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Charity Math
The 990 read · EIN 26-2810489 · NY · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025

WNET

Wnet: CEO salary, finances and where donations go

In its own words

“WNET is a multi-media public service non-profit that delivers lifelong learning and meaningful experiences to our communities. Our content inspires curiosity, encourages action and nurtures dreams.”

Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.

Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated

Top pay
$800K Neal Shapiro, 0.6% of spending
Revenue
$119.1M 80.4% from donations and grants
Spent
$124.3M 65.8% on programs, as reported
Net assets
$388.2M end of FY ending Jun 2025
Savings
37.5 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
People
630 employees, 45 volunteers
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X
01 · Red flags

No red flags in its latest filing.

We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.

02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 65.8¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.
65.8¢
Programs, $81.8M
14.8¢
Fundraising, $18.4M
19.4¢
Admin, $24.1M
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX, line 25
Cost to raise $1
19¢
as reported

For each dollar donated, WNET spent 19¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $95.7M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX
03 · What it does

What it told the IRS it spent on.

The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.

Program 1 · 33.2% of program spending $27.2M

Television broadcast station and operations: technical operations provides the transmission of the broadcast signal within the new york city television market. During the 2024/2025 fiscal year on a 24-hour daily schedule, wnet broadcasts over 78,800 hours to the new york city market on stations wnet and wliw. Radio broadcast station operations: technical operations provides the transmission of the radio broadcast signal within the central and eastern long island market, during the 2024/2025 fiscal year on a 24-hour daily schedule,wliw fm broadcasts to over 350,000 listeners on wliw-fm and…

Program 2 · 2.1% of program spending $1.7M

Education: wnet produces a range of educational programming targeted for the full range of our audience, including pre-k through high school, as well as for life-long learners. This includes original educational video and game-based programming that directly supports the development of math, science, foundational reading, social studies, and social emotional learning skills for our youngest learners. During the year, wnet and thirteen broadcast over 21,000 hours of instructional programming. In addition,wnets education team supports this programming with the creation and distribution of…

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part III
04 · The savings

Net assets: $180.2M to $388.2M in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions
180
203
220
223
252
291
282
294
357
349
348
388
Form 990 history via ProPublicaForm 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
05 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

Neal Shapiro
President, CEO
$799,774
Vanessa Wise
Vp, Advancement Chief Strategy Officer
$428,805
Stephen Segaller
Vp, Programming
$420,360
Debasish Mishra
Chief Technology Officer
$392,800
Tamisha Chestnut
Vp, People & Culture
$383,359
Daniel Greenberg
Chief Digital Officer
$382,790
Caroline Croen
Vp, CFO & Treasurer
$378,976
Robert Feinberg
Vp, Business Development, Clo & Secretary
$358,217
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section A
Largest outside contractors
ContractorServicePaid
Oren Rudavsky ProductionsCo production$604,796
Attain PartnersManagement & technology consulting$545,938
Crewcial Partners LLCInvestment consulting$337,542
Pillar to Post LLCDigital media services$324,141
Pieshake Pictures LLCCo production$301,279
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section B
06 · Questions

The questions people ask about the WNET.

Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.

How much does the WNET CEO make?

Neal Shapiro, President, CEO, received $799,774 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.6% of WNET's $124.3M in spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII

What percentage of WNET donations go to programs?

WNET reported 65.8% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 14.8% as fundraising and 19.4% as management.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX

How much money does WNET have?

Net assets were $388.2M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 37.5 months of spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part X

Does WNET have any red flags in its filing?

Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
07 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

  1. WNET Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
  2. WNET Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page

Amir Arani, “WNET: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/wnet/