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.
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.
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.
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.
$11.7M
$49.5M
$20.7M
$16.8M
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
About 100% of grants go to recipients in VA.
PAULA A KERGER
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Grantmaking is local and fully concentrated in Virginia: 100% of reported grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Virginia is also the top state by grant count. The recent grants list shows both awards going to Arlington-based Public Broadcasting Service. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 2 grants in the United States and none outside the country.
PBS Foundation supports PBS programming and member stations across children’s media and education, public affairs and journalism, science and nature content, and arts and culture. Its active program areas include PBS KIDS, Democracy, Civics & Journalism, Science & Nature, Arts, and Arts Funding Priority.
No. Each listed active program says it does not accept unsolicited applications, indicating a directed grantmaking process.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered at a very large scale: p25 is $11,548,246, median is $11,608,863, and p75 is $11,669,480.
Reported grants are entirely U.S.-based, and all grants in the available data go to recipients in Virginia. The recent grants list shows Arlington, VA as the recipient location for both awards.
No. The foundation’s profile states that it does not fund individuals.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $11,730,097 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $11,487,629 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE
$11,730,097SEE PART IV
PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE
$11,487,629SEE PART IV