PBS Foundation

News & Information

FAQs

When and why was the Foundation formed?
In January 2004, the PBS Board established a PBS Foundation Task Force to address the strategic imperative of identifying new funding initiatives to enable PBS to seek, cultivate, and receive philanthropic gifts. After a comprehensive study, the PBS Foundation was incorporated in June 2004 and received its 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(3) tax-exempt status in November 2004. The PBS Foundation was created to seek extraordinary and major gifts and grants at the national level to ensure long-term financial sustainability for PBS and member stations.

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What is the mission of the Foundation?
The mission of the PBS Foundation is to enlist philanthropic support of public broadcasting through establishing special initiatives funds and a permanent endowment to ensure PBS's continued excellence, and to promote and enhance outstanding public broadcasting programs and services. Working collaboratively and cooperatively with member stations, the Foundation will secure the extraordinary funding necessary to maintain and enhance its commitment to serving the American public.

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Why has the PBS Foundation been established as a supporting foundation? What is a supporting Foundation?
The PBS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(3) supporting foundation. This means it is a special kind of charitable organization that has its relationship with its "parent" organization PBS. The PBS Foundation is operated exclusively for the benefit of PBS and to support the PBS mission. It was formed to help ensure the long-term stability of PBS and its member stations.

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What is the Foundation raising money for?
The primary areas for Foundation funding are:

• Program Venture Funds – Established to support the development and acquisition of outstanding programming and content in field-related genres such as Science & Nature; Arts, Culture & History; News & Public Affairs; and Children’s and Lifelong Education.
• Special Initiatives Funds – Created to promote and sustain initiatives that benefit the entire public broadcasting system, such as PBS Engage (working title – formerly know as the Public Square Initiative), an innovative and dynamic digital multi-platform public affairs media service; and the Early Childhood Education Initiative, a comprehensive education plan that supports kids, their parents, caregivers and teachers.
• The Establishment of an Endowment – A permanent fund that utilizes income interest from principal to support PBS programs and services and to promote highest priority needs.

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How does the Foundation work with public broadcasting stations?
The Foundation is committed to working collaboratively with stations. There are donors who want to have an impact nationally as well as locally. Local and national fundraising has been – and will continue to be – complimentary.

A document detailing the “PBS Foundation and Member Stations Protocols and Relations” was created by the PBSF Board of Directors and its Station Advisory Council and is available for download [29KB PDF]. These protocols assure open lines of communication and actions built on trust and mutually beneficial outcomes.

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Can I apply to PBSF for a grant?
The PBS Foundation is a supporting rather than a grantmaking foundation. Because the PBS Foundation exists to support PBS, it does not accept or consider requests for funding from outside individuals or organizations.

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How can I support PBS through the PBS Foundation?
It is through the generous donations of individuals and organizations that public broadcasting is available to all Americans. Through its member stations, PBS provides the best in science and nature, news and documentary and, of course, children's programming.

The PBS Foundation encourages you to consider supporting your local PBS member stations. By contributing at the local level, you support your station's ability to purchase the programs you enjoy, as well as to produce local programming and to serve as a vital educational and cultural resource within your community.

For those donors interested in continuing their support of PBS at the national level to help secure its financial future and sustain its ability to provide award-winning programs and services, then a gift to the PBS Foundation may be appropriate. When you contribute to the PBS Foundation, you support more than distinctive television programming. Your gift allows PBS to undertake special initiatives that have a valuable impact on the American public. PBS’s long standing tradition of quality, backed by its unique local and national structure and the trust of the American public make it a wise social investment. This is why the PBS Foundation has established a series of special funds and initiatives to ensure PBS realizes its potential as the nation’s premier public service media organization in the 21^st century.

For more information on how to support PBS through the PBS Foundation, please contact us at:

PBS Foundation
2100 Crystal Drive
Crystal City, VA 22202
pbsfoundation@pbs.org
V: (703) 739-5051
F: (703) 299-2985

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How can I include the PBS Foundation in my estate planning?
A bequest to the PBS Foundation may be made in your will or revocable trust, with the aid of your attorney, as either a specific dollar amount or as a certain percentage of your estate or of another asset.

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Can I direct how my donation to the PBS Foundation will be used?
Donors can recommend to the PBS Foundation how their gifts should be used. Partnership between individual and organizational donors and the PBS Foundation are one of the best ways to ensure that PBS is able to continue to expand all genres of programming, including:

• Children’s Programming and Lifelong Learning
• Science and Nature
• News and Public Affairs
• Arts, Culture & History

If you want to provide direction for your donation, you may indicate that it be used for a specific genre of programming and content or for one of PBS’s special initiatives, this information can be communicated to the PBS Foundation in writing or we can discuss this aspect with you in greater detail by telephone. Please contact us at:

PBS Foundation
2100 Crystal Drive
Crystal City, VA 22202
pbsfoundation@pbs.org
V: (703) 739-5051
F: (703) 299-2985

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Is my gift to the PBS Foundation tax deductible?
Yes, all contributions to the PBS Foundation are 100% tax deductible. When you make a gift to the PBS Foundation, it will be acknowledged by a thank you letter. This letter is your receipt and provides proof to the IRS of your gift.

For more information, please call 703-739-5051or email pbsfoundation@pbs.org.