Defunded, but not defeated. IPM persists.

 

We're still here, but need your help! Click here to give now.

 

Thank You for Standing with Us.

To everyone who called or emailed your state and federal representatives — thank you. To everyone who shared what Illinois Public Media, PBS, and NPR mean to you — thank you. And to everyone who supports us financially — thank you. You remain our largest and most reliable source of funding.

This page will be updated as the impact of eliminating federal funding for public broadcasting becomes known. During this time of uncertainty, rest assured Illinois Public Media is endeavoring to be transparent and share important updates with you as soon as they arise.

 

 

Now is the time to act.

  • Give Today: Start or increase your annual gift or monthly sustaining contribution at willgive.org.
  • Make a Transformational Gift: If you’re considering a larger or multi-year gift, we’d be honored to talk with you. Your generosity can make a lasting difference. Please contact Erin Lippitz, Director of Major Gifts, at 217-333-7300.
  • Leave a Legacy: Including Illinois Public Media in your estate plans helps secure the future of public media in our state. Learn more on our legacy giving page.

 

 

What's the latest update?

August 5, 2025

  • Illinois Public Media is NOT closing. While the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is winding down, Illinois Public Media remains operational. We have lost $1.5 million in annual support and that will have a significant impact, but we are not going anywhere.
  • We are a local organization and are community supported. Illinois Public Media is a service of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We are independent from CPB’s day-to-day operations and remain committed to our local-focused mission.
  • The CPB is/was a funding and policy organization — not a broadcaster. CPB’s role has been to distribute federal funds and support system-wide initiatives. With the elimination of federal funding, they no longer have a clear role and no independent financing. Illinois Public Media produces and broadcasts programming directly to our community and that work continues.
  • Illinois Public Media will continue airing programming from PBS and NPR, both of which are also independent of CPB. While our programming schedule will be impacted, core shows (MASTERPIECE, NewsHour, Morning Edition, etc.) will remain. We will communicate programming changes with transparency as they develop.
  • Local support is more important than ever. Listener and viewer support helps sustain our journalism, music programs, educational outreach, and storytelling. As the national systems evolve, your local station remains deeply rooted in our central Illinois communities.
  • We are adapting and continuing to grow. Public media is changing — and so are we. But our commitment to fact-based news, inspiring content, and public service is unwavering. Illinois Public Media is here to stay, innovate, and serve.

 

 

Share your thoughts and feedback about our future.

We're still here, but need your help! Click here to give now.

 

 

Headshot: Moss Bresnahan, Executive Director, Illinois Public Media

A message from Moss Bresnahan, IPM's Executive Director

As you are probably aware, on July 17, 2025 Congress voted to rescind federal funding for public media stations across the country — including Illinois Public Media. As a result, we are facing the loss of more than $1.5 million in annual funding and additional infrastructure support that had been designated for our station over the next two years.

This is, without question, a significant development that will lead to some very difficult choices in the months ahead regarding our programs and services. While it’s not the news we had hoped to share, we promise to be fully transparent with you — our neighbors and friends — about what this means moving forward. We invite you to share feedback about the IPM programs and services you value by clicking here.

For over 100 years, Illinois Public Media has been more than just "content" — we are an essential public service for a vast rural audience stretching throughout central Illinois and western Indiana. We provide fact-based local news, emergency alerts, children’s programming that prepares kids to succeed in school, and so much more.

Your support has never been more vital than it is right now. Please consider starting a monthly donation today at willgive.org to help us protect this vital resource for everyone in our region.