The 990 read · EIN 52-0899215 · VA · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025

Public Broadcasting Service

In its own words

“The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), incorporated in 1969, is a membership organization that, in partnership with its member stations, serves the American public with programming and services of the highest quality, using media to educate, inspire, entertain, and express a diversity of perspectives.”

Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.

Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated November 7, 2026

Top pay: $1.5M Paula a Kerger, 0.3% of spending
Revenue: $696.6M 54.8% from donations and grants
Spent: $584.5M 92.1% on programs, as reported
Net assets: $519.2M end of FY ending Jun 2025
Savings: 10.7 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
People: 662 employees, 40 volunteers

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X

01 · Red flags

No red flags in its latest filing.

We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.

02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 92.1¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.

92.1¢

Programs, $538.1M

0.0¢

Fundraising, $51K

7.9¢

Admin, $46.4M

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX, line 25

Cost to raise $1

0¢

as reported

For each dollar donated, Public Broadcasting Service spent 0¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $381.6M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX

03 · What it does

What it told the IRS it spent on.

The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.

Program 1 · 14.3% of program spending $76.9M

Distribution and information technology - represents network, media, and satellite operation centers handling, technical evaluation, and other pre-transmission processing of all program video; program origination transmission including operational support for news and other live event coverage, and the scheduling and logging of all satellite feeds. This expense category also includes other technical research and planning, and the oversight, lease, and acquisition of satellite capacity.

Program 2 · 3.2% of program spending · $371K in grants $17.0M

Member services - represents services provided to pbs's member stations, including digital products and services, development, and copyright administration.

Program 3 · 1.4% of program spending · $5.8M in grants $7.7M

Other - represents other services provided to public broadcasting stations and producers from cable and license fee revenue received from cable and satellite providers.

Program 4 · 0.2% of program spending $820K

Ventures - represents activities associated with marketing and selling programs across multiple platforms, including subscription video-on-demand, digital content, producing and manufacturing physical goods such as dvd and blu-ray products and program-related products; the licensing, development, and distribution of interactive products; the licensing of video content to commercial online and mobile service providers; and online sponsorship activities.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part III

04 · The savings

Net assets: $280.6M to $519.2M in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions

281

389

337

279

355

394

350

347

400

404

412

519

Form 990 history via ProPublica Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)

05 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

Paula a Kerger

President & CEO

$1,471,435

Jonathan Barzilay

Chief Operating Officer

$768,991

Ira Rubenstein

Chief Digital & Marketing Officer

$646,467

Katherine Lauderdale

Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

$546,975

Rhonda Holt

Chief Technology Officer

$536,431

Thomas E Tardivo

Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

$521,596

Sylvia Bugg

Chief Programming Executive & Gm, General Audience Programming

$477,856

Jeremy Gaines

Svp, Corporate Communications

$427,876

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section A

Largest outside contractors

Contractor	Service	Paid
Intelsat Alliance Lp	Satellite services	$1,337,904
Ernst & Young US Llp	Professional service	$852,086
Ha Design Group	Tech services	$512,724
Covington & Burling Llp	Legal services	$463,653
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp	Legal services	$432,771

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section B

06 · Questions

The questions people ask about the Public Broadcasting Service.

Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.

How much does the Public Broadcasting Service CEO make?

Paula a Kerger, President & CEO, received $1,471,435 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.3% of Public Broadcasting Service's $584.5M in spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII

What percentage of Public Broadcasting Service donations go to programs?

Public Broadcasting Service reported 92.1% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 0% as fundraising and 7.9% as management.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX

How much money does Public Broadcasting Service have?

Net assets were $519.2M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 10.7 months of spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part X

Does Public Broadcasting Service have any red flags in its filing?

Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)

07 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

Cite this page

Amir Arani, “Public Broadcasting Service: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/public-broadcasting-service/