NPR receives $113M in charitable donations after federal funding cuts
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The organization announced Thursday that NPR has received $113 million in charitable donations from two sources, $80 million of which came from a Democratic megadonor.
Obama Foundation board member and major Democratic donor Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million of the total, directing funds to expand NPR’s digital capabilities and improve how it reaches audiences across platforms.
An anonymous donor provided the remaining $33 million to NPR and said it would be used to develop and share tools and services with public media organizations.
“NPR’s mission remains unchanging, but our tools must evolve,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement.
President Donald Trump. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg)
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“This significant investment will enable NPR to continue providing the nation’s best public service journalism, meeting audiences where they are today and where they will be in the years to come.”
“I support NPR because an informed public is the foundation of our society and democracy requires strong, independent journalism,” Ballmer said. According to NPR. “My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and spark that NPR needs to boldly innovate and strengthen its national network.”
Federal applications Show Ballmer’s hundreds of donations to Democratic politicians and affiliated PACs and organizations; these include a $7 million donation to Everytown for the Gun Safety Victory Fund in 2020 and $500,000 to Unite the Country, a super PAC supporting Joe Biden in 2020.
Ballmer is married to billionaire and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, one of the richest people in the world.
Republican funding of NPR last year followed years of accusations that it harbored a liberal bias; this view was shared by one of its own senior editors, Uri Berliner, who later resigned.
Liberals lashed out at Congress’ vote last year to cut funding from NPR and PBS. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
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The donations come after Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved funding for public media, a move welcomed by President Donald Trump. The cuts reduced budgets systemwide, NPR reported; public radio stations lost about 10% of their funding, while public television stations lost closer to 15%.
NPR, which lost about 1 to 2 percent of its annual budget with the move, has taken steps to support its affiliates. The organization said it took action “to support the station’s finances by easing the fees it charges them to broadcast major news programs.”
NPR announced Thursday that it had received $113 million in donations from a pair of donors. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
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In response to the financial strain, NPR said it also offered assistance with funding, marketing and “other efforts.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Ballmer Group for comment.
