Minnesota Public Radio American Public Media

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule o: Minnesota public radio (mpr) continued to deliver pertinent news and arts programming to audiences statewide, nationally and internationally. Mpr news continues to be a reliable source of news for audiences, especially in the lead-up to the general presidential election, in which Minnesota landed on the national stage due to governor tim walz's vice presidential nomination. To inform audiences of different candidates in their area, mpr news launched the state's most comprehensive voter resource guide on local, state and federal elections in english, spanish, somali and hmong. Other notable initiatives from mpr news that continued to make impact in fy25 were reverb, a reporting team serving younger minnesotans; the native news project, a team that highlights stories and issues important to native american communities in Minnesota and beyond; and talking sense, a reporting project in partnership with braver angels that explores the root and explores solutions to polarization in communities, families and homes.in fy25, mpr news won numerous awards, including a gracie allen award from the alliance for women in media, 9 first place awards from the midwest broadcast journalist association, 7 first place awards at the Minnesota chapter of the society of professional journalists, and two first place indigenous media awards from the indigenous journalists association. The current continues to foster music discovery for listeners by showcasing the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it. In january of 2025, the current celebrated 20 years on air. The milestone was celebrated with two anniversary concerts at first avenue in minneapolis. The current continued to showcase local artists and beyond through its programming and events, including the grand stage powered by the current at grand old day, microshows, free happy hours around the state, and more. In fy25, the current won 8 first, second and third place awards from the Minnesota chapter of the society of professional journalists. The station was also named best radio station in the twin cities by mpls.st.paul magazine and best radio station in Minnesota by Minnesota monthly. Yourclassical mpr continues to provide unique programs and relevant features to connect classical listeners with the music they love. In fy25, yourclassical had its second year of the karin larson yourclassical prize, expanding the competition into two categories preprofessional and emerging artist. Yourclassical also launched its own happy hour series at local venues in the twin cities and continued programming audiences know and love through class notes community concerts, bring the sing, and holiday streams. Operating as american public media (apm), mpr supports its national program portfolio, including performance today, marketplace, and the splendid table. In fy25, this old house radio hour launched, a new program distributed by american public media. Apm programs can be heard on nearly 1000 public radio stations and boast over 15 million listeners nationwide. Sold a story, a podcast from apm's national portfolio via apm reports, continues to have incredible impact. In fy25, the podcast reached over 10 million downloads and more than half of the states in the us have passed laws to change how reading is taught since the podcast's release. Apm reports also had impact through the reporting project unsolved, in partnership with the marshall project and st. Louis public radio, which picked up a national headliner award, a 2025 brechner freedom of information award, and more. Mpr operates a 45-station radio network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states, boasting over 800,000 listeners each week through its regional services of mpr news, the current and yourclassicalmpr. Mpr continues to be one of the nation's top public radio stations, producing programming for radio, digital and live audiences. A complete list of stations, programs and additional se

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.5%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 74.2%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.72 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96%; rating input score 96; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: 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: -0.9%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.04; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.6%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings