Public Media Co’s Bridge Fund for Nonprofit Radio Stations Turns From Rescue to Reinvention
The fund has stabilized 186 stations and is now backing efforts to reduce reliance on federal money, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the Knight Foundation donated $10 million to the Public Media Bridge Fund, part of a new $38 million sustainability initiative. The fund has raised about $87 million, stabilizing 186 public radio stations nationwide.
- Federal cuts rescinding about $1.1 billion in CPB funding triggered a "doom loop" for stations relying on federal support for more than 30% of their annual budgets. Public Media established the bridge fund to prevent widespread station closures.
- Delmarva Public Radio leveraged bridge fund grants to modernize equipment and establish content-sharing with Baltimore Public Media, tripling its database and boosting membership revenue by 20%. General manager Judy Diaz said, "I can now see a clear path for the foreseeable future."
- Public Media Company CEO Tim Isgitt transformed the nonprofit into a grantmaker to address the crisis, but PMC now shifts focus toward long-term sustainability. The organization aims to foster collaboration between local news outlets to drive business model changes.
- Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Perez Wadsworth expressed optimism that Congress will eventually restore federal funding, though she emphasized the sector must prioritize sustainable business models. Collaboration between local outlets remains critical for long-term relevance.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Public Media Co’s bridge fund for nonprofit radio stations turns from rescue to reinvention – WTOP News
Public Media Co. celebrated its 25th anniversary Tuesday night with a $10 million donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support its transformation into a major grantmaker — a role that would have been unthinkable two years ago. As recently as 2024, the nonprofit consultant that works to strengthen public radio...
Public Media Co's bridge fund for nonprofit radio stations turns
Public Media Co. celebrated its 25th anniversary Tuesday night with a $10 million donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support its transformation into a major grantmaker — a role that would have
The Toronto Star
Public Media Co’s bridge fund for nonprofit radio stations turns from rescue to reinvention
Public Media Co. celebrated its 25th anniversary Tuesday night with a $10 million donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support its transformation into a major grantmaker — a role that would have been unthinkable two…
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