CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC
Mission Statement
Chicago Public Media, Inc. is a community-supported, public service broadcasting institution. We offer programs that speak with many voices to community needs and are a reflection of the distinctive and diverse Chicago area. We help listeners learn about issues and ideas that affect the community, the nation, and the world. We produce, acquire, and distribute engaging, thoughtful, and entertaining programs of depth, breadth, diversity and substance that speak powerfully. We are principally a broadcaster. We also serve our local and national community with supplemental distribution initiatives. We expand our outreach to the community and enhance our production effort through partnerships and educational programs with local and national institutions.
Financial Overview — FY 2025
Compared with Peers
FY 2025| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
66.6% | 79.0% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
12.3% | 13.2% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
21.1% | 6.4% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Fundraising efficiency
Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income
· lower is better
|
13582.1% | 754.2% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
37.9 mo | 30.7 mo |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
30.5% | 13.4% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
81.9% | 66.5% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
5.5% | 8.4% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
-10.0% | 4.9% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
23.9% | 5.5% |
P10P90
|
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35.6M | $27.1M | $85.6M | 66.6% | 180 |
| 2024 | $33.8M | $30.1M | $75.0M | 65.3% | 200 |
| 2023 | $38.7M | $30.0M | $67.1M | 64.3% | 210 |
| 2022 | $32.3M | $28.5M | N/A | — | 187 |
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