Nawww, like I said, they cater to the lowest denominator. I bet the shows they watch DO get a very high rating, but that’s not a good thing from my perspective. In addition, when I inquired about their format, they replied and basically said “we don’t have to listen to you,” without inquiring as to my membership status. I see no reason they should listen to me if I do donate.
Update: my wife and I ended up pledging $365 and breaking it into 12 monthly payments. We opted not to receive any thank-you gifts, but we are looking forward to our day sponsorship, which allows us to have a short message broadcast several times one day. Perhaps I’ll start a thread soliciting ideas once we have more details.
I stopped all my NPR donations (with the exception of WFUV-FM Fordham University in The Bronx) several years ago. The reason? Politics. I find some of the content spewed on an NPR Pacifica station (WBAI) offensive.
Surprised no one has rationalized their lack of contributions / support to NPR by stating they’ve spent enough money at McDonalds over the years & the late Krok widow donated for them.
I tend to donate the minimum amount for a membership that lets you into the free concerts (which I have yet to go to). I could afford more, but there are so * very many * organizations that want my money. Two university alumni funds, various conservation groups, the many American (name your deadly disease) Societies, various co-worker’s walkathons, and so on. It’s pretty much a vast sink into which I could endlessly throw checks. So they all get a pittance, the size of which depends on my mood at the time of the check-writing, and my current job security. If the organization pisses away that pittance sending me a letter a month asking for more money, I’m less inclined to give them anything in the future.
I went for 20 bucks a month because I wanted the Sony Radio. 