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On air fundraising at a Public LPFM

Mike Stark

Mike Stark

At our LPFM we've managed to raise our fundraising levels a lot since we started in earnest since the beginning of the year.

So far this has been accomplished with one recorded (60 second) message from our GM an hour. Now there are some folks that feel the "live" fundraising "beg-a-thon" model is better. Personally, I find those a "dial changer". Anyone have any thoughts or data that suggest one way or the other. Coming from a "commercial" background I find benefit shows, events and other audience interaction to be more likely to raise funds and friends than a bunch of on air people begging and taking up time away from programming.

Any new "models" for public radio fundraising being use out there.

Thanks,

Mike Stark
KLBP.org
 
I would think a few spots running once an hour would have much greater success than a long-form fundraising. You could have incentives from local merchants that donors could get. The DJ could list those for the hour(s).
 
b-turner said:
I would think a few spots running once an hour would have much greater success than a long-form fundraising. You could have incentives from local merchants that donors could get. The DJ could list those for the hour(s).
Click to expand...
Yeh, I was thinking even an on air auction could be more interesting than just "send money".
 
You could run the auction online on your website.

Incentives don't have to be big things. It might be a free one topping pizza and other food items. These are things donors will use and if are sure to put your call letters on the certificate they use to redeem the incentive (and it is a local business where they can make the decision to underwrite), the incentives might make them want to be an Underwriter.
 
You should look at 89.7 The River in Omaha, they're a noncommercial alternative station that's been around for 30 years and has a lot of stuff available on their merch pages. They have shirts, hats, stickers, lanyards, cups, band/singer signed drumheads, guitars, posters, etc. and they're big names like Ben Folds, Coheed and Cambria, etc. When I ordered a sticker, shirt and a few other things, they threw in a lanyard and some other stuff as extras.
 
radiofan2023 said:
It isn’t a public station, but KCJJ does on air auctions with local businesses, which are a success:
www.1630kcjj.com

KCJJ’S Think Spring Auction- 4/10/2026

KCJJ’s THINK SPRING AUCTION!!! 4/10/2026 NEXT AUCTION JUNE 12th, 2026 Most food certificates are good for DINE IN or Carry-Out. Addy’s
www.1630kcjj.com
Click to expand...
I did a Saturday morning auction on my Ohio fm station selling restaurant certificates from the restaurants that wouldn't pay in cash and made about 70% of their value on each sale plus the restaurants thought getting a certificate backwas a great way to see if anyone was listening.
 
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