Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Ampers is the largest association of community radio stations in the state of Minnesota and the largest of its kind in the united states. Ampers consists of 17 independently licensed and managed, locally responsive, community-based radio stations that serve bipoc (black, indigenous, people of color), rural, and student communities not typically reached through traditional media in Minnesota. The majority of revenue ampers secures for its member stations goes directly to the stations. Most of the funds do not flow through nor do they appear in the organization's financials. In addition to securing revenue for its member stations, ampers produces programming. The organization creates and distributes "veterans' voices," a radio series that allows (see schedule o)veterans to share their personal memories and stories about serving in the military. Ampers also produces and distributes programs like "mn90: Minnesota history in 90 seconds" a fun and entertaining yet educational look at Minnesota history. "Minnesota native news" is an award-winning weekly five-minute newscast with content relevant to native as well as non-native residents of Minnesota. In fy25, ampers launched "north stars stories", statewide news delivering stories and perspectives not found in traditional media. Ampers helps its member stations to provide even more services and programs to their local communities by maintaining an infrastructure that allows the stations to easily share their arts and cultural heritage programming. Ampers also serves as the curator for all arts & cultural programming archiving them and making them all available online through its website as well as social media. The organization is also partnering with the Minnesota department of veteran affairs to share the struggles that Minnesota's veterans face as well as the services that are available to them and how veterans can get those services.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.9%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 88.6%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.01 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • 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: Yes; rating input score 100
• 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: -11.7%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.44; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.46; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.8%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.6% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.8% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings