Fund-raising may test public giving

Fund-raising may test public giving: "Fund-raising may test public giving

By BILL VIRGIN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

As many non-commercial, community and public radio stations regularly do, Bellevue's KBCS-FM (91.3) recently held a fund-raising campaign.

Unlike many of those campaigns, KBCS's pledge drive wasn't for itself. Instead, it was soliciting donations for community station WWOZ in New Orleans, which was forced off the air in late August by Hurricane Katrina.

While it's an example of the radio industry rallying around in times of trouble, it also points up an interesting challenge for this region's non-commercial, community and public stations as they enter the fall fund-raising season.

Having been hit up for charitable contributions for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita (and earlier this year for victims of the East Asian tsunami), are potential donors tapped out?"