NFCB

Capacity, leadership, fundraising, oh my! Read NFCB's May Newsletter for insights into adaptive capacity, leading in times of change, what today's economy means for community radio, and so much more.

Join us tomorrow for a webinar with Radio Marneuli, calling in all the way from Georgia! The session is titled: The Lights Must Stay On: Georgia’s Democratic Decline and the Voice of Radio Marneuli. NFCB is proud to bring the team from Radio Marneuli in Georgia to the virtual stage. Radio Marneuli is a community media outlet reporting daily in Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian and it serves one of Georgia’s most ethnically diverse regions. In this webinar we'll learn more about Georgia's multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society, the connections between community media and democracy, and the challenges of working in Georgia's current political landscape. *NFCB believes in the power of radio to connect communities near and far, and we're thrilled to have our new friends in Georgia share their experiences and inspired global connection through the magic of broadcasting.* So grab a drink and a snack and join us for an inspiring conversation. Registration is free and open to all, so please share with anyone you think would like to join. Link in bio 📻

This month's newsletter centers on trust in the age of noise, practical AI workflows for small nonprofits, and a look inside a Georgian community radio station! Link in bio 👆🏽

Hard to believe it's already March! Bring in this new month with some good reads from NFCB's CEO and our Pass the Mic featured author Dr. Byron Green-Calisch. Plus... there's a big announcement inside! Not subscribed? Head to our website to read and get community radio goodness delivered to your inbox every month. Link in bio 👆🏽

This month's newsletter is all about reflecting on NFCB's 2025 accomplishments, leaning into partnerships and collaboration, a chat with outgoing board member Sharon Maeda, and more. Read and subscribe at nfcb.org/newsletter

With the season of generosity and giving just around the corner, we’re happy to announce that our custom-made socks and 50th anniversary conference posters are now available as donation thank you gifts on our website! Want to give your loved ones a gift that will keep them cozy AND supports the important work of NFCB? Look no further. Our 11"x17" poster commemorating NFCB's 50th anniversary and national conference was created by Moab, UT based artist Riley Lubich. It celebrates all of the flora and fauna that make Utah (our 2025 conference location) so unbelievably beautiful. The print was created with hand carved linoleum blocks and digital collage and assembly. Our socks’ design is based on the poster and custom made by SockClub. They are “one size fits all” which we know is not a real thing, BUT we can guarantee that they will fit most adult sized feet and calves! For a donation of $50, you can choose the socks or the poster. For a donation of $100, you will get both! Supplies are limited, so don't wait -- click the button below to make your donation and claim your gift(s). And thank you for lifting up the work of NFCB and community radio!

Did you know that nearly 100% of NFCB member stations air music?? That's right whether it's a blend of live and local public affairs with DJ curated music shows or it's all music all the time, our stations truly embody what's so special about Public Radio Music Day. Why does Public Radio Music Day matter? Because public radio is one of the last places where music is curated by real people, not algorithms. Today we honor the voices, vibes, and venues that make our music scene thrive — and the stations that bring them all together. 💥 This is what Live. Local. Essential. sounds like. Celebrate by tuning in to some of our nearly 200 member stations for some excellent tunes! #PublicRadioMusicDay2025 #LiveLocalEssential

🎉 Big News! The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has awarded the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) a $1.25 million general operating support grant during our 50th anniversary year! “This remarkable gift allows NFCB to meet this moment of change with confidence, creativity, and care,” — Rima Dael, NFCB CEO 🎙️ Learn more about NFCB: 🌐 Learn more about the MacArthur Foundation:

News of Public Media Infrastructure, the importance of community broadcasting, Vu Le's thoughts of the Retailification of Equity, Adopt-a-Station, and more. All the goods are in our bio link!

This month's missive features insights about leading through uncertainty, explores polycrises, rest, and renewal. We also pass the mic to Cultural Survival and share a collection of media coverage highlighting impacts of the Rescissions Act and CPB's closure to community media. Not subscribed? Link in bio!

Check out our August Newsletter! This month's missive dives into the impact of CPB's closing on community radio stations all over the country, the importance of the mundane when we're doing big work, how psychographic data helps raise money, and insights into finding your "why." Not subscribed? Click the link in our bio. Shout out the amazing team at @kcawradio Raven Radio in Sitka, Alaska! #DefundedNotDefeated

Op Ed from our CEO, Rima Dael. Read it in full in our blog. Link in bio. Defunding public media doesn’t punish NPR—it guts the emergency lifelines that small towns and Tribal communities depend on. The Senate’s vote to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media has been framed as a rebuke to NPR. Critics argue the network lost its impartiality, and some have welcomed this cut as an overdue reckoning. But NPR is not the real casualty here. Rural America is. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) represents nearly 200 community radio stations across the United States. Most of these stations are not affiliated with NPR or PBS. They are hyper-local, often 100% volunteer-run operations serving small towns, Tribal nations, and rural communities. They operate on shoestring budgets, powered by donated time and secondhand equipment. For these stations, federal support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is not ideological—it is survival. According to CPB and GAO reports, up to half of rural stations could go off the air without federal funding. And when those stations go silent, so do the emergency alert systems communities rely on during wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and other emergencies. This is not theoretical. AM/FM radio remains the most reliable medium in a crisis (FCC, 2018). When cell towers burn, when the power goes out, when internet networks fail, people turn to battery-powered radios. In many rural and Tribal regions, these community stations are the only real-time source of life-saving information. Read the whole op ed via link in bio.