Non-profit

Native Public Media (NPM)

Website:

www.nativepublicmedia.org/

Location:

Flagstaff, AZ

Tax ID:

80-0672072

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $560,264
Expenses: $596,922
Assets: $914,765

Type:

Native American Activist Organization

President:

Loris A. Taylor

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Native Public Media (NPM) is a left-of-center Native American advocacy organization and media group that encourages the expansion and strengthening of Native American-focused media outlets. 1

NPM’s policy advocacy program “advocates for progressive policies and regulations” to expand public media. 2 NPM was listed as a critical race theory-influenced diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused organization by the left-of-center Democracy Fund. 3 NPM also hosts the annual Native Broadcast Summit with support of the left-of-center NoVo Foundation and the First Nations Development Institute. 4

In 2021, NPM received $300,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). 5 NPM also  received $150,000 from the left-of-center Tides Foundation in 2019 6 7 $46,690 from George Soros’s Open Society Institute in 2013; 8 and $600,000 from the Ford Foundation via the New America Foundation in 2010. 9

History and Leadership

Native Public Media was founded in 2004 to encourage the expansion and strengthening of Native American-led media platforms. 10 As of October 2022, NPM includes a network of 57 Native American radio stations and four television stations. 11 12

Loris Taylor has been the president and CEO of NPM since 2004. 13 Taylor is on the board of directors of the left-of-center First Peoples Fund and is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Communication and Society Program. 14

Roanne Robinson-Shaddox is the chair of NPM’s board of directors. 15 She was the chief of staff and special assistant to the assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) during the Clinton administration. 16 17

Activities and Funding

Native Public Media is a left-of-center advocacy organization and media group that encourages the expansion and strengthening of Native American media outlets. NPM’s services include guidance on broadcast licensing, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) compliance, station guidance, training and education, other regulatory compliance services, and broadcast service programs. 18 19

CPB provides station-wide support services for NPB to support these efforts. 20 NPM also works closely with the left-of-center National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on these issues. Collaboration between NPM and NCAI helped lead to the establishment of a Native American policy desk at the FCC. 21

Activism

Native Public Media is listed as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-focused organization by the left-of-center Democracy Fund. 22 NPM’s policy advocacy program “advocates for progressive policies and regulations” to expand public media. 23 In 2018, NPM opposed the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh 24 and joined with other liberal organizations to support the elimination of “net neutrality” regulations. 25 26

NPM hosts the annual Native Broadcast Summit, which is supported by CPB, the left-of-center NoVo Foundation, and the First Nations Development Institute. 27 It also operates a Climate Action Program that is funded by a $100,000 grant from the First Nations Development Institute. 28

NPM praised the passage of Biden administration infrastructure legislation in 2022. 29 In 2020, the organization was a signatory of a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the left-of-center Demand Progress Action Fund, left-wing Jobs with Justice (JWJ), MediaJustice, Movement Alliance Project, National Hispanic Media Coalition, and others that urged the Biden administration FCC to abolish what the groups call “digital redlining” and expand high-speed internet access. 30

Funding

Native Public Media reported revenue of $560,264 and expenses of $596,922 in 2020. In 2019, NPM reported revenue of $998,376 and expenses of $555,140. 31

In 2021, NPM received $300,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). 32 That same year, NPM received a grant from Native Voices Rising, a project of the left-of-center Common Counsel Foundation, and Native Americans in Philanthropy. 33 In 2020, NPM received $10,000 from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). 34 35

In 2019, NPM received $150,000 from the center-left Tides Foundation and $10,000 from NAB. 36 37 NPM received $300,000 from CPB and $5,000 from the left-of-center Minneapolis Foundation in 2017 38 39 and $300,000 from CPB in 2015. 40

The Open Society Institute, one of the primary foundations of liberal billionaire George Soros, gave NPM $46,690 in 2013. 41 In 2012, Open Society Institute gave Public Radio Capital $150,000 to become a partner of NPM in 2012 when NPM needed “new approaches to diversify funding.” 42

In 2010, NPM received $600,000 from the left-of-center Ford Foundation via the New America Foundation. NPM also received $275,000 from the Ford Foundation via the National Federation of Community Broadcasters between 2007 and 2008. 43

NPM also received $100,000 from the First Nations Development Institute to operate its Climate Action Program 44 and was previously included in National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) requests for federal funding to support activities in Native American communities. 45

References

  1. “Native Public Media Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800672072/202123149349300737/full.
  2. “Native Public Media Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800672072/202123149349300737/full.
  3. Michelle Polyak and Katie Donnelly. “Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Journalism.” Democracy Fund. Appendix B. Pg. 18. October 2019. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://democracyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2019_DF_AdvancingDEIinJournalism.pdf.
  4. “2022 Native Broadcast Summit.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/summit.
  5. “CPB Funds COVID-19 PSAs for Tribal and HBCU Public Radio Stations.” Corporation for Public Broadcasting. April 8, 2021. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.cpb.org/pressroom/CPB-Funds-COVID-19-PSAs-Tribal-and-HBCU-Public-Radio-Stations.
  6. “Tides Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510198509/202043149349304239/IRS990ScheduleI.
  7. “National Association of Broadcasters.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530114600/202042659349300504/full.
  8. “Open Society Institute.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2013. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201423189349101912/full.
  9. [1] “Grants Database.” Native Public Media Results. Ford Foundation. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grants-database/grants-all?search=%26SearchText%3Dnative%20public%20media&page=0&minyear=2006&maxyear=2022.
  10. “About.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/about.
  11. [1] “About.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/about.
  12. “Native Public Media Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800672072/202123149349300737/full.
  13. “Staff.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/staff.
  14. “Board of Directors.” First Peoples Fund. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.firstpeoplesfund.org/loris-taylor.
  15. [1] “Board of Directors.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/board-of-directors.
  16. “Roanne Robinson Shaddox.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/roanne-robinson-shaddox-15879429/.
  17. “Board of Directors.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/board-of-directors.
  18. [1] “About.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/about.
  19. “Station Support Program.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/station-support-program.
  20. “Telecommunications.” National Council of American Indians. Budget Recommendations. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.ncai.org/10_NCAI-FY20-Telecommunications.pdf.
  21. Delgado, Luis. “Native Voices Rising.” Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy. 2013. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://nativevoicesrising.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Full-Report-NVR.pdf.
  22. Michelle Polyak and Katie Donnelly. “Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Journalism.” Democracy Fund. Appendix B. Pg. 18. October 2019. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://democracyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2019_DF_AdvancingDEIinJournalism.pdf.
  23. “Native Public Media Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800672072/202123149349300737/full.
  24. [1]“Letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.” Native Public Media. August 27, 2018. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/_files/ugd/e4d25a_8f6b162e460b4804a6e8bcbba0309013.pdf.
  25. 55 Progressive Groups Urge Democrats to Support Net Neutrality CRA.” Media Alliance. February 14, 2018. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://media-alliance.org/2018/02/55-progressive-groups-urge-democrats-to-support-net-neutrality-cra/.
  26. “Net Neutrality.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/policy-net-neutrality.
  27. “2022 Native Broadcast Summit.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/summit.
  28. Edsitty, Kyler. “Climate Action Involves Tribal Broadcasters.” Native Public Media. July 12, 2022. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/single-post/climate-action-involves-tribal-broadcasters.
  29. “Senate passes $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.” Native Public Media. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/single-post/senate-passes-1-2-trillion-infrastructure-bill.
  30. “Letter to the Federal Communications Commission Agency Review Team.” Posted November 24,2020. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/_files/ugd/74cba5_46bd6ab8e7394f8ea65fe7810eb4c0fc.pdf.
  31. “Native Public Media Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800672072/202123149349300737/full.
  32.  “CPB Funds COVID-19 PSAs for Tribal and HBCU Public Radio Stations.” Corporation for Public Broadcasting. April 8, 2021. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.cpb.org/pressroom/CPB-Funds-COVID-19-PSAs-Tribal-and-HBCU-Public-Radio-Stations.
  33. “Grant Partners.” Native Voices Rising. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://nativevoicesrising.org/grant-partners/.
  34.  “National Association of Broadcasters.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530114600/202042659349300504/full.
  35. “National Association of Broadcasters.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530114600/202042659349300504/full.
  36. “Tides Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510198509/202043149349304239/IRS990ScheduleI.
  37. “National Association of Broadcasters.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530114600/202042659349300504/full.
  38. “Minneapolis Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/416029402/201900359349300750/full.
  39. “Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/132607374/201922259349301692/full.
  40. “Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2014. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/132607374/201632219349302023/full.
  41. “Open Society Institute.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2013. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201423189349101912/full.
  42. “2012 Annual Report.” Public Radio Capital. 2012. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.publicmedia.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/prc_annual_report_2012_final_web.pdf.
  43. “Grants Database.” Native Public Media Results. Ford Foundation. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grants-database/grants-all?search=%26SearchText%3Dnative%20public%20media&page=0&minyear=2006&maxyear=2022.
  44. Edsitty, Kyler. “Climate Action Involves Tribal Broadcasters.” Native Public Media. July 12, 2022. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.nativepublicmedia.org/single-post/climate-action-involves-tribal-broadcasters.
  45. Telecommunications.” National Congress of American Indians FY2014 Budget Request. Pg. 69. Accessed October 8, 2022. https://www.ncai.org/resources/ncai-publications/indian-country-budget-request/fy2014/10_NCAI_2014_Budget_Request_Telecom.pdf
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2012

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $560,264 $596,922 $914,765 $25,080 N $558,496 $0 $1,768 $112,824
    2019 Dec Form 990 $998,376 $555,140 $950,881 $24,538 N $996,896 $0 $1,480 $101,187 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $661,940 $480,767 $487,524 $4,417 N $661,184 $0 $756 $102,915 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $416,764 $508,442 $314,149 $12,215 N $416,336 $0 $428 $102,799 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $491,934 $441,815 $396,033 $2,421 N $491,934 $0 $0 $101,778
    2015 Dec Form 990 $548,160 $499,308 $344,408 $915 N $545,142 $0 $0 $101,886 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $371,451 $432,002 $298,170 $3,529 N $364,744 $0 $0 $104,229 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $656,087 $446,690 $355,192 $0 N $389,646 $264,700 $0 $99,448 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990EZ $7,593 $591,426 $145,795 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $956,800 $227,172 $729,628 $0 N $956,800 $0 $0 $78,409 PDF

    Native Public Media (NPM)

    P.O. Box 9955
    Flagstaff, AZ