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Sustain PBS

Make a lasting impact by growing our endowment.


PBS’s reach is wide and deep. Over the course of a year, 67% of all U.S. television households—over 160 million people—watch PBS.

Because PBS is commercial-free, many people mistakenly believe public funding provides the bulk of our resources. In fact, federal funding provides only about 15% of the revenue for the public television system. That’s an investment of $1.40 per taxpayer per year.

Private support from donors like you provides the revenue that makes our outsized impact possible.

Growing our endowment will provide an enduring and stable source of income for decades to come, ensuring future generations benefit from PBS’s inspiring, life-enriching programs.

This constancy also provides PBS a level of operational stability when times are tough.

Our undesignated endowment—not tied to a specific purpose—is particularly valuable because it provides the flexibility to supplement areas of greatest need or take advantage of unforeseen opportunities.

Federal funding provides only about 15% of the revenue for the public television system.

Funding Chart

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