New approach shortens KRPS fundraising

  Wednesday, October 7, 2015 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Given the chance to choose between traditional on-air fundraising and making pledges in advance by phone and online, KRPS listeners made it clear Tuesday what they preferred. In just two-and-one-half hours, the public radio station at Pittsburg State reached its fall fundraising goal of $48,990.

Missi Kelly, KRPS general manager, said the brief on-air campaign was the result of a new approach to fundraising that the station began with its spring campaign, dubbed the warp drive.

Kelly said the warp drive involves promotion several weeks in advance of the scheduled on-air campaign in which listeners are urged to help shorten the traditional campaign by making their pledges early, either by phone or online. Like many other public radio stations, KRPS for years has relied on intrusive on-air campaigns that go on for days or even weeks.

“Most people would rather hear uninterrupted programming,” Kelly said. “No one listens to KRPS to hear us talk during the membership drive.”

Kelly said early pledges had already covered more than 80 percent of the fall drive’s goal when traditional fundraising began this morning.

“The phones were really busy, with listeners wanting to help push us over the goal,” Kelly said. “I’m so happy that the members responded so positively to this new way of fundraising!”

KRPS, 89.9 FM, was launched in 1988 and is licensed to Pittsburg State University. The station’s 100,000-watt signal reaches out about 100 miles in all directions of its tower, just south of Pittsburg. KRPS programming includes NPR News, and the BBC World Service, as well as extensive classical and jazz programming. For more information, including daily program schedules, visit www.krps.org.