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CUNY TV FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 550829761 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A32 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · tv.cuny.edu
revenue
$690K
expenses
$252K
net assets
$6.9M
employees
0
volunteers
5
program ratio
76%
mission · from form 990

CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, IN PARTICULAR, THE UNIVERSITY'S BROADCAST STATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

CUNY TV FOUNDATION supports the City University of New York's broadcast station, CUNY TV, by facilitating public access to educational and cultural programming. The foundation enables the production and distribution of content focused on the arts, humanities, public affairs, and academic discourse, serving a broad public audience primarily in New York City. Its programming features CUNY faculty, public intellectuals, and cultural figures.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Asian American Life
Examines issues affecting Asian American communities, including immigration, representation, and cultural identity
Black America
Explores issues impacting African American communities through interviews with scholars, activists, and public figures
Black Writers in America
Highlights the work and perspectives of prominent Black authors and literary figures
CUNY Laureates
Features distinguished CUNY faculty and award-winning scholars discussing their work in the humanities and social sciences
Democracy Now!
Broadcasts the independent global news hour featuring in-depth coverage of social justice, politics, and human rights
TEDxCUNY
Presents TED-style talks by CUNY students, faculty, and alumni on topics including education, identity, and environmental justice
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Community and Public Broadcasting Services 3 activities
    • Produces and broadcasts educational and public affairs programming
      Produces and broadcasts a range of educational and public affairs programs including "CUNY Graduate Center Presents," "Simply Science," "Independent Sources," and "Arts in the City," covering civic, scientific, and cultural topics relevant to New Yorkers. Programming is distributed via broadcast and online platforms.
    • Produces and distributes locally focused cultural and community programming
      Produces and airs locally focused series such as "A Slice of New York," "Asian American Life," and "African American Legends," highlighting diverse communities, neighborhoods, and personal stories across the New York metropolitan area.
    • Provides digital access to programming through online and mobile platforms
      Offers streaming of CUNY TV programs via a mobile application, online video access, and subscription services for playlists and the main channel, enhancing public access and engagement with broadcast content.
  • Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
    • Operates student internship and mentorship program in television production
      Runs an internship/mentorship program that provides CUNY students with hands-on training in television production and mentorship from industry professionals, supporting workforce development in media.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Produces documentary and archival audio content on radio history
      Produces the documentary series "Audio Maverick" and a podcast series reviving the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, featuring archival material, interviews with media scholars, and contextual commentary. The series explores the legacy of radio pioneer Himan Brown and the Golden Age of radio.
  • Public Media Funding 1 activity
    • Supports CUNY's broadcast station and academic mission
      Provides institutional support to the City University of New York, particularly its broadcast station, by funding and producing programming that advances educational and public service goals.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$690K
Contributions & grants$13K2%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$638K92%
Other revenue$39K
expenses
Total expenses$252K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$180K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$6.97M
Cash$13K
Investments$6.95M
Liabilities$30K
Net assets$6.94M
Liquid reserves331.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +171.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 6
  • CHIQUI CARTAGENA — DIRECTOR (NON-VOTING)
  • FABRICE HOUDART — TREASURER
  • JACQUELINE HERNANDEZ — DIRECTOR
  • MAITE JUNCO — DIRECTOR
  • MOIRA JAMES — PRESIDENT
  • SUSAN PINKWATER — SECRETARY
relationships · 36

Who they work with

  • American Foundation for the Blind Partner — Features guests involved in the American Foundation for the Blind's documentary Possibilities.
  • Baruch College Partner — Features faculty, staff, and students from Baruch College as guests on "A Slice of New York" programming.
  • Bronx Children's Museum Partner — Featured in a segment exploring children's cultural education and museum programming.
  • Bronx Children's Museum Partner — Features representatives from the Bronx Children's Museum as guests on programming.
  • Brooklyn Film Festival Partner — Partners to feature films on CUNY TV Presents (now Frame by Frame)
  • Bryant Park Corporation Partner — Collaborated with through coverage of its movie nights and cultural programming at Bryant Park.
  • Bryant Park Corporation Partner — Includes representatives from Bryant Park Corporation as guests on programming.
  • CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Partner — Primary institutional beneficiary of foundation support
  • College of Staten Island Film Festival Partner — Collaborates to showcase student films on CUNY TV Presents (now Frame by Frame)
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Partner — Featured in a segment on experimental sound art and design.
  • Democracy Now! Network — Affiliates with and broadcasts "Democracy Now!", a national independent news program.
  • Directors Guild of America, Inc. Partner — Provider of excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History used in the Audio Maverick series.
  • Film at Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborates on programming featuring film screenings and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
  • Himan Brown Archive Partner — Collaborating entity in assembling the documentary narrative of Audio Maverick.
  • John Jay College Partner — Features faculty, staff, and students from John Jay College as guests on "A Slice of New York" programming.
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY Partner — Features faculty from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY as guests on the program.
  • John Slavney Partner — Editor and former communications director providing program introductions and historical context for the rebroadcast series.
  • Laura Flanders & Friends Partner — Broadcasts episodes of "Laura Flanders & Friends", focusing on social justice and community solutions.
  • Let There Be Neon Partner — Features artists and co-owners from Let There Be Neon as guests on an episode exploring neon art in New York City.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Featured in a segment on outdoor sculptures and public art installations.
  • Museum Of Interesting Things Partner — Featured for its traveling exhibit and hands-on approach to historical inventions and public engagement.
  • NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services Partner — Featured Commissioner Rossana Rosado in an episode of Café con Felo.
  • NYU Langone Health Partner — Features experts from NYU Langone Health as guests on the program.
  • National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – New York Government — Administers the New York Emmy® Awards, for which CUNY TV received nominations.
  • National Gallery of Art Partner — Partners to broadcast arts and cultural programming, including artist features.
  • New-York Historical Society Partner — Collaborates on historical and civic programming through "The American Story" series.
  • Optimum Partner — Cable provider carrying CUNY TV on channel 75 in the New York area.
  • Princeton University Neuroscience Institute Partner — Features faculty from Princeton University Neuroscience Institute as guests on the program.
  • RCN Partner — Cable provider carrying CUNY TV on channel 77 in the New York area.
  • Radio Drama Network Partner — Partner organization that made the production of Audio Maverick possible.
+ 6 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Engaged Educational Media
    methodology: community-engaged_educational_media
    By producing stories that reflect the diverse experiences of New York communities, CUNY TV advances lifelong learning and extends the academic mission of CUNY, because content rooted in local context increases relevance and engagement among viewers.
  • Comprehensive Arts Ecosystem Coverage
    methodology: comprehensive_arts_coverage
    By covering the full spectrum of the arts—from conception to public presentation and from institutions to street-level creators—CUNY TV strengthens public appreciation of the arts, because inclusive representation reveals the interconnectedness of artistic production and community life.
  • Cultural Preservation Through Archival and Reconstructed Narratives
    methodology: cultural_preservation_through_rebroadcast
    By rebroadcasting classic radio dramas and reconstructing their historical significance using archival material and expert commentary, CUNY TV preserves cultural heritage and fosters public understanding of media history, because immersive historical narratives deepen contemporary cultural literacy.
  • Multi-Format Cultural and Educational Programming
    methodology: multi-format_educational_programming
    By delivering educational and cultural content through diverse formats—including documentaries, lectures, artistic performances, and curated student work—CUNY TV broadens access to knowledge and the arts, because varied formats meet different audience needs and learning preferences.