In September, 2025, we shared the news that one of CKUA’s longtime listeners and donors, Dr. Fredrykka Rinaldi, has made a $350,000 pledge of support to CKUA. What a thrill it was to celebrate this generosity. We are so grateful!
CKUA’s Chief Development Officer, Kevin Fitzgerald, says, “CKUA has always been a community. I’m inspired by the way this community comes together with each donor giving in accordance with their personal situation. Dr. Rinaldi’s generosity is a sign of strong momentum as we build a major gift fundraising program to align with our 100th anniversary in 2027.”
Dr. Rinaldi said it beautifully on the radio with host Grant Stovel: “CKUA is built up piece by piece. Whether that’s $5 per month or $25 a campaign, those numbers add up…Those people are the bedrock. It’s the people who give whatever they can give who hold CKUA together.”
Part of CKUA’s magic is that every person matters in creating and sharing a truly one-of-a-kind mix of music, arts, and culture.
Listener donations help fund the work we do to bring you the programming you love. That’s Gerome crisscrossing Alberta to fix transmitters, Arianne guiding the curation of our library, Adam taking the reins as acting CEO, and many more people in and out of the music studios.
Major gift fundraising is a new revenue stream, designed to help create a fully sustainable CKUA. While listener donations help cover daily operations, major gifts pledged by donors such as Dr. Rinaldi will be used to pay off the debt on the CKUA Edmonton Studio and to make investments in several strategic growth areas.
We are also seeing momentum with other important pieces for CKUA’s future, including corporate donations and the opportunity for donors to support CKUA with a gift in their will.
Every piece matters. Every donation is essential. And our fundraisers will always be the cornerstone of our fund development plans. That’s why we need listeners to show up in every way they can during Fall Fundraiser, October 17 – 26.
To all who give, thank you for your dedication and commitment to CKUA. If you are one of the people who always donates during the Fall Fundraiser, we can’t wait to hear from you again. If you have never donated before, please get in touch. We’d love to welcome you to the loyal crew that keeps the music playing. Together, we will ensure this remarkable station moves sustainably into its second century.
As always, if you have questions about your donation or would like to discuss your plans with us, please get in touch by emailing donors@ckua.com.
