KU News Release

Kansas Public Radio spring membership drive nets more than $230,000 in pledges

LAWRENCE — It was a great week for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas Jayhawks. The men’s basketball team won the national championship, and KPR held one of its most successful membership campaigns.

At 11:59 a.m. Friday, April 11, pledges from KRP listener-members pushed the total donations past $230,000, the goal KPR set to conclude Campaign For Excellence 2008.

The membership drive began on Friday, April 4, with more than $100,000 raised through a direct-mail campaign. Eight days later, more than $130,000 was raised through on-air appeals to new and renewing members.

In an effort to give listeners more programming and less fundraising, KPR has trimmed on-air fundraising from 99 hours in the fall of 2006 to only 76 hours this spring.

“This is a great deal for our listeners and for KPR,” said Darrell Brogdon, program director. “They get more uninterrupted programming, and we get the funds we need to keep our shows going.”

The first day of the drive featured a “Power Breakfast,” in which an entire day’s fundraising was compressed into just 90 minutes. This raised more than $37,000.

All funds raised during spring and fall membership drives directly support programming services.

After the numbers were tallied Friday morning, more than 1,700 listeners had pledged through direct mail, on-air appeals or KPR’s Web site. That total does not include challenge grants, in which a company or individual will donate money if KPR can raise a certain level of funding during a show. More than $18,000 was raised through challenge grants.

More than 100 people volunteered to answer phones during the eight-day on-air drive. Phones were staffed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Area restaurants donated meals and beverages for volunteers’ breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.

KPR, licensed to the University of Kansas, broadcasts on KANU 91.5 FM in Lawrence, KANH 89.7 FM in Emporia, KANV 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City and K210CR 89.9 FM in Atchison. KPR can be heard on the Internet at kpr.ku.edu. KPR also operates KPR-2, a news-talk channel on HD Radio. Those broadcasts can be heard on a high-definition receiver or on KPR’s Web site.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.