When you donate to CKUA, your dollars go to work. And they work hard!
Did you know it costs $27,600 per month to operate our 16 transmitters and stream online?
This allows us to connect with 378 communities in Alberta and, of course, the entire world.
CKUA’s monthly costs for utilities alone are currently over $38,200. With bills like these, you can see the importance of every donation.
“The reality is, reaching everyone we reach requires a massive amount of infrastructure. And radio takes a fair amount of energy, as it’s literally translating electricity into radio waves,” says Adam Mitchell, CKUA’s Chief Operating Officer. Beyond the infrastructure, tech and utilities, CKUA is, of course, powered by people!
“For every hour of radio that’s created, there are more than 12 human beings directly attached to that broadcast,” Mitchell says, listing off hosts, technicians, IT support, operators, ad writers, librarians and more.
“And really, that is what makes CKUA, which I think is really unique in this country and in some ways unique in this world, so special: there is a human touch every step along the way.”
Despite careful, strategic cost management, our budget has grown significantly in recent years with the knock-on effects of the economy, necessary technology investments, maintaining 24/7 operations, managing our loan, and making strategic personnel investments for long-term stability.
All told, it currently costs $660,300 per month to fund CKUA’s overall operations.
It can feel like a daunting number. However, it needn’t be. It’s just a reminder that everyone needs to do their part.
“If all 500,000 listeners who tune in every month were to contribute even the smallest amount that they were able to afford, we would never have to worry about our financial stability again,” says Mitchell.
“It is remarkable how much support we are given from less than 10% of our listening audience,” he continues. “But we need more listeners to step up to make this sustainable for the long term.”
Already, CKUA stretches every dollar.
“We are actually quite a lean operation for the type of radio and type of broadcaster that we are,” says Mitchell. “We’re a non-profit, we’re a charity, we’re donor-funded and so, we are very conscious of the dollars that we spend. The difference between success and failure every day comes from the passion of the people who are making it work with less than what they need to do it.”
Our fundraisers are a moment for listeners to remember what CKUA means to them.
“We can’t afford to lose what CKUA brings,” Mitchell says. “We provide a vital voice for music, arts, and culture in the province, which is more important now than ever.”
If you’re curious to know more about the value CKUA provides in myriad ways, across a multitude of platforms, please check out our latest Community Report. Want to learn more about the cost of doing business? See how we put your donation to work.
Invest in CKUA’s mission to improve the world through music, arts, and culture.
