The station will secure 70 percent of its non-federal operating budget by reaching its goal. Wilson said the station has 300 volunteers to answer phones. Volunteers sign up for two or more hours. New volunteers will be scheduled for April 1-4. Premiums are thank-you gifts that listeners who pledge their support to the station receive, she said.
Listeners also donate gifts.
Last year, listeners donated 1,900 gifts. This year, a listener donated an acupuncture session for a dog, cat and a chicken, she said. Montana Public Radio provides its own premium gifts each year, like T-shirts, ceramic mugs and classical music CDs. Fund raising started 20 years ago when a listener who could afford to give money called, but offered to rake someone's yard if that person would make a donation. The station has received 35,000 premiums since.