We’re approaching the one-year anniversary of the congressional vote to defund public media. We also recently wrapped WCBU’s first fiscal year in more than 50 years without federal funding. So how did it go and where do we go from here?
Fiscal year 2026 highlights
- Individual giving: Longtime donors increased their support. Hundreds of new donors rallied for us and joined our dedicated village of supporters. Friends gave once, monthly and/or a combination of multiple gifts.
- Corporate support: Like donors, our longtime underwriters were a steady source of reliable revenue.
- Executive Director R.C. McBride continued providing leadership on the NPR board advocating for the network and small stations like WCBU at board meetings and committee meetings. Assistant GM Melissa Libert attended the NPR strategic planning meeting in early June continuing that advocacy within the network and spent time with our elected representatives on Capitol Hill in hopes of prioritizing funding for rural radio stations and the next-gen warning system.
WCBU made it through the first year of defunding without a single staff layoff, though we did have to leave several positions vacant. Many other stations and NPR were not so fortunate.
What’s next
WCBU saw steady revenue throughout the year. But we have a lot of work to do to make up for an annual loss of $125,000. And while we’re cautiously optimistic, we don’t yet know if last year was a complete outlier or if the defunding moment will turn into a movement and become our new normal.
Your continued investment is critical to the station’s momentum and future success. Filling an annual gap of $125,000 means we can’t have even one lackluster fund drive or pause efforts to cut costs and diversify revenue streams.
Staffing continues to be a long-term challenge and we’re planning to replace one journalist position this year. We’re still down four full-time positions, and how we proceed with hiring is dependent upon maintaining this year’s successful financial results.
We sincerely hope we’ve earned your continued investment. If it’s been a minute since your last gift and you’re ready to renew your support, now is a great time to do so. WCBU, in coordination with NPR, will be revisiting all our defunding anniversary donors during our ongoing campaign the next few months. It’s a moment to say thank you and reflect on last year and how far we’ve come with your support.
This moment is also a reminder that a free press doesn’t just happen. It’s protected by people like you. Thank you.
