# NPR's Begging For Money Again..... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846 "2011-10-26T13:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/1 "2011-10-26T13:04:53Z")
… and that’s okay. They are one organization I love to help when I can, because our radios _stay_ on our local NPR channel for _everything_, but I was wondering… You know that section on the income tax form where you have the opportunity to pay one dollar for the president to run for re-election and it won’t decrease your tax? Why couldn’t they make a section for NPR to get a dollar, and it _will_ be deducted? While I can’t afford what they’re asking to get their little trinkets, a dollar won’t break me? I know: they’ve written NPR off as something the fed will provide funds for, right? I still think it could work, though. What do you think? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/2 "2011-10-26T13:15:51Z")
I like that idea. I’m about to donate my old car to them. It gets it off my lawn, gets me a bit of a tax break, and does them some good, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/3 "2011-10-26T13:21:00Z")
NPR doesn’t ask for money, your local public radio station does. NPR gets its money from the fees they charge to your local stations for programming, and they have a HUGE endowment from Joan Kroc. Your local stations get some small percentage (4-7%) of their budget from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is funded by the federal government, but the bulk of their budget comes from listener contributions. Your LOCAL station, NOT NPR. Other suppliers of programming are APR (American Public Radio) PRI (Public Radio International) and PRX (Public Radio Exchange). But your income tax idea is flawed; it’s NOT NPR asking for your money. [NPR Funding.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR#Funding) ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/4 "2011-10-26T13:36:04Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > You know that section on the income tax form where you have the opportunity to pay one dollar for the president to run for re-election and it won’t decrease your tax? > Why couldn’t they make a section for NPR to get a dollar, and it _will_ be deducted? This is a wild guess here, but I think that it would be hard to find a Congress that would be willing to make that part of the US tax code. For many people in the US, NPR has the connotation of being a partisan “liberal” organization. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/5 "2011-10-26T13:45:17Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > NPR doesn’t ask for money, your local public radio station does. I’ve heard the NPR folks shil for the local affiliate, though. I go with Arnold; even I see NPR as having a liberal stance. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/6 "2011-10-26T13:51:48Z")
Did you intend to put this in General Questions? Seems like IMHO, just saying. And no, that’s not an appropriate use of the tax code, IMHO. BTW, I’m a long time member of two public radio stations. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/7 "2011-10-26T14:07:18Z")
[moderating] Since this thread is looking for opinions, I’ve moved it from GQ to IMHO. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/8 "2011-10-26T14:11:52Z")
If you itemize your deductions, your contribution to a public radio station ought to be deductible, right? ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/9 "2011-10-26T15:02:47Z")
I like NPR and support my local station, but I fail to see what is so special about NPR or public radio as a non-profit that it should get singled out for special treatment by the government. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/10 "2011-10-26T15:08:44Z")
Well, okay, but at one time, weren’t they subsidized? Or am I thinking of educational television? Yeah, it’s local stations, my bad. Okay then, as y’all wuz! 🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/11 "2011-10-26T15:09:16Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > If you itemize your deductions, your contribution to a public radio station ought to be deductible, right? Yup (as they will remind you multiple times during fund-raising week). But yea, I don’t really see the need for the OP’s plan. Their existing model seems to work pretty well. And as earlier repondants said, its usually the local affiliates that need cash, the national organization is pretty flush. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/12 "2011-10-26T15:30:22Z")
So, it sounds the local stations are asking for cash so they can pay for the NPR programming. The link says “about 50% of NPR revenues come from the fees it charges member stations for programming and distribution charges.” It sounds like the public radio stations buy programming just like anyone else except they get it from NPR (and possibly others.) Are they (the local stations) restricted in their ability to raise money via normal advertising? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/13 "2011-10-26T15:48:12Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > It sounds like the public radio stations buy programming just like anyone else except they get it from NPR (and possibly others.) Are they (the local stations) restricted in their ability to raise money via normal advertising? I believe that’s true actually. I’ve heard that losing gov’t funding would actually be a good thing for most public radio stations as it would allow them to make more revenue from ad sales which they’re limited on under the current system. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/14 "2011-10-26T16:19:54Z")
Didn’t NEA funding to NPR/PBS pretty much dry up after little Bush got elected or was it just PBS? I’m all for giving $5 out of my income tax return for election funds for all candidates and outlaw any outside money… and as well as for NPR/PBS funding. A country like ours can’t fund/support Public Stations? Yep, I know it’s political… who could tolerate airing out their dirty laundries over the air daily… along the lines of banning the display of naked figures on thousand year old art works…? ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/15 "2011-10-26T19:47:46Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I believe that’s true actually. I’ve heard that losing gov’t funding would actually be a good thing for most public radio stations as it would allow them to make more revenue from ad sales which they’re limited on under the current system. Well, I think part of the point is that they don’t have ads, so they’re not worried about pissing off advertisers by running any particular stories. I only became a member of my local station last year. I’ve been listening to NPR for years, but never really made a donation as a poor college student. Then last year, my husband (who used to make fun of me for listening to “dork radio”) threatened to turn me in to Ira Glass for listening without ever donating. I thought about how many awesome conversations we’d had over the years as a result of NPR, and figured I’d better donate (plus it would be totally embarrassing to have Ira Glass call me out on not donating). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/16 "2011-10-26T19:52:07Z")
> [@iftheresaway](#): > > (plus it would be totally embarrassing to have Ira Glass call me out on not donating). That’s the adenoidal guy from _This American Life_, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/17 "2011-10-26T20:00:09Z")
But I am troubled by their willingness to terminate employees for their personal political convictions. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/18 "2011-10-26T23:11:50Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ve heard the NPR folks shil for the local affiliate, though. Are you sure? I’ve heard plenty of generic shilling from the national folks, but they never mentioned the local station directly It’s more a lead in to the local plea. I’m in South Florida, which is a decent sized market. I’d think we’d qualify for national shilling if it happened. Then again..who knows. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/19 "2011-10-26T23:42:31Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Are you sure? I’ve heard plenty of generic shilling from the national folks, but they never mentioned the local station directly It’s more a lead in to the local plea. I beg your pardon, it is as you described. They did not mention the local by call sign. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846/20 "2011-10-27T00:39:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I beg your pardon, it is as you described. They did not mention the local by call sign. On WBUR and WGBH, both in Boston, they often have national folks tape pledge drive pleas that are customized to the station. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nprs-begging-for-money-again/600846.md?page=2)