Stand for independent news. Protect public voices. Save My WBOI.
Why WBOI Matters
Public radio delivers vital news, cultural programming, and life-saving emergency alerts — free to all.
But now, this essential service is under threat after federal and state budget cuts totaling $200,000 (the equivalent of an entire membership drive).
How You Can Help
What's at stake?
WBOI lost over $200,000 in federal and state funding. Our future depends on community support. Recent budget cuts could:
- Eliminate original, local programming
- Reduce access to trusted national programs from NPR
- Diminish capacity to serve rural listeners or provide emergency alerts
- Prevent adoption of new formats that could help WBOI reach more people.
News About Public Media Funding
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NPR announced staff reductions on Monday. It is part of an effort to fill an $8 million shortfall created by Congress’ decision to defund public media last year. -
Bloomberg via Getty Images/BloombergNPR is offering buyouts to journalists as it overhauls its newsroom, with the threat of layoffs to follow. Two recent gifts totaling $113 million are primarily dedicated to NPR's tech infrastructure. -
Molly Connor/WBOIYou may have heard recently that NPR was the beneficiary of two major gifts: a $80 million gift from Connie Ballmer and another gift from an anonymous donor for $33 million, for a total of $110 million. Unfortunately, WBOI won’t recieve any of those funds. -
A federal judge has ruled that a Trump administration executive order involving NPR and PBS violates the broadcasters' First Amendment rights.
The Progress We’ve Made
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The Community Foundation honored WBOI as the most improved nonprofit in its Connected Community pillar. -
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has voted to formally end operations. NPR's mission will continue, unchanged.
When you support WBOI, you're protecting:
- Community voices from all walks of life — often those not heard anywhere else
- A pipeline to local government, education, and other civic matters
- Connection to the arts, music, and local culture that brings us together
- Watchdog journalism that holds power accountable and safeguards democracy
- Rural communities that risk becoming news deserts
Sustaining members allow WBOI to plan for uncertain situations like this one.
Additional Resources
- Protect My Public Media: Nation-wide campaign dedicated to protecting federal public media funding
- American Journalism Project: Learn how nonprofit news is solving the local news crisis
- Learn more about the NPR network and why member stations, like WBOI, are so important
- Subscribe to our newsletter to hear updates from President & General Manager Travis Pope
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Share this cause with your friends and followers!