Our Funding

Public media provides a free, essential public service for an informed and engaged community. Nationwide, public media reaches 99 percent of the U.S. population and serves millions of Americans every day.

As a locally owned and operated media organization, Ocean State Media has a similarly significant impact on our immediate region.

From dynamic local programs to providing lifesaving emergency alerts through our operation of the Public Radio Satellite System, Ocean State Media is an important part of life in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

Your stories matter, and Ocean State Media is committed to telling them in a thoughtful, accurate, and timely way. Our independent reporting and detailed storytelling take time and resources, and we utilize both as efficiently as possible.

Questions? You can email us here.

Where Our Funding Comes From

Individual & Corporate Donors

As a newly merged public media entity, we strive to be more relevant, trusted, dynamic, and responsive to the needs of our community. The generous support of our donors and members at all levels plays a critical role in that—from the salaries of our talented journalists to our diverse and engaging programming.

Federal Funding

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is an independent nonprofit that distributes federal dollars to local stations – amounting to approximately $1.60 per person per year. That money is used to invest in local programming and educational services that meet the needs of each community. Federal funding from CPB represents 9% of Ocean State Media’s operating budget.

While federal funding represents a small portion of our overall budget, the recent federal cuts will negatively impact our ability to fulfill our mission and serve our audiences. We are in conversations with other public media organizations and are part of a national organization called Protect My Public Media to coordinate continued efforts and advocacy. Learn more at Protect My Public Media.

Philanthropy

Despite strong financial management and controls, like many non-profits, we operate at a deficit. This reality means that to continue to grow and deliver the programming you expect and deserve, raising new revenue remains a critical component of our revenue stream. That includes direct donor fundraising and grants through local and national philanthropies. We pursue every funding avenue available to us and are grateful for the longtime support of our philanthropic partners, including local leaders like the Rhode Island Foundation, the Champlin Foundation, and others.

Investment

Our investment portfolio, while not designated by the Board of Directors for a specific purpose, except the monies invested for the Ocean State Media Scholarship, is maintained for long-term purposes to supplement our annual operational support with withdrawals from the portfolio. Investments are managed by an independent fund manager under investment guidelines approved by the Board of Directors and overseen by the Finance and Investment Committee. The spending policy established by the Board of Directors allows for an annual distribution of up to 4.5% of the average balance of the investment portfolio of the previous twelve quarters.

How can I take action to advocate for continued support of public media?

Stand, Share and Support

Federal funding has been cut. We are losing more than $1 million annually, a loss that will directly impact the independent journalism, educational content, and engaging community programming we produce for you. You can help, in more ways than one!

May 8, 2025

Join Us!

The work and services of Ocean State Media are made possible by the generous support of our local community. If you’re already a member, thank you! If not, or if you’re able to contribute more, now is the perfect time to join or increase your support. Thank you!