Connie Palmer during an appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes.
National Public Radio (NPR) has secured $113 million in donations as it continues to grapple with the fallout from major federal funding cuts under the Trump administration.
The largest donation, $80 million, came from philanthropist Connie Ballmer, the wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
NPR said it is the biggest donation from a living donor in the network’s history.
The company said in a statement:
These gifts will be used to expand audience connection, accelerate digital transformation, and increase the sustainability of the national NPR Network. These gifts are extraordinary and unprecedented commitments that will help secure NPR’s future as America’s premier public service journalism network.
Philanthropist Connie Ballmer has given $80 million to support the digital innovation that is essential to meeting the needs and serving the interests of public media audiences wherever they are and whenever they seek information.
Further gifts from an anonymous donor totaling $33 million will go towards strengthening and increasing the sustainability of the NPR Network, enabling NPR to build and acquire tools and services that will be shared with public media organizations serving communities across the nation.
I support NPR because an informed public is the bedrock of our society, and democracy requires strong, independent journalism,” said Ballmer. “My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network.
Despite being a public broadcasting organization, NPR is notorious for its aggressive left-wing bias and support for the Democratic Party.
The funding boost comes after Congress slashed roughly $1.1 billion from public broadcasting last year, putting over 200 NPR stations and hundreds of PBS outlets at risk.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher said the donations would help secure the network’s long-term financial footing.
Just last month, an Obama judge ruled that Trump’s executive order targeting NPR and PBS violated the First Amendment, finding it sought to punish media outlets over content.
Obama Judge Blocks Trump’s Executive Order Aimed at Ending Federal Funding For NPR, PBS
However, the ruling did not restore any of the lost funding, leaving networks reliant on private donations to close the shortfall.
The donations mark one of the largest private interventions in American public broadcasting history.
Both Steve and Connie Balmer have pledged to give away most of the billions in wealth that he acquired from his stake in Microsoft.
Their organization, the Ballmer Group, says it is focused on “improving economic mobility for children and families” and giving money to “leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity.”
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