FAQs

What is Public Media Giving Days (PMGD)? 

A two-day, digital-first event held in early May. The idea for participating stations is twofold: First, raise funds through generating attention and excitement about your station’s role in the communities it serves. Second, spark and expand a widespread public dialogue about the positive impact of public media overall from the people who value everything it gives to their community. 

How can I participate in Public Media Giving Days if I work for a station? 

On Day One (Wednesday, May 1st), ask folks to donate to your station and suggest they encourage others to do so, too. Again, please utilize our assets, but get creative in how you frame the PMGD experience. Emphasize connections between your station and the local community in an effort to convert potential donors to new, excited donors. Ask current members and sustainers to consider celebrating PMGD by giving above and beyond on this first of two special days. 

On Day Two (Thursday, May 2nd), encourage as many people as you can to express their positive opinions about public media. Post to social; email your list; chat on air. Suggest people explain what inspires them about public media and why they to donate to your station. Encourage the folks you speak with to speak with more people.  

What's most important is not how you decide to get involved in Public Media Giving Days; it's that you do get involved. 

I work at a station but don’t have authority to opt in. What can I communicate to my leadership team? 

If your leadership team is unaware of Public Media Giving Days, ask them to check out this website or reach out to their contacts at CDP, Greater Public, NPR or PBS for additional information. It’s a good idea for PMGD to be on your station’s radar should any of your donors engage with the broader national promotions and proactively reach out to your station. 

You may also want to bring this to your leadership team’s attention: Stations participating in PMGD’s inaugural year achieved measurable success!  

The rotating stats you’ve seen on top of the homepage bear repeating here: 

  • 100+ Participating Stations 

  • $800,000+ Raised 

  • 5.9% Average Revenue Increase 

  • 5,800+ PMGD Donors 

CDP sourced this topline data by both surveying last year’s participating stations and using our ongoing ROAR (Revenue Opportunity and Action Report) capabilities The average revenue increase figure of 5.9% comes directly from a year-over-year comparison of MSB-partner stations’ May revenues. 

Our station didn’t participate in PMGD last year. Does that give us a disadvantage in diving in this year? 

Absolutely not. The more the merrier, this year and in the future. One of the ways event-centric fundraising initiatives like PMGD gains momentum is through increased involvement over time. If your station participates for the first time this year, you’ll benefit from PMGD success at your station as well as help make it more successful nationwide.