Arkansas Educational Telecommunications Network Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
710592505
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Conway, AR, USA
Phone
5016822386
Rating
70
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Television

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$4,275,738
Expenses
$4,141,943
Assets
$12,323,523
Liabilities
$279,322

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

13 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • EDWIN MCCLURE (BOARD PRESIDENT)
  • DREW SPURGERS (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • MARGARET BETLEY (CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • MARGARET BETLEY (CEO): $173,694 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The Arkansas educational telecommunications network foundation (dba Arkansas pbs foundation) supports the mission of Arkansas pbs to educate, inform, engage, and inspire lifelong learners across the state. Contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations support national/local programming and education.

What it reported doing in 2024

Production and promotion costs for local programs to be broadcast on Arkansas pbs and its various digital platforms. In addition to the programming purchases from pbs and other national public media distributors, Arkansas pbs creates local productions highlighting the history, culture, and relevant public affairs of Arkansas and its residents. Arkansas pbs foundation supports the creation of local production through grants, business sponsorships/underwriting, and major gifts from individuals.

Operating model

Revenue model
Membership-supported. 82% of the money available for current operations came from membership dues.
Distribution model
Affiliate network. The nonprofit sent 71% of its reported program spending through affiliated organizations.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - Most voting board members are independent and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 55
  • Transparency & Controls: 66
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 59
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 61.4%; rating input score 61
  • Program expense ratio: 61%; rating input score 61
  • Fundraising efficiency: $2.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Limited
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 3.1%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.98; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 4.2%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 61.4% of revenue deployed · 61% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 11 of 11 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $2.5M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $174K · 13 people listed · 1 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes executive pay
  • Filing history: 13 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 8/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 45/100.