SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ

Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
MediumBullet Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
MediumBullet Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at
www.irs.gov/form990.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2015
Open to Public
Inspection
Name of the organization
PBS Foundation
 
Employer identification number

20-1476451
Return Reference Explanation
FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1: TO ENLIST PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING THROUGH ESTABLISHING SPECIAL INITIATIVES FUNDS TO ENSURE PBS CONTINUED EXCELLENCE, AND TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1: THE FOUNDATION ENLISTS PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING THROUGH ESTABLISHING SPECIAL INITIATIVES FUNDS AND A PERMANENT ENDOWMENT TO ENSURE PBS CONTINUED EXCELLENCE, AND TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND COOPERATIVELY WITH MEMBER STATIONS, THE FOUNDATION ENDEAVORS TO SECURE THE EXTRAORDINARY FUNDING NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE PBS COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 3: THE FOUNDATION CEASED ITS PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE TO PBS MEMBER STATIONS IN SOLICITING ONLINE DONATIONS WHICH WERE FULLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE MEMBER STATIONS AFTER REIMBURSEMENT OF TRANSACTIONAL COSTS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6: PBS IS PBS FOUNDATION'S SOLE MEMBER (ARTICLE 2.1 OF THE PBS FOUNDATION BYLAWS).
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A: PER ARTICLE 3.3 OF THE PBS FOUNDATION BYLAWS, the Chair of the PBS Board of Directors, the President of PBS and a third member from either the PBS Board of Directors or a senior executive of PBS, shall serve as ex officio voting members of the PBS Foundation Board.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B: PER ARTICLE 3.3 OF THE BYLAWS, PBS'S NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MUST APPROVE ALL APPOINTMENTS OF PBS FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B: THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING THE PBS FOUNDATION FORM 990 PRIOR TO FILING INCLUDES A THOROUGH REVIEW BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CERTAIN OFFICERS OF THE PBS FOUNDATION, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, ASSISTANT TREASURER AND CORPORATE SECRETARY. THESE OFFICERS OF THE FOUNDATION ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM AT PBS. IN ADDITION, COPIES OF THE FORM ARE PROVIDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C: IN ACCORDANCE WITH PBS'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, PBS FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE STAFF, OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR AND ARE REQUIRED TO UPDATE THE FORM AS NECESSARY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE FORMS ARE DISTRIBUTED, COLLECTED, REVIEWED, AND RETAINED BY PBS FOUNDATION'S CORPORATE SECRETARY, WHO ALSO SERVES AS PBS'S GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A & B: THE PBS FOUNDATION REVIEWS INDEPENDENT, PUBLISHED RESEARCH AND SEEKS THE ADVICE OF A COMPENSATION EXPERT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ANNUAL COMPENSATION FOR ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER KEY MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND POLICIES GOVERNING THE PBS FOUNDATION ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST IN WRITING.
FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 7A AND 7B: THE PBS FOUNDATION RECEIVES CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FORM OF SECURITIES WHICH IN PRACTICE IT LIQUIDATES TO CASH AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE. THESE AMOUNTS ARE RECORDED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE (FMV) IN LINE 1F OF THE SCHEDULE, AND ASSIGNED AN EQUIVALENT COST BASIS IN LINE 7B, IN THE PERIOD RECEIVED. THESE SAME SECURITIES ARE RECORDED AT THE GROSS SALES AMOUNT ON LINE 7A OF THE SCHEDULE WHEN SOLD, RESULTING IN AN OFFSETTING GAIN OR LOSS IN FAIR MARKET VALUE (FMV) AT LIQUIDATION.
FORM 990, PART IX, line 25: THE FOUNDATION IS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION WHOSE EFFORTS AND RELATED EXPENDITURES SOMETIMES RESULT IN BENEFITS NOT REFLECTED IN ITS OWN Form 990 REPORT, AS THESE BENEFITS ARE RECEIVED DIRECTLY BY ITS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION, PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE.
FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 3: RECONCILIATION OF NET ASSETS: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION EXPLANATION: REVENUES ARE GREATER THAN EXPENSES REFLECTING THE TIMING OF RECEIPT OF GRANT FUNDS OR COMMITMENTS IN ONE PERIOD, AND DISBURSEMENT OF THOSE FUNDS IN FULFILLMENT OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS IN SUBSEQUENT PERIODS.
FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE AUDIT OVERSIGHT PROCESS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2015


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