In its first 16 months under independent, nonprofit ownership, Iowa Public Radio says it has exceeded its fundraising targets, and officials from the news and entertainment service say the organization has the funds to grow.

A year after launching its first-ever comprehensive campaign, “A Resounding Future,” the nonprofit has brough in $8 million in current and future gifts, according to to IPR Executive Director Myrna Johnson.

That surpassed the campaign’s $6.5 million goal. Johnson said those funds will be used to expand its news coverage in Iowa.

“With this infusion of support for IPR, we plan to increase our journalism coverage, grow our endowment, invest in our infrastructure and develop the next generation of public radio professionals,” Johnson said in a prepared statement.

IPR secured gifts from more than 200 Iowans, led by a volunteer fundraising cabinet from around the state co-chaired by Nora Everett, Julie Monson and Robert Riley, the release says.

In May, the statewide radio and streaming service announced it had already achieved 85% of its goal, reaching $5.5 million in donations and pledges.

“Seeing generous donors across the state step forward to show their support for Iowa Public Radio’s future was incredibly rewarding,” Everett said in a prepared statement. “These supporters value IPR as a trusted, local source for news, music, information and ideas that matter to Iowans.”

The conversion into an independent nonprofit ownership came as IPR began to see financial support dwindle from the Iowa Board of Regents, which manages the state’s public universities, and the Iowa Legislature. By 2022, IPR had lost more than $1 million in state funding over a two-year period.

The financial loss included an $875,000 cut in 2020 by the Regents and elimination of $345,000 in funding by the Iowa Legislature.

In July 2022, IPR took ownership of its 26 broadcast stations, rather than managing the public radio groups of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, which the organization had done since 2004.

IPR is an NPR Network station that reports a weekly audience of over 205,000 listeners across its
News, Studio One and Classical services. According to the organization, 86% percent of IPR’s annual funding comes from community support through individual contributions, grants and corporate sponsors.

The public radio network said in the release it’s finalizing a new mission, vision and four-year strategic plan to execute the priorities of the funding campaign.

“We are committed to providing essential information and connection to Iowans, and we believe that the results of this campaign, along with our new brand identity and vision, reflect that commitment,” Johnson said in a prepared statement.