PLATINUM2023

Friends of 913

Musically Adventerous - Community-Minded

AKRON , OH   |  www.thesummit.fm

Mission

The Summit is a listener-supported independent voice inspiring our community with diverse music and community service.

Ruling year info

2009

General Manager

Thomas Bruno

Main address

309 Woolf Ave

AKRON , OH 44312 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

26-4312124

NTEE code info

Telephone, Telegraph and Telecommunication Services (W50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Friends of 913 now offer Summit Wellness, a new initiative evolving community services to focus on mental health and well-being. Summit Wellness will build on The Summit’s former Rock+Recovery™ and KIDJAM! Radio™ programming - now focuses on the healing power of music and music therapy to improve mental health and well-being. The path to Summit Wellness began in 2011 with the creation and production of Rock and Recovery and KIDJAM! Radio. For over a decade, The Summit’s Rock and Recovery supported its listening community through programming targeting individuals on their recovery journey from substance use disorder and mental health illness (SUD/MHI). KIDJAM! Radio empowered and entertained children, enhancing self-motivation and good nutrition and creating high self-esteem. Regional artists, community leaders, station members, and program partners share the power of one song, album, or artist that changed their life. These bite-sized daily segments are Summit Audibles.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

The Summit

A handpicked eclectic selection of music - including rock, indie, Americana, blues, local and more - curated for Northeast Ohio.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Families
Activists
Artists and performers
Retired people

The Summit FM presents the “Marilyn Stroud Music Alive Program,” helping young musicians in our local schools realize their dreams and learn the joys of playing an instrument. Through the “Marilyn Stroud Music Alive Program,” The Summit will collect and repair musical instruments, and see they get placed in the hands of kids who will truly appreciate them.

Population(s) Served

In 2018, The Summit FM created a scholarship fund exclusively for Akron Public School seniors preparing to attend college post-graduation. The “Jim Chenot Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship” fund is held and distributed by Akron Community Foundation.

The “Jim Chenot Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship” raises awareness for those who have overcome obstacles that may have prevented them from fully realizing their healthy potential.

Scholarship applicants are asked to reflect on and acknowledge someone they know or love who has experienced a physical or mental-health disruption or challenge.  That ‘someone’ is the applicant!

The application process invites students to share their stories of well-being and gratitude through essays, poetry, songs, podcasts, or video.

Each student submits a creative work depicting a personal experience with mental health challenges, overcoming physical limitations, substance use disorders, or motivation impediments.

Population(s) Served

In 2023, The Summit FM is expanding and refocusing its community service programming to music, mind, and well-being. It links our community to social well-being through a unique combination of music, stories, health, and music education.

Our new programming is inclusive and well-researched, drawing on various theoretical frameworks for improving music engagement and social well-being. The Summit FM proactively and intentionally shifts programming and messaging to well-being for youth and adults.

Mental health is a critical concern in the communities we serve. The Summit FM is committed to using our platform and the power of music to impact mental health for all ages positively. We invite you on this journey as we reimagine The Summit FM and bring our community together through the healing power of music. 

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Children and youth
Children and youth
Adults
Ethnic and racial groups
LGBTQ people
Activists

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total number of organization members

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

The Summit

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

As a public radio station, our donors are classified as members.

Total dollars given in underwriting sales.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total dollars received in contributions

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Fiscal year 2021 included additional grant dollars given as part of the government Covid relief efforts.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Friends of 913 have established goals through a management software system called Entrepreneur Operating System, or EOS. As with any business or organization, we must have financial goals and standards. The total revenue sales team goal by 2025 is 1.075m, with station donors reaching nearly $ 1 million in revenue that same year. Our goals align with our public radio station mantra of being "Musically Adventurous and Community Focused. Also, we would like to partner with one additional public radio station to simulcast our one-of-a-kind programming.

Currently, we have 8 FTE but in 2024 are creating a new position called, Community Outreach and Partnerships. This FTE will be the direct conduit to our community service programming that is vital to our mission-driven work. By the end of our strategic plan in 2025, and with this additional employee we will secure our 1000 musical instrument donation for public school students. In addition, to giving away nearly $10,000 in scholarships to public school seniors. Finally, our overarching goal is to have $1 million in endowment held at Akron Community Foundation. All of this while compiling NO debt to our balance sheet.



Friends of 913 has undergone rigorous planning over the past nine months. One of the first strategies that was employed was the use of a Leadership Team. This team of three meets weekly to discuss goals, issues, roadblocks, and sets future planning. Metrics have been put in place and a scorecard has been implemented to keep the staff on target and all heading in the same direction.

The Friends of 913 has been an evolution, not a revolution. All along, we have needed certain capacities to deliver results-driven data for our sustaining and growth.

After 23 years as general manager, I can assure you of our experienced leaders, accountable financial management, up-to-date technology, brand-new office space, world-class broadcasting facility, and strong relationship with our donors. Our nonprofits’ needs have changed over time we will too in order to best meet our goals.

Our team is made up of a program director, music director, creative content director, development officer, business underwriting manager, director of operations digital media producer, and general manager. The average tenure is 12 years. Recently, two employees retired with 30 years of service with our organization. This speak volumes about our capacity and consistency. speaks

To date, approximately half of the outlined goals for the first 12 months have been met. These goals included an entire rebranding campaign with an entirely new website, a staff restructuring plan, and the creation of new programming under Summit Wellness.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Friends of 913
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Friends of 913

Board of directors
as of 06/01/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Cheryl McMillan


Board co-chair

Andy Platt

Nancy Brennan

Erin Misheff

Morgan Lasher

Erin Driscoll

Steve Poholski

Brenda Cummins

Joe Feltes

Mark Belgya

Andrew Platt

Cliff Deveny

Eliot Mostow

Dave Glass

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 6/1/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 06/01/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.