[URSpider94]

As a loyal NPR supporter, I feel that I have to correct the complete mis-representation of NPR's funding presented in this article.

It is true that NPR received a generous gift from the Kroc family ($200 million in 2003, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A6973-2003Nov6?lang...). However, in that same year, NPR's operating budget was $100 million. Assuming a generous 5% utilization of that endowment, that would only pay 10% of the budget.

In fact, NPR's web page states that it receives a little under 10% of its annual budget from "major gifts," while nearly a third (the largest single fraction) comes from pledges and annual memberships. (see http://www.npr.org/about/privatesupport.html)

I guess your statement that listener donations are "a fraction" of NPR's operating budget is true. One third IS a fraction, after all. But to say that NPR "really doesn't need your money" is a gross factual error.

I, for one, would like to see you post a correction.

[andrewmayne]

You're right in that the Kroc grant doesn't cover them forever. That wasn't my point.

I think NPR is a very well run organization. When they received the Kroc grant they used it to expand and increased their annual budget by 20%.

Coming from the non-profit world, this is a sign of an efficient organization that is very good at raising money. When given a giant bequest, they increased their budget.

We could debate what "need" means, but a non-profit that can increase its expenditures by 20% in one year and easily cover it doesn't "need" money in the same way other charitable organizations I've worked with do.

FYI: The page you link to lists the average for all public radio stations in general. It's not a specific breakdown of NPR or NPR member stations.