Philadelphia Public Access Corporation

What it reported doing in 2024

Philadelphia public access corporation' s services support the creation and distribution of locally produced media that reflects the diverse social, political, ethnic and artistic communities that can be found in philadelphia. Philadelphia public access corporation dba phillycam operates a community media center that is welcoming and provides access to and training in the use of digital media. Anyone who lives or works in the greater philadelphia region can participate in phillycam programs and community media creation. In 2018/19 over 1100 individuals and organizations were phillycam members and over 13,000 people came through phillycam's doors. Anyone who lives or works in the greater philadelphia region can participate in phillycam programs and learn to create and share their own media. Our membership is made up of an engaged constituency of people of color, working people, women, sexual minorities, people with disabilities, activists, educators, artists, seniors, returning citizens, and young people. Members receive free to low cost access to video production training, free access to high definition tv and audio/radio studios and equipment, media production project support for non-profits, youth programs, community meeting space, producer networking events and distribution of their content on cable television and low power fm radio programming. Phillycam offers digital media education training to develop the skills of our members so that they can create content that reflects the diverse social, political, ethnic, and artistic communities that can be found here. Phillycam's impact extends beyond our members to the entire city through community collaborations with cultural organizations, non-profits and city departments by amplifying their work through media. Over the past year phillycam cablecasted, to potential audience of over 1 million viewers, over 800 hours of locally sourced, original television programming. This included 150 hours of original stand-alone specials, 95 local series, nearly half of the local series being produced using phillycam facilities. These programs highlighted local music and cultural events; youth produced narratives and talk shows on current events; a variety of shows covering wellness, local arts and social issues; documentaries on philly neighborhoods; and psa's from the non-profit community. We offered 60 digital media workshops and educational programs attended by 480 participants. We hosted or participated in screenings, discussions, live tapings and networking opportunities events, most of them free. In september 2018 our youth media program went 5 afternoons a week. The youth program benefits young people and by extension the larger philadelphia community by providing much-needed quality after-school activities. 20 students ages 14 - 21 from across the city participated in a range of art-making and media production activities while engaging in conversations around topics such as identity, police violence, pop culture, youth representation and media literacy. These media centered activities help them develop their individual voices, gain confidence, learn to work collaboratively, and acquire important technical and life skills they can apply in school and in the workplace. Philadelphia public access corporation is the fcc license holder of the low power fm radio station wppm 106.5 fm in philadelphia. Wppm, a non- commercial community radio station, went on the air in summer 2016. As of june of 2019, 49 members have received radio studio certifications to host their own shows. Wppm currently has 53 radio programs produced by 80 volunteers who represent a diversity of phillycam members. Community produced programs include 16 public affairs talk shows, 7 arts and cultural shows, 23 music programs, 5 variety shows, and 3 sports shows. Each week wppm provides the community with 68 hours of original, non-commercial educational content. Listeners can also live stream on station from our website

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.9%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 82.7%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $32.73 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• 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: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8%; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.21; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.3; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.8%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.6% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings