KUFM wants your money - but they’re willing to give you manure, music, and news in return.

UM’s public radio station relies on its listeners to supply 65 percent of its operating budget. Last year, that amounted to $439,000, all gathered during a one-week pledge drive that makes KUFM different from other public broadcasting stations across the nation.

Other National Public Radio affiliates run two to four pledge drives during the fiscal year to ensure they meet operating expenses. KUFM runs just one.
According to Linda Talbot, Fundraising Director for the station, operating costs are not going to go down. “(Our) total operating budget for the year is close to $1 million,” she said, adding that inflation pushes that budget higher every year. “Public radio has seen a flattening of federal funding,“ Talbot said. “Congress has been challenging continued budgeting of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” The CPB, which is perhaps best known as the funding source behind the well-loved children’s show “Sesame Street,” supplies a little more than 17 percent of the station’s annual budget. Another 17.5 percent comes from the University, though KUFM receives no student fees.
KUFM broadcasts to all of western and central Montana and offers listeners jazz, classical, and “free form” shows, Talbot said. But their biggest draw might be the news. KUFM provides Montanans with National Public Radio News and the British Broadcasting Corporation’s World News. Talbot says NPR offers “a great alternative to commercial media, which has become shallow.” In contrast, NPR’s news is “far-reaching and in-depth,” she said. Talbot said that depth is important in a post 9-11 world. “Younger people are more interested in in-depth news,” since that pivotal event, she said, noting KUFM’s 18-25 year old listenership has increased since 9-11. Students download podcasts of news they miss due to class schedules from the KUFM website, Talbot said. “We (also) archive the Montana Evening News.” Regulatory constraints currently disallow streaming of the station’s shows, although the cost is within reach. Streaming is “actively under consideration,” Talbot noted.
This year’s fundraising theme, “Public: of the people, for everyone, available to all” was chosen to reflect the service that public radio provides, Talbot stated. Over 2700 premiums are expected to be donated by listeners as thank you gifts to other listeners who pledge monetary support for the station. That involvement, and the concept of listener-donated premiums, is fairly unique to Missoula, Talbot acknowledged. She said radio representatives from outside Montana have inquired how to model their own pledge drives on Missoula’s successful format. While other stations script their pledge drive, KUFM is entirely ad-libbed, Talbot remarked. All program hosts participate, along with 250-300 volunteers who answer phones in the hectic control room during the fundraising week. The station tries to make it fun, providing beverages and noise-makers for on-air celebrations of landmarks en route to the funding goal. This years goal has not yet been finalized, partly due to the earlier date of this year’s pledge drive. Steam tunnel work slated for April is disrupting the typical pledge week, Talbot said.
That has not stopped listeners from donating the premiums that make KUFM’s pledge drive so unique. Live goats, llama manure, a trip to band golden eagles, and “a homemade pie each month” are all available by donating to the station. Home grown vegies, sailing on Flathead Lake and lots of cds also stock the premium coffers. Lower-valued premiums (a dozen home-raised eggs, for instance) tend to be snapped up early in the week, while larger ticket items (a bear discovery outing with Chuck Jonkel, say) tend to be re-advertised throughout the “week of celebration,” Talbot said. Listeners may donate premiums, pledge funds, or volunteer time to the station by calling KUFM at 243-6400, or through the station’s website www.mtpr.org. Pledge week begins Monday, February 12, and runs through Sunday February 18.