$294.0M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support D · Assets and endowments I · Grants J · Pay M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $138,363,816 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $99,817,331$125,558,872
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $6,444,007$5,740,321
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,067,448$6,482,991
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $723,189$581,632
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $111,051,975$138,363,816
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $55,551,363$56,773,898
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $814,131$785,026
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $76,916,401$73,824,135
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $133,281,895$131,383,059
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$22,229,920$6,980,757
Part VI · Governance 30 of 30 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body30
VI-1b Independent voting members30
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $138,363,816 across 16 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,016,225
VIII-1d Related organizations$35,293,224
VIII-1e Government grants$19,770,714
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$69,478,709
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,856,717
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$125,558,872
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $5,000 · Excluded from tax $0$5,740,321
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,129,753$3,129,753
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $127,197$127,197
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax −$1,937−$1,937
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,353,238$3,353,238
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $456,372 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$456,372
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,191,693 · Unrelated business $5,000 · Excluded from tax $6,608,251$138,363,816
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $131,383,059 across 25 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $1,150,415 · Management $2,474,615 · Fundraising $426,050$4,051,080
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $27,087,295 · Management $8,201,243 · Fundraising $5,813,759$41,102,297
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,486,434 · Management $368,630 · Fundraising $200,469$2,055,533
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $4,011,213 · Management $1,461,895 · Fundraising $967,867$6,440,975
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,006,449 · Management $668,439 · Fundraising $449,125$3,124,013
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $830,067 · Management $680,407 · Fundraising $1,278,258$2,788,732
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $439,304 · Fundraising $0$439,304
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $264,500 · Fundraising $0$264,500
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $100,096 · Fundraising $0$100,096
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $785,026$785,026
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,346,004 · Fundraising $0$1,346,004
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,645,429 · Management $413,898 · Fundraising $275,706$4,335,033
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,579,181 · Management $180,571 · Fundraising $144,748$1,904,500
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,666,320 · Management $2,060,856 · Fundraising $4,966,912$9,694,088
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $195,585 · Fundraising $0$195,585
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $7,011,965 · Management $1,826,686 · Fundraising $860,796$9,699,447
IX-17 TravelPrograms $498,197 · Management $86,474 · Fundraising $33,839$618,510
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $89,945 · Management $83,669 · Fundraising $381,573$555,187
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,685,003 · Management $609,598 · Fundraising $654,786$2,949,387
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $502,287 · Management $231,419 · Fundraising $106,057$839,763
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $36,593,523 · Management $236,487 · Fundraising $1,263,989$38,093,999
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $90,843,723 · Management $21,930,376 · Fundraising $18,608,960$131,383,059
Part X · Balance sheet $408,880,024 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $13,184,444$8,448,262
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $57,691,596$76,660,103
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,360,316$680,421
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $15,262,399$12,933,406
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $19,076,610$17,607,414
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $121,982,128$122,911,167
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $107,414,671$124,606,570
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $50,925,613$45,032,681
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $386,897,777$408,880,024
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $37,779,328$27,439,423
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,239,980$2,399,549
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $39,019,308$29,838,972
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $101,285,293$103,241,055
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $246,593,176$275,799,997
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $347,878,469$379,041,052
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $386,897,777$408,880,024
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $379,041,052 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$138,363,816
XI-2 Total expenses$131,383,059
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$6,980,757
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$347,878,469
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$24,181,826
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$379,041,052

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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