Updated: January 30, 2026

Following the attacks on public media last 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. On September 21, at the end of our Fall On-Air Fundraiser, we also closed an $800,000 gap for our fiscal year, to end the year in the black. 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 spending only
$5 million. Our budget plan for FY 26, which began Oct. 1. 2025, is also $5 million. 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 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 in summer 2025 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 3,000 as of November 5, and more listeners continue to join for the first time and return to membership from being long-lapsed. We now have more than 12,500 members, just short of our numbers during COVID.

What is WDET’s Resiliency Campaign?

WDET seeks to raise $1 million in major gifts. 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 began on October 1, as the elimination of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting hits us this year.

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.

Didn’t CPB also pay for your music licensing and satellite system?

We learned in October that CPB has remaining funds to cover music licensing and satellite through December 2027. This is good news and will save us significant money for the next two years.

What are your overall financial goals for the future?

WDET seeks stability in the near term–with revenue meeting expenses–as it builds financial reserves, grows the ranks of its membership, establishes major giving, and ultimately increased resiliency through growth, not cuts.