As we step into March, many of our stations are entering one of the most important rhythms of the year: pledge drive season. It’s a time when we invite our communities to invest in something bigger than a broadcast signal — a shared cultural space rooted in music, storytelling, and local connection. In this issue, I’m sharing a few favorite best practices around inclusive fundraising and how boards can participate meaningfully in sustaining your work. Not every board member needs to make the ask — but every board member can help build a culture of philanthropy, and participation truly matters.
I’m also excited to share that NFCB will be partnering with Greater Public as part of the newly reimagined Public Media Growth Conference (PMGC) in Chicago. Formerly PMDMC, this gathering is evolving to bring together revenue, content, leadership, and digital teams under one shared vision of growth. For 2026, PMGC is building a bigger tent — welcoming the Public Media Content Collective (PMCC) and NFCB as core partners and expanding opportunities for collaboration across the public media ecosystem.
As part of this work, NFCB will host a one-day regional convening focused on in-person gathering and peer-to-peer learning — building directly on what we’ve heard members want most right now. We’ll continue celebrating 50 years of serving community radio stations all across the country! NFCB invites you to the 2026 NFCB Community Radio Convening in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
You have spoken up, and we are listening! This convening will center on three of the major spokes in the community broadcasting wheel: organizational health, revenue, and engagement. The day will be rich with engaging and relevant content that will leave attendees not only feeling regrounded in their work but equipped with actionable tools they can apply at stations right away. In addition to these learning sessions, NFCB has built in generous breaks for that invaluable time to connect with old friends and to make new ones.
We can’t wait to see you in Chicago!
