Funding Challenges FAQ
Why does KAXE need money now?
There are three separate funding challenges converging on us at once: federal funding cuts, state funding cuts and unexpected costs.
Congress voted to rescind funds that were already appropriated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB funding has historically enjoyed bipartisan support and was appropriated two years in advance to avoid political meddling.
Over $1 billion intended to fund the CPB through the next two years was stripped from the nonprofit and the stations like ours that it funds.
On top of these unexpected federal cuts, we also experienced reductions to our state Legacy Amendment funding during this legislative session, amounting to a loss of $60,000 for our arts and culture programming.
Additionally, the cost of everything, including programs and insurance, has gone up this year. Grants have been delayed and fundraising has underperformed. Plus, we’ve been hit with unexpected expenses like A/C and equipment repairs.
A thousand paper cuts (and a few big gashes) are putting KAXE’s future in jeopardy.
What can I do to help?
- Donate at our website: Consider a gift of $1,000, $500, or $250 to make an impact
- Send a check to: 260 NE 2nd Street/ Grand Rapids, MN 55744
- Text DONATE to 218-326-1234
- Make a contribution from your IRA account
- Donate a vehicle (running or not!)
- Talk to your friends about KAXE and why you support us
How much of the station’s budget comes from federal funding?
A total of $228,186 in CPB funding helps support our operations each year, which amounts to 13% of our budget.
Will local programming be affected?
We are doing everything we can to protect local programming. Cuts like this are hard. If we can’t fill the funding gap, we may need to make difficult choices, scaling back or cutting programs, both local and national, or stretching our team even thinner. Our top priority is keeping our local news, music and community voices on the air.
Cutting any program is never an easy decision. Most often, it comes down to capacity — time, staffing or funding. Sometimes it’s all three. We know our programming matters to you. People build routines and memories around certain shows. That’s what makes community radio so special.
What happens if KAXE doesn’t raise enough money?
If we fall short, we will have to look at everything — staffing, programming, and events. We will keep being transparent and making the best decisions we can with the resources we have. But the truth is, without strong community support, some of what makes KAXE special could be at risk.
What is the long-term funding plan?
We are not just trying to survive this moment, but we’re building a more sustainable future. That includes growing our membership, expanding business support, applying for more grants and exploring new revenue like digital ads and newsletters. We’re also working with other organizations and funders on collaborative solutions. The long-term goal is sustainability, so KAXE can keep serving Northern Minnesota for decades to come.
What else is KAXE doing to address this funding cut?
We are looking at our entire operation to see where we can economize, reduce or eliminate expenses.
What does the Corporation for Public Broadcasting do for KAXE?
In addition to the annual grant, CPB helps stations like KAXE with the negotiating of music licensing rights, Emergency Alert System (EAS) coordination, and interconnection infrastructure that keeps stations connected and content flowing. The replacement cost on these is not known at this time.
Does my MPR membership help KAXE?
No, KAXE is an independent nonprofit. While MPR and KAXE are both NPR member stations in Minnesota, there is no other affiliation.
What is KAXE’s relationship with NPR?
KAXE is an independent, community-owned station. We’re not owned or operated by NPR. Part of the money we received in the past from the CPB required we carry some national programs. We choose to license some of NPR' programs, like Morning Edition, just like we do from the CBC (As It Happens) or Kohanic Broadcast Corporation (National Native News).
What you hear on KAXE is a mix of local news, music curated by our staff and volunteers and a selection of national programs we think serve our community. If NPR programming ever becomes too expensive or doesn’t align with our mission, we have the freedom to make different choices, and we will.
As part of our membership with NPR, we also receive access to important behind-the-scenes tools like our website content management system and podcast hosting. We pay NPR for these services, which help us better share our local content.
What if I have more questions?
Ask them! We welcome questions from our community and want this to be a living, breathing FAQ page as we navigate what these challenges mean for our future.
You can call or text 218-326-1234, and our staff will answer your questions or find someone who can. You can also email comments@kaxe.org.
These responses were updated at 4:30 p.m. July 23, 2025, and may be subject to change.
