From Rob Gordon, General Manager of WPLN on their blog,  ‘PLN Post:

Revenue from individuals has been strong, which we attribute in part to an increase in the number of listeners to WPLN, coming at a time when other electronic media are experiencing a decline in audience. These strong numbers are confirmed by the most recent reports from Arbitron, the company that measures radio listening in the Nashville market.

You may have already heard that the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has released its annual pork report. According to TCPR, grants to the nonprofit community are part of the fat that needs to be cut. Here is a summary of the “pork” that TCPR sees in the nonprofit community:

• $6,000 to Nashville Public Radio and $3,240 to Nashville Public Television. TCPR states that these grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission are “creating a glaring conflict of interest for the two mid-state media outlets.”

• $500 grant to the Maury County Public Library.

• $3,600 to Tango Nashville for the nonprofit’s annual event at Centennial Park.

• $15,200 to the “Arts at the Airport”  program that subsidized the hanging of local art on the walls of terminals.

• $3,000 to the Houston County Arts Council for a production of Hello Dolly.

The report then leads into a section called “Tax Dollars for Dirty Movies” and highlights $29,040 the Tennessee Arts Commission “handed” to the Nashville Film festival.

As members of the nonprofit community, you should know that this is being written…

For those of you that are regular WPLN listeners, you recognize the spring membership campaign has kicked off today. WPLN’s General Manager Rob Gordon takes to ‘PLN Post to explain why this method is a part of their fundraising efforts (to summarize, it works!). Here is another interesting tidbit from his explanation (emphasis is mine):

Furthermore, it takes time, as long as four years, for someone to come to believe public radio is important enough to deserve their personal support. Along with time, they need reminders. On-air drives supply the idea (to join) and the suggestion (do it now.)

I received my weekly e-newsletter from WPLN today, and with it came news of their new blog, “The ‘PLN Post.” Click here to read the first post authored by General Manager, Rob Gordon.

The Nashville City Paper has a story today on Metro’s reduction in funding of community education programs. Vital programs like Nashville Adult Literacy Council, among others, could be in danger. NewsChannel 5 did a story last month on the importance of NALC. Click here to view the report and visit NALC’s Web site for volunteer information. 

Adult literacy cuts spur confusion, efforts to make amends
Nate Rau and Amy Griffith Graydon
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:00 am

Metro leaders are scrambling to rescue the Community Education program, which because of forthcoming layoffs has left initiatives like adult literacy and senior citizens activities in serious jeopardy.

They’re also trying to sort out precisely what happened. Confusion around the layoffs has highlighted a funding and management structure for the program that some officials say was inherently doomed.

Metro Council has scheduled a special joint meeting of the budget and finance and education committees for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the issue. And members of Nashville’s Board of Education are awaiting a report on the issue from new Director of Schools Jesse Register.

Continue reading ‘Cuts to Vital Community Education Programs Results in Confusion’

• 

This morning, WPLN featured a story about CNM’s strategy to help the nonprofit community during the economic crisis:

CNM Sends Out Warning to Non-Profits
Thursday, October 02nd, 2008

The Center for Non-Profit Management sent out a warning to local charities today, suggesting they batten down the hatches. And if they’re not feeling the current economic crisis, they will.

CNM works with 750 non-profits around Middle Tennessee. President Lewis Lavine says many are fairing well so far. Charities are raising money and donations without too much trouble. He says foundations with significant investments will see a more immediate impact from the financial fallout. But the worst is yet to come. Lavine recalls after September 11th, 2001, the toughest time for non-profits wasn’t until late 2002.

“So we’re concerned that 2009 may be a tough year for the non-profit community generally.”

Lavine says the non-profit world nearly always trails the business cycle.

The Center for Non-Profit Management has schedule four free sessions starting next week to help agencies plan for weathering the economic storm.

By Blake Farmer