Fundraising Amidst the Loss of Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

The recent rescinding by Congress and the Trump administration of $1.1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting represents a significant challenge to public media infrastructure across the United States. While we don't view this as the death knell some have predicted, we also can't ignore the serious obstacles this funding loss creates—particularly the dangerous assumption that private philanthropy should simply replace public investment in essential services.

At TWB Fundraising, we've worked extensively with public television and radio stations nationwide, from Chicago to Fairbanks to New Orleans (see our client list). Through these engagements, we've helped stations strengthen their advancement efforts, develop meaningful relationships with prospects and donors, and reduce reliance on on-air fund drives. This experience gives us both realistic insight into the challenges ahead and genuine optimism about what's possible.

The loss of federal funding will undoubtedly create disparate impacts across the public broadcasting landscape. Large-market stations in major cities have the potential to not only weather this storm but can emerge stronger by intensifying their individual donor cultivation and operating more strategically like other successful cultural nonprofits. For example, stations like LAist in Los Angeles have the donor base and market conditions to potentially replace lost federal funds through enhanced appeals and targeted major gift solicitations.

Unfortunately, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s recent announcement that they are suspending operations will hurt the efforts of the smaller, more rural stations and markets. These stations—which often provide the only reliable local news and emergency information in their regions—face genuine threats to their survival. They need targeted assistance to develop the fundraising infrastructure and donor relationships that can sustain them long-term.

Here's what gives us hope: public broadcasters who proactively strengthen their fundraising operations can build more sustainable, community-rooted funding models. However, this will require public broadcasting stations to be even more productive with their fundraising activity than before. Stations that are relying on broad-based on-air appeals will need to incorporate more major gift fundraising into their fundraising programs. Those willing to invest in donor development, strategic planning, and relationship building will find themselves less vulnerable to political shifts and better positioned to serve their communities.

TWB Fundraising, with extensive experience in the broadcasting sector, stands ready to help your organization develop a comprehensive plan for advancement growth. We believe public broadcasting can not only survive this transition but build stronger community connections in the process—though it will require strategic action and genuine commitment to fundraising excellence.