National Capital Radio and Television Museum

What it reported doing in 2024

The National Capital Radio & Television Museum in Bowie, MD has a broad range of programs appealing to the entire community. The museum is open to the public. K3RTV/Amateur Radio Station: The museum maintains an amateur Radio station that is licensed by the FCC with the call sign of K3RTV. The museum can provide school and scout group programs and participate in the annual BSA Jamboree on the Air in the fall. Lectures: The museum in partnership with the local libraries, colleges and senior centers offers lectures on the cultural history of broadcasting. Radio Repair Services: For the cost of parts and labor, the museum offers repair service for collector and enthusiasts wishing to restore their antique radio to operating condition. Full restoration of actual operation is offered while some volunteers will donate additional refurbishment services for exterior finishes, wood restoration, etc. Tours: The museum offers guided tours of the exhibits to the general public during open hours and to groups by appointment. Docent led tours address radio and television technology, the chronology of its development and advancement, the cultural history of broadcasting and receiving. For a small fee, the museum also offers tours during closed hours to schools, senior citizen group and care centers for the disabled. We have also added video components to aid in the museum experience for any members who are unable to travel throughout the museum. Radio Repair Classes are offered by the Museum is intended for people who wish to learn how to restore vacuum tube radios to working condition. Both lecturers and hand on exercises teach students the inner working of antique radio technology and the theory behind them. The classes are geared for everyone, from the novice all the way to the master. On Site Childrens Programs The museum has on-site Kids Program designed to introduce students K-6th grade to the scientific and cultural history of radio and television. Participants in the hour long program will engage in active learning experiences using Morse code, decoding secret radio messages and exploring sound waves using oscilloscopes. The Kids program conforms to Maryland Board of Education standards. Virtual programing was added during the pandemic with special emails and webinars.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 56.4%; rating input score 56
• Program expense ratio: 76.5%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $21.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 25th 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 2 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 29
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 35.9%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.83; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.7% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings