Sunrise Communications Inc

For 38 years, 89.3 FM KZUM has brought a true variety of original programming and the most local music that can be heard in Lincoln and the surrounding communities. KZUM has been able to provide several free music concerts through our Soup and Songs and Stransky Park series. The station has been busy expanding our programming to include visual artists and writers. Being able to support our great local artists and enthusiastic community volunteers through use of our facility has been a priority and will continue, with your help! However, we have a big challange ahead.

Like many public and community broadcasters across the country, KZUM has relied on a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to support operations for a least the last 15 years. The CPB is a private nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to act as the steward of federal money in public broadcasting.

CPB funding has routinely accounted for one-quater of KZUM's annual budget. But now, we're facing a challenge. Funding requirements for that long running grant have changed, testing our station's ability to remain in the program.

Our challenge now: to raise $300,000 by the end of our fiscal year on September 30th or be removed from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's funding program.

This new threshold is the result of the CPB's conclusion that the average public radio station needs $300,000 to be self- sustaining. The newly required amount is three times higher than the previous qualifying threshold to stay in the program.

Raising $300,000 would be a record year for KZUM and would guarantee CPB through, at least 2020. If KZUM is dropped from the program, the station would be facing financial uncertainty for years to come.

Please help close the gap on KZUM's goal by giving what you can. The time to act is now. We can do this. Together, lets keep local radio thriving and growing in Lincoln.

Thank you!