JAZZ.FM91 - Canada's Premier Jazz Station

We like it when the lines are full!

Yes, you read that correctly. Even with the necessary business of fundraising, our twice yearly campaigns are well, fun and frantic! I had my first shift last Saturday morning with Brad Barker and Ross Porter (and about 8 other volunteers), and the 4 hour shift produced over $20,000. Thank you very much!

Moreen Murray

With a fleet of volunteers ready to take your calls, the atmosphere here at the station is busy, but also provides a great sense of camaraderie. We love hearing from our listeners who tell us how long they have listened to the station, how they can't get through the day without us, kudos to favourite on air people and programs, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, the Jazz Safaris, concerts, live to air attendances, children dancing to the music at home....wow!

Our volunteers hard at work

In between calls, our amazing volunteers get to visit and catch up with people they may not have seen for 6 months. Sometimes pictures of grandchildren are proudly shared, and everyone is well nourished thanks to our caterering contributors.

Did I mention the fabulous prizes? CD box sets, DVDs, iPods, MacBooks...those cause a great flurry of activity. We also have listeners who just prefer to quietly contribute, need no swag and feel warm and fuzzy inside, which is nice too.

And where does all this funding go you might ask? I managed to get a few minutes of time from our very, very busy Fundraising and Outreach Director, Alison Liddell so that you can meet her and understand where your contributions go.

How long have you been at JAZZ.FM91 now?

I started at JAZZ.FM in October 2008 – 4 weeks before the fall campaign last year. I’ve worked in fundraising for about 20 years. Have always worked in the charitable sector – past organizations include The University of Toronto, The Easter Seal Society and CNIB. I got into fundraising accidentally – my education is in science. I have a degree in human biology but never worked in that field. I have extensive experience in event planning and fundraising – and have taken lots of courses in those areas.

What is the focus for this fall fundraising campaign?

Beside the financial goal, this year we have a couple of other areas of focus. This is the first year we are planning on sending tax receipts by email, and therefore collecting email addresses for our donors is one focus. Issuing tax receipts by email will help to lower fundraising costs, allowing more of the donation to go towards the station. We are also informing donors about the Jazz Messenger and asking if they would like to receive the weekly e-newsletter. In addition, we are trying to increase the number of auto renew donors – those whose donation will automatically renew on the gift anniversary date. This will also help us lower fundraising costs.

And, we are promoting donor benefits. There are a number of benefits to donors – receiving programming information before the general public, discounts on concert tickets like the Sound of Jazz concert series, access to tickets before the general public, invitations to events at the station – concerts, documentaries, films etc. And going forward, we hope to have more benefits like monthly music downloads.

Also new this year, we currently have 3 member partners – McNally Robinson Booksellers, Europa Travel and Frames and Pictures. McNally Robinson is offering JAZZ.FM91 donors a free Reader Reward Card which gives card holders a 10% discount on everything in the store. Europa Tours is offering JAZZ.FM91 donors a 5% discount on travel booked with them and Frames and Pictures is offering donors a 10% discount.

What does the money raised go towards?

JAZZ.FM91 relies on donations for approximately 50% of its operating budget. We receive no government funding for operations. Money raised through the campaign goes to support the operation of the station including programming, technology etc. In addition, donations made to the station support our community outreach programs – Jazz 4 Kids, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, Jazzology and our scholarship programs

Again, from all of us here, an enormous, heartfelt thank you for keeping jazz on the air and in the community. We couldn't do it without you.

There's still time - donate online or call 1-800-811-2400. I think we all dream of that phone number in our sleep. :)