Hawai?i Public Radio’s Spring Fund Drive ended on the scheduled tenth day of the campaign April 12, 2019. The on-air fundraiser collected $765,000 in contributions from donors residing in Hawai?i, on the mainland, and around the world. 675 of those gifts were from first-time supporters.
“Our success is built one contributor at a time,” said José A. Fajardo, the station’s president and general manager. “Each new member joining the station increases our capacity to make a positive impact across the state and beyond. We are humbled by the overwhelming support we’ve received from our community.”
On Monday, April 8, HPR also announced a partnership with Hawai‘i Community Foundation, which will result in a grant of $200,000 over two years for the station. The partnership will enable HPR to hire a general assignment reporter and extend its coverage of locally relevant community, economy, and education topics. HPR will also produce a series of town square-style outreach events to engage the community on those same issues throughout the state.
Over 500 volunteers from approximately 50 Hawai?i businesses and organizations along with HPR Sustaining members staffed the station’s phone banks from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily during the campaign. Meals were provided by Foodland Farms Ala Moana and Zippy’s.
Pledge drives are key to HPR’s financial wellbeing, as 94% of the station’s funding comes from the community. Only 6% of the station’s funds are from federal sources, via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
