Kalw Public Media Inc

What it reported doing in 2022

Mission: kalw serves the public with independent, innovative, and trusted local and global news, music, and culture programming. The goal is to inform listeners, connect the diverse communities of the sf bay area, and help train the next generation of public media makers.kalw has an incredible, 80-year history and a promising future built on decades of contributions from dedicated volunteers, listeners, leaders, donors, programmers, and producers. We began broadcasting on september 1, 1941 a full thirty years before the creation of npr. Our broadcast license was obtained and continues to be held by the san francisco unified school district. Kalw created the first fm broadcast training program in the country and it trained women in radio broadcasting during world war ii. Kalw continues this tradition with the audio academy, a 10-month, tuition-free journalism training program, as well as its summer podcast academy for teens and its uncuffed radio training program inside san quentin and solano state prisons. Kalw has a track record of programming innovation: it was the first station in the bay area to air fresh air, this american life, snap judgement and the daily. It was also the first station to air the bbc in the bay area and the bbc's station of record in san francisco for decades. Kalw is also the birthplace of 99 percent invisible and radio ambulante, and snap judgement's glynn Washington recorded his show's demos at kalw's studios. The origins of ear hustle can also be traced to kalw's volunteer program at san quentin state prison.the station has been at the forefront of high-quality, socially minded radio from its inception. It remains deeply rooted in the bay area and its culture. The expansion into kalw@25thstreet in oakland for the new dj lineup is a testament to its dedication to all nine bay area counties where it broadcasts. Kalw believes in creating and broadcasting stories that are social-justice minded and solutions-oriented.with its diverse leadership and staff, and the voices of the communities we serve, kalw public media is on a mission to inspire audiences and tell the human story in all its breadth and richness. Justice, equity, and community creation are at the heart of everything kalw does.the station is shaping public media's future by building upon its legacy for innovation and what's next, as well as by training, nurturing and amplifying local voices and makers. The station will continue to seek out and showcase the best from around the globe, and serve as an essential and trusted source for news, music, culture, podcasting and digital media.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 59%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 83%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.05 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 90%; rating input score 90; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 28.9%; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.77; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.38; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.8%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 26.3% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 33.9% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 49.1% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings