JOHNSON CITY – (March 31, 2022) With its annual spring fund drive (April 2-8) just days away, WETS-FM station director Wayne Winkler is hopeful that dollars raised will return to previous levels prior to the pandemic.
“Like every household and every business, the COVID-19 pandemic hit WETS-FM hard,” Winkler said. “Much of our underwriting comes from venues and organizations hosting events, and many of those places were closed and not hosting events which drastically affected underwriting.
“We continued with our fund drives, and it came as no surprise that the amounts we raised were drastically lower,” he said. “People had lost their jobs and were unsure of the future. So much was unknown.”
Winkler estimates that fundraising during the pandemic dropped 30-40%. At the same time, programming costs increase annually 3-5% every year.
“Money raised during our spring fund drive goes directly to supporting our NPR programming and to also help with equipment replacement as needed,” he said. “Our listeners tell us every day how much they enjoy our programming, and through the fund drive, they have the opportunity to help keep those programs on the air.”
How are gifts used to sustain programming? According to Winkler:
- $121 supports two hours of Morning Edition
- $56 supports one hour of All Things Considered
- $108 supports one hour of This American Life
- $100 supports four hours of Here and Now or Mountain Stage
- $37 supports two hours of 1A
- $56 supports one hour of Splendid Table
- $262 supports one hour of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Winkler would like to see the station raise at least $100,000 this spring.
“For more than four decades, listener support has kept public radio alive in this region,” he said. “We are grateful to have such a supportive community of listeners who truly value public radio.”
Listeners may give online at wets.org or call (888) 895-WETS (9387).
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