From a Frazzled (But Hopeful) Fundraiser…

Just a few weeks ago we got the news we didn’t want to hear.  Federal funding for public broadcasting was cut – and funds already approved for this new fiscal year were eliminated  leaving a hole of $485,000 in Cincinnati Public Radio’s budget just a few weeks into the new year.

It’s the worst case scenario.

I’ve been lucky to spend three decades fundraising for these stations, and I’ll admit,  I’ve never been more concerned about raising the money we need to sustain these stations.

We’ve faced challenges before – losing grants and listeners during the pandemic, raising the funding needed to buy WVXU in 2005, and more recently, launching our first real capital campaign in 65 years to build a permanent home for CPR.

But there’s never been a crisis like this before.

So, am I concerned? Yes. But at the same time, I’m incredibly impressed and grateful for the support that’s been pouring in since July 18^th. Not only did listeners help Cincinnati Public Radio lobby for federal funding, but after we lost that fight, they helped by donating.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s happened just in the past 2 weeks:

• In August, listeners donated an additional $120,000.
• A local foundation plus several donors are offering a generous matching grant of $100,000 for the Fall Fund Drive.
• Hundreds of sustaining members have asked us to double their monthly gift -or bump it up by $5 a month, increasing our monthly revenue by $5,000+.

As a fundraiser, the first thing I did was double my monthly sustaining gift.

Even as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is being dismantled, I absolutely believe we can recoup the dollars we’ve lost this year, and I hope you’ll join me in giving a little more to WVXU, WGUC or WMUB right now.

I am so fortunate to be a small part of this community – and as always, I am inspired by your generosity. Thank you for saving public radio.