About Pbs Foundation
The PBS Foundation raises philanthropic support to strengthen PBS and its member stations, funding educational programming and initiatives that serve children, support journalism and civics, celebrate the arts, and advance science and nature content.
Focus Areas
children's media and educationpublic affairs and journalismscience and nature programmingarts and culturesupport for PBS member stations
Who They Fund
childrenPBS member stationspublic television audiencesstudents and families
Funding Style
program supportpublic media infrastructure supporteducation-focused funding
About Pbs Foundation
PBS Foundation’s most visible recent support is a seven-figure annual grant to Public Broadcasting Service in Arlington, with $11,730,097 awarded in 2025 and $11,487,629 in 2024. That pattern points to a funder that operates through large institutional support rather than many small awards, with all reported grants going to recipients in Virginia. The foundation’s stated priorities center on PBS programming and the member-station system behind it, including children’s media and education, public affairs and journalism, science and nature content, and arts and culture. A separate priority also supports PBS member stations directly. The foundation’s grantmaking is tied to content and civic service delivered through PBS. Its public-facing program areas include PBS KIDS, Democracy, Civics & Journalism, Science & Nature, Arts, and Arts Funding Priority. The leadership listed for the foundation is Paula A. Kerger. With annual grants of $23,217,726 and total assets of $49,505,397, the foundation’s recent giving reflects a concentrated model centered on one national public media institution and its affiliated network.
What Pbs Foundation Funds
In children’s media and education, PBS Foundation backs PBS KIDS, a priority described as supporting content for and about children and communities. In public affairs, the Democracy, Civics & Journalism program focuses on civil discourse, local journalism, and PBS’s 250th anniversary initiative. In science and environmental programming, the Science & Nature priority supports work on the natural world, environmental understanding, conservation, and preservation. The arts are also a defined area of support. PBS Foundation lists both Arts and Arts Funding Priority, each tied to programming, partnerships, and initiatives that elevate artistic excellence, expand access to creative experiences, and strengthen cultural institutions. Across these priorities, the foundation frames its support around PBS content and collaborations rather than individual or competitive grantmaking.
How Pbs Foundation Gives
PBS Foundation’s typical grant size is very large: the 25th percentile is $11,548,246, the median is $11,608,863, and the 75th percentile is $11,669,480. That tight spread shows a highly concentrated grant pattern with awards clustered at a similar scale. The recent record shows repeated support to the same recipient across 2024 and 2025, indicating recurring institutional funding rather than one-off awards. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its programs do not accept unsolicited applications, which suggests a directed grantmaking model.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$11.7M
Total Assets
$49.5M
Total Revenue
$20.7M
Total Expenses
$16.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $11.5M and $11.7M, with a median of $11.6M.
25th Percentile
$11.5M
Median
$11.6M
75th Percentile
$11.7M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in VA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
PAULA A KERGER
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