KPR wraps up fall membership drive with more than $250,000 in pledges


Fri, 09/29/2017

author

Feloniz Lovato-Winston

LAWRENCE – Kansas Public Radio ended its successful fall membership drive with 1,807 listener pledges, surpassing the typical fall goal of $250,000.

KPR’s 10-day fundraising campaign, which began Sept. 6, brought in $256,512 to go directly toward providing programming for KPR’s 115,000 listeners. The station recently received the largest budget cut in its 65-year history, with listener and corporate support now supplementing more than 72 percent of the KPR budget. 

In addition to listener pledges, KPR received $55,711 in challenge grants, which are provided by an individual, company or foundation that will donate if a specific amount of money is raised by listeners within a given timeframe. 

The station also reached its goal of 500 new and sustaining members, ultimately securing 1,290 renewing members, 308 new members, 209 rejoining members, as well as 204 new sustaining members at the conclusion of the membership drive. 

Dan Skinner, KPR director, said he is very happy with the outpouring of listener support.

“It’s wonderful to see the listeners continue to rally around the station,” he said. “We are optimistic that we will be able to continue to grow and improve as a public service thanks to increased support from our listeners.” 

During each membership drive, the regularly scheduled programming is interrupted for about 15 minutes out of every hour when KPR’s on-air hosts ask listeners to pledge their donations. 

All tax-deductible donations during spring and fall membership drives directly support KPR’s local and national programming. 

More than 70 volunteers answered phones from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. during the drive. Area restaurants donated meals and beverages for volunteers’ breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.

Although the drive has concluded, listeners can still donate online at kpr.ku.edu. 
KPR, a 16-time Kansas Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year, licensed to the University of Kansas, broadcasts on 91.5 FM and 96.1 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan. KPR can be heard online at kpr.ku.edu. KPR also operates KPR2, a news-talk programming stream, which can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR’s website.

Fri, 09/29/2017

author

Feloniz Lovato-Winston

Media Contacts

Feloniz Lovato-Winston

Kansas Public Radio

785-864-5968