Minnesota Public Radio Receives $56 Million Charitable Gift

Jun 8, 2022

Largest Gift In Organization’s History

ST. PAUL, Minn. June 8, 2022 –  Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), a member of the American Public Media Group (APMG), announced today that it has received a cash gift of $56 million, the largest in the organization’s 55-year history, from an anonymous donor. In keeping with the donor’s explicit intent for this contribution, the funds will be used exclusively to serve YourClassical audiences and provide technological support for new media transmission.  

“This extraordinary gift will have a transformative impact on the future of Minnesota Public Radio and the communities we serve,” said Jean Taylor, APMG President and CEO. “It will enable us to deepen and broaden our relevance with a growing audience by delivering compelling content, creating meaningful listening experiences and advancing MPR’s digital capabilities and infrastructure. Through the generosity and support of this donor – and so many others – we will continue to fulfill our public service mission.” 

MPR will establish a separate permanent endowment to ensure stewardship of this substantial contribution, to best serve the donor’s designated purpose. With funds from this gift, MPR will be able to increase national appreciation of classical music and expand audience reach with new programming and technologies. The allocation between classical programming and new media technologies will be guided by the organization’s strategic priorities. As MPR continues to invest in new media technology, it will serve as a model for digital transformation across APMG. 

“At MPR, we are committed to being a trusted and independent source of information and inspiration for audiences across a diverse portfolio of programming and channels. More than a quarter of the music we play at YourClassical features a musician, ensemble, or composer who is a woman and/or a Black person, Indigenous person or person of color. This generous gift will allow us to expand representation, grow YourClassical’s presence and accelerate digital innovation to broaden and better serve our classical music community,” said Duchesne Drew, APMG Senior Vice President & President of MPR. 

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of this donor,” said Mandy Tuong, MPR Board Member, Gift Task Force Chair and President and CEO of Thrivent Charitable Impact and Investing. “APMG and MPR are fortunate to have donors who believe in our mission and demonstrate their confidence in our shared future through ongoing financial support. As the largest classical public media organization in the country, we are well positioned to bring classical music to a new generation of diverse listeners.”  

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About American Public Media Group 
American Public Media Group (APMG) is the largest station-based public radio organization in the U.S., combining multi-regional station operations, national programming creation and distribution and innovative digital, social and mobile services in one organization. APMG’s operations include Minnesota Public Radio® (MPR®), a 46-station network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. MPR and its three regional services –MPR News, YourClassical MPR and The Current –produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences. APMG is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world and reaches over 17 million listeners with nearly 1,000 public radio stations and over 400 commercial stations nationwide each week. APMG’s national portfolio includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, APM Studios, and the leading classical music programming in the nation, YourClassical. APMG also includes Southern California Public Radio, a five-station network serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County, Coachella Valley, Santa Barbara, and the Inland Empire. For more information – or to become a member and support APMG efforts to reimagine the future of public radio, visit americanpublicmediagroup.org.    

About YourClassical 
YourClassical® is a collection of curated classical music listening experiences and information produced by Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media Group. YourClassical provides audiences with the music they love through terrestrial broadcasts and multiple web-based platforms. Nationally syndicated YourClassical programs include Pipedreams®, SymphonyCast®, Composers Datebook® and Performance Today®, and are in addition to the Radio, Lullaby, Relax, Peaceful Piano, and Holiday audio streams that can be found at YourClassical.org. Regional music programming produced by YourClassical MPR®, is a trusted companion for listeners across Minnesota on broadcast radio, web interfaces and live events. YourClassical MPR’s Kid’s Initiatives strives to inspire the next generation of music fans and artists through in-school learning experiences, educational content, and resources for teachers and parents. Each week, nearly 2.75 million people engage with YourClassical. Learn more and listen at yourclassical.org.