NPR Announces $1 Million Gift to the Public Media Bridge Fund to Support Member Stations

The Public Media Bridge Fund will use the restricted gift to provide grant funding and advisory support to eligible NPR Member organizations to build more sustainable operating models.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 15, 2026 — NPR today announced a $1 million restricted gift to the Public Media Bridge Fund to support NPR Member organizations addressing sustainability challenges. The Bridge Fund supports local public media organizations through programs that aim to prevent at-risk stations from closing, help stations achieve sustainability, and seed collaborative operating models.

As the ongoing effects of the rescission of federal funding continue to pose significant financial challenges to many NPR Members, NPR is aligned with the Bridge Fund’s approach to identifying and providing support for stations most at risk. NPR’s restricted gift to the Bridge Fund is earmarked for grants to eligible NPR Member organizations and will be administered directly through the Fund’s established grant giving framework.

“We are grateful for NPR’s partnership in this work” said Erik Langner, Executive Director of the Public Media Bridge Fund. “We look forward to working with NPR Member organizations to help them identify and implement targeted sustainability strategies and secure local public media service across the country.”

"NPR shares in the goals of the Public Media Bridge Fund and believes deeply in its approach," Ryan Merkley, NPR’s Chief Operations Officer stated. "By combining direct funding with essential advisory support and strategic consulting, this partnership will help the NPR Network navigate the current economic climate and transition toward more sustainable operating models for the future."

• Application Process & Eligibility: To learn more about the Bridge Fund’s grant programs, comprehensive guidelines, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, visit the Station Resources page of their website. Additional sustainability programs will be announced in the coming weeks.

• Review Timeline: Applications are reviewed by the Bridge Fund on a rolling basis. Applicants can expect to hear from the Bridge Fund regarding their status over the course of 2027.

• Frequently Asked Questions: A full FAQ regarding the Public Media Bridge Fund is available.

For direct inquiries about the application process or the fund itself, please contact the Public Media Bridge Fund team at bridgefund@publicmedia.co.

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About NPR

NPR's rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connect with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in person. NPR was founded on a mission to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and more than a dozen international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners and readers can find NPR everywhere — through their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), online at NPR.org, wherever podcasts are available, and by downloading the NPR app. The NPR app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and Instagram.

About the Public Media Bridge Fund

The Public Media Bridge Fund, an initiative of Public Media Company, is designed to guide local public media through a crisis moment to a more sustainable, vibrant, and impactful future. Launched in 2025, the Bridge Fund has raised over $86 million to date with the mission of maintaining public media service across the country; protecting essential infrastructure for local, nonprofit use; and strengthening system-wide resilience and community value for the long-term. The Bridge Fund’s strategy is rooted in a sequential and progressive framework, beginning with stabilization and moving through sustainability with the ultimate goal of adapting the system to solidify public media as a cornerstone of a more connected society. For more information, visit publicmediabridgefund.org.