Stronger Together FAQs 

Chief Development Officer Audrey Kamm answers questions you may have about WTVP’s Stronger Together campaign.  

Q: What happened with last year’s We Believe in WTVP campaign? 

A: Last year we had a very generous donor offer a $500,000 matching grant to fill the gap left by the loss of federal funding. We aimed to reach that goal by June 2026. Thanks to our incredible community, we met that goal by January 1, 2026! Over the past fiscal year, we’ve added 2500 new donors and have continued to see increased giving from many. So it’s been an incredible year.  

Q: If We Believe was so successful, why do we need Stronger Together?  

A: The loss of federal funding was not a one-time deal. We are now going to have to cover that gap every year—this is our new baseline. To not just survive but thrive and become a premier media outlet, we need the continued support of our community.  

Q: We’ve heard different things about federal funding. Has it come back? 

A: Unfortunately, federal funding has not come back and we aren’t planning on it returning anytime soon. So we are moving forward, continuing to provide our community with the best possible resources we can as a public media station without federal funding.  

Q: Why should the community invest in WTVP? 

A: WTVP is unique in that we are completely owned by our community. We exist to tell the stories of central Illinois and to bring those stories to our members. We are really focused on home and community. There’s no one else like us here.  

We are also committed to finding incredible stories in our community and telling them through broadcast, digital and engagement opportunities.  

Q: Where does donor money go? 

A: It stays here in our community. We use it to maintain our building, make technology improvements and meet audiences where they are digitally. We are central Illinois’ local PBS station and we pay PBS for those programs that people love. We listen to our audience and will continue to acquire the PBS programs that the community wants.  

Q: How can people get involved in the campaign? 

A: Obviously, people can give! (Visit wtvp.tv/donate.)  This campaign is focused on turning one-time gifts into sustaining gifts—donations that come every month. We also would love for people to tell their friends about WTVP and share about it on social media. When people share, they become ambassadors for WTVP and the community.  

Q: What are the advantages of membership? 

A: Members get a monthly Program Guide in the mail. We send out regular communications and special invitations to station events. Members get access to Passport where they can stream thousands of great PBS programs on demand. And by becoming a member, they are providing an opportunity for local media and PBS to exist for many generations to come.  

Q: Why did WTVP choose Stronger Together as the campaign theme?  

Strong Together really starts with gratitude. We’re only here because our community has already stood up for us and with us. From small gifts to large, every donation mattered and we truly came out stronger together. But as we mentioned earlier, this is our new baseline. We really need our community to feel that sense of pride in the station and when they do, we feel this campaign will carry us on into the future.  

You can learn more about the Stronger Together campaign at wtvp.tv/stronger-together.