• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

The MacArthur Foundation and five other foundations are supporting public media with $36.5 million in funding. 

This commitment includes $26.5 million for the Public Media Bridge Fund, a philanthropic endeavor to back local public media service throughout the country. This fund will provide immediate stabilization grants and low-interest loans to the most vulnerable stations. 

The other five foundations are the Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Pivotal, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Schmidt Family Foundation.

MacArthur is also committing $10 million in direct support to public media stations, programs, and organizations, the foundation says. 

The rescission of $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will cause 115 stations, serving 43 million people, to lose more than 30% of their budgets, MacArthur says.

“Millions of people rely on public media for trusted local news, educational programming, and stories that reflect their lives and experiences,” says John Palfrey, President of MacArthur Foundation. “Stations serving rural, small to mid-market, and Native communities as well as documentary ecosystems are disproportionately impacted by the funding cuts and need intentional support."

Palfrey adds: "These stations are more than just broadcasters—they are critical sources of information and connection.”