As federal funding expires, GBH launches $225 million campaign

Local News

GBH, the largest producer of PBS programming in America, is looking to raise the money over the next three years.

GBH announced a $225 million fundraising campaign Wednesday, as the public broadcaster attempts to weather major funding cuts from the federal government. 

The “Fund the Future” campaign launch was timed to coincide with the start of the government’s new fiscal year and the expiration of federal funding. GBH is hoping to raise the money over the next three years. 

“Congress told us to ‘go fund ourselves,’ and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” GBH President and CEO Susan Goldberg said in a statement. 

GBH operates an NPR station and is the largest producer of PBS programming nationwide. Although only 8% of GBH’s annual revenue comes from federal dollars, it is still under serious risk. That’s because smaller stations with more reliance on federal funding pay GBH to air some radio and TV programs, The Boston Globe has reported. 

Even before Wednesday’s funding cutoff, GBH was facing significant headwinds. Last year, GBH laid off 4% of its employees. More rounds of layoffs occurred in May, June, and July of this year. In announcing those layoffs, Goldberg said that the station needed to “take some pretty quick action” before the Oct. 1 cutoff.

Over the summer, GBH’s digital billboard in Brighton displayed the words “Local. Trusted. Defunded.” Images of the display went viral online, and the new fundraising campaign is leaning into similar messaging. 

The goal, according to Goldberg, is to transform GBH “from 20th century broadcaster to 21st century digital powerhouse.” The campaign has three pillars: defending independent journalism, ensuring access to popular programs and educational content, and “transitioning to an innovative and sustainable business model.” 

GBH paused programming for 10 seconds across all its broadcast and streaming channels Wednesday to mark the “historic loss” of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

“This is a time when facts are being questioned and communities crave connection,” Goldberg said. “GBH is doubling down on our values, focused on protecting independent journalism and making trusted, educational, and inspirational content accessible to everyone.”