As federal funding expires, GBH launches $225 million campaign

"GBH announced a $225 million fundraising campaign Wednesday, as the public broadcaster attempts to weather major funding cuts from the federal government. The " Fund the Future " campaign launch was timed to coincide with the start of the government's new fiscal year and the expiration of federal funding. GBH is hoping to raise the money over the next three years."

""Congress told us to 'go fund ourselves,' and that's exactly what we are going to do," GBH President and CEO Susan Goldberg said in a statement. GBH operates an NPR station and is the largest producer of PBS programming nationwide. Although only 8% of GBH's annual revenue comes from federal dollars, it is still under serious risk. That's because smaller stations with more reliance on federal funding pay GBH to air some radio and TV programs, The Boston Globe has reported."

"Even before Wednesday's funding cutoff, GBH was facing significant headwinds. Last year, GBH laid off 4% of its employees. More rounds of layoffs occurred in May, June, and July of this year. In announcing those layoffs, Goldberg said that the station needed to "take some pretty quick action" before the Oct. 1 cutoff. Over the summer, GBH's digital billboard in Brighton displayed the words "Local. Trusted. Defunded." Images of the display went viral online, and the new fundraising campaign is leaning into similar messaging."

GBH launched a $225 million fundraising campaign called "Fund the Future" to raise funds over three years after federal funding expired at the start of the government's fiscal year. The public broadcaster faces risk despite only 8% of revenue coming from federal dollars because smaller stations that rely more heavily on federal aid pay GBH to air programs. GBH has already cut staff, with multiple layoff rounds this year and a prior 4% reduction. The campaign emphasizes defending independent journalism, maintaining program and educational access, and transitioning to an innovative, sustainable digital business model.

Read at Boston.com