With $1.1 billion in federal funding on the line, stations now have a new way to raise money—without spending a dime.
From Sesame Street to Cosmos to Masterpiece Theatre, Public Media has long served as one of America’s most trusted and accessible sources of education, culture, and storytelling. Whether it’s early learning for children, science programming that sparks curiosity, or in-depth local journalism, Public Media plays an outsized role in informing and inspiring Americans across the country, especially in rural and underserved areas.
But now, that legacy is under threat.
The proposed elimination of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a move that would withdraw $1.1 billion in funding meant to support NPR, PBS, and hundreds of local stations over the next two years—represents an existential crisis for many stations. Though that amount represents just 0.01% of the federal budget, the impact on local communities could be profound.
In response, Phobio offers its fundraising platform, Phobio for Good to Public Media stations at no cost.
A New Kind of Support Built for the Moment
Phobio for Good s a turnkey platform that enables stations to raise funds by collecting donated phones, laptops, tablets, and other devices from their audience. These used devices are then appraised and responsibly resold or recycled by Phobio—with the full value going back to the station.
The program is:
- Free for stations to use
- Easy to launch with branded assets and promotion tools
- Zero-risk with full logistics and support handled by Phobio
“We Believe in Public Media”
Phobio’s leadership team has long admired the mission and impact of public broadcasting in American life. “We’re not just offering this as a business decision,” says Founder and CEO Stephen Wakeling.. “We believe in what Public Media represents—and we want to give stations a tool they can start using today to stay strong, serve their communities, and weather this funding crisis.”
The company’s hope is that this initiative will help stations create a new revenue stream from an unexpected place: the unused tech in their listeners’ drawers and closets.
An Urgent Time, a Simple Solution
As stations begin to plan for an uncertain future, Phobio for Good offers a ready-made solution to help close funding gaps, energize audiences, and diversify income streams — at no cost and no additional burden on development teams.
In a moment where budgets are shrinking but public need is growing, this free service could become a lifeline.
To learn more or activate Phobio for Good for your station, visit https://www.phobio.com/lp/publicmedia
