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WGLT Radio

Campaign Funding Priorities

Redbirds Rising will enable the University to achieve three critical outcomes: supporting student and faculty scholarship, educating globally aware and socially engaged leaders, and sparking continuous creativity and innovation. To advance these objectives, we offer multiple ways to support WGLT within four key funding categories:

Student training and support

Housed within the School of Communication, WGLT is a valuable resource for students training to enter various professions related to the field. Staff members are committed to working with undergraduate and graduate students interested in broadcasting, journalism, public relations, and digital media. The varied, real-world experience obtained through WGLT employment and internships allows graduates to enter the workplace with a competitive advantage. Many have established notable broadcast careers across the country. In addition, a Broadcasting Student Fellowship endowment program will be created to provide financial assistance to young scholars pursuing a broadcast career.

Enhanced facilities

WGLT needs to upgrade facilities and equipment, which are crucial to ensuring the station remains a valued community service. Aging equipment interferes with the ability to reliably produce programming the audience desires. Beyond hindering opportunities, the current cramped and ill-designed space does not reflect the station's excellence to visiting dignitaries, officials, and artists.

Resources to seize future opportunities

Income from an endowed fund is necessary to protect WGLT's public service from the uncertainty of future government support for public broadcasting. Revenue earned from an endowment is a crucial source of income to not only meet daily operational expenses but create a buffer when unexpected expenses arise that pose a threat to continuous broadcasting, and for resources to pursue program growth and enhancement over time.

Sustaining excellence

WGLT's local content and national programming is dependent on the annual fund. This revenue stream must be sustained to meet increasing program expenses. Income from individual listeners, corporations, and local businesses is the station's lifeblood. It is imperative that the annual fund remain strong as other campaign priorities identified are achieved.

WGLT is trusted in the Midwest and beyond. What it has become reflects the University's core values. What it achieves in the future is dependent on financial support. The station broadcasts in the same space on the Quad that it has occupied for decades. With aging equipment and a dwindling budget, staff members are struggling to serve the public. You can ensure they succeed. Join us in supporting The Campaign for Illinois State.

Contact Us

The priorities described here represent only a small sampling of funding opportunities in every department and program within WGLT. For more information about how you can support WGLT's campaign priorities, contact: