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NPR received $113 million in charitable donations from two sources, including $80 million from a Democratic megadonor, the organization announced Thursday.
“NPR’s mission doesn’t change, but our methods must,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement. “This incredible investment will allow NPR to continue to deliver the best journalism around the country, connecting with audiences where they are today and will be for years to come.”
Obama Foundation board member and top Democratic donor Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million in total, directing the funds to expand NPR’s digital capabilities and improve the way it reaches audiences across platforms.
President Donald Trump. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg)
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“I support NPR because an informed public is the foundation of our society, and a democracy requires strong independent journalism,” Ballmer said, according to NPR. “My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen the national network.”
Federal filings show hundreds of donations from Ballmer to Democratic politicians, PACs and organizations, including a $7 million donation in 2020 to the Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and $500,000 to Unite the Nation, the super PAC supporting Joe Biden in 2020.
Ballmer is married to billionaire and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, one of the world’s richest people.
An anonymous donor gave the remaining $33 million to NPR, which it said will develop and share tools and services with public media organizations.
Liberals reacted strongly to Congress’ vote to defund NPR and PBS last year. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
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The donations come after Congress voted to cancel $1.1 billion in previously approved funding for public media, a move welcomed by President Donald Trump. The cuts slashed budgets across the board, with public radio stations losing about 10% of their funding and public television stations close to 15%, NPR reported.
NPR, which lost about 1 to 2% of its annual budget to the move, has taken steps to support its affiliates. The agency said it has moved to “consolidate the station’s finances by reducing the fees it charges them to run its major news programs.”
NPR announced $113 million in donations from two donors on Thursday. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
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In response to the financial crisis, NPR said it has also provided assistance in fundraising, marketing and “other efforts.”
A separate effort known as Public Media Infrastructure has emerged, described as “a separate, and somewhat competitive enterprise” involving organizations, including New York Public Radio and the American Public Media Group, aimed at providing shared services across the industry.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Ballmer Group for comment but did not immediately respond.
