Updated: September 26, 2025
Following the attacks on public media this spring and summer, WDET asked its listeners to help it reach a series of financial goals, and they have responded. On August 11, the station sailed past its initial goal of enlisting 1,000 additional members, and we now have more than 2,700 new and returning members since we announced the new member campaign. On September 21, at the end of our Fall On-Air Fundraiser, we also closed an $800,000 gap for our fiscal year. We are deeply grateful for this outpouring of support.
Frequently asked questions
What is WDET’s budget?
WDET’s FY 25 original budget plan was to spend $6,193,348. The majority of this goes to people, and there have been certain increases in the past few years that have been hard to control. These include mandated compensation increases, fees from NPR and the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters, and rising vendor costs. Since COVID, the price of goods like paper and member rewards (premiums) has gone up, and tariffs may add further strain. As an auxiliary unit of Wayne State, WDET also covers all benefits and costs of employees from our own revenue, unlike academic departments. Together, these factors make budgeting especially challenging, as expenses are increasing faster than revenue.
Has WDET done everything it can to cut expenses?
Yes. We reduced our expenses by over $1 million in FY 25 from the original budget plan. At this point, further cuts would dramatically impact the essential services our listeners count on, so we are seeking instead to raise more money and build reserves to cover unanticipated emergency expenses such as equipment failures.
What was the 1,000 Member Campaign?
At the height of COVID, WDET’s membership reached 12,800, as listeners stayed home and relied on the station as a source of community during a period of isolation. In the past few years, that number has dropped by 18 percent. Ironically, while membership has declined, listenership has grown by 20 percent. So we know there are listeners out there who might still be inclined to become members. To address this, we launched the 1,000 Member Campaign this summer as a ramp-up to our annual Fall On-Air fundraiser.
Was the 1,000 Member Campaign successful?
Yes. We reached 1,000 additional members on August 11 and more than 2,700 as of September 21, and more listeners continue to join for the first time and return to membership from being long-lapsed. We now have more than 11,000 members.
If the Member Campaign was successful, why did you say you needed to raise another $800,000 by September 30?
The membership campaign was very successful and raised about $200,000 during a period of time when WDET does not engage in active on-air fundraising. The remaining amount of operating support that WDET needed to raise by September 30 to end the year with a balanced budget was $800,000.
Do you still need $800,000?
No! Thanks to the Fall On-Air Fundraiser, which ended on September 21, we have raised the full $800,000 from all revenue sources. Most of this support came from members during the fundraiser. We are now focused on major gift support.
What do you mean by a major gift?
A major gift is support given beyond someone’s usual membership. We expect that major gifts will fall in the range of $10,000 to $100,000 or more. At higher levels, an individual will have up to three years to pay off their pledges. This support will be especially critical in FY 26, which begins on October 1, 2025, as the elimination of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will hit us this fall.
How much did the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) give WDET each year?
Approximately $300,000 in cash, which we will not be receiving in FY 26 or FY 27 due to the recissions claw-back initiated by the current administration. Additionally, CPB provided the station with music licensing and satellite services. We will now have to cover these fees ourselves, adding more than $225,000 to our annual budget. WDET assumes the federal support will not return.
You say that CPB paid for your music licensing and the satellite system. What’s happening to maintain these important services?
Music licensing has been negotiated and paid by CPB through December 31, 2025. The terms have been negotiated for 2026 and 2027, but the service is not paid for yet. While there is a chance that a third-party entity might pay for these services in the future, we are not counting on that in our budgeting. Staffing and equipment for the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) is paid by CPB to an operator. The operator currently under contract is NPR. We do not know how the PRSS will be funded going forward, and the fees will likely need to be paid by member stations like WDET. WDET’s share of these two services is valued at $225,000 a year. We are turning to the foundation community, businesses, and listeners to help us pay these fees that CPB used to cover.
What are your overall financial goals for the future?
WDET seeks stability in the near term–with revenue meeting expenses–as it build financial reserves, grows the ranks of its membership, establishes major giving, and ultimately increased resiliency through growth, not cuts.