Made for the moments that matter.

20 20

Annual Report July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

A Message from Jon McTaggart
and Mary Brainerd:

Dear Members and Friends,

In 1967, the Public Broadcasting Act was signed to ensure that cultural and educational programming and reliable news would be free, independent and accessible to all. It’s no coincidence that Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) was founded that same year. Today, as we face a global pandemic and continuing economic turmoil, and as we grapple with our nation’s history of systemic racism and the divisiveness of the recent election season, our public service is more important than any other time in our history. We were made for this moment.

You help to make this possible. Generous and sustained support from our members, donors, underwriters and friends helps to ensure that our public service can continue to be freely accessible to curious people everywhere at a time when more people are depending on us for trusted information, solace, joy, community and human connection.

Your generosity fuels vital daily news coverage and in-depth reporting on the most important stories from around the state and across the nation. Your support helps American Public Media (APM) bring the excellence of the BBC World Service to millions of listeners. Your gifts help Marketplace^® keep us informed with timely insights and stories that illuminate the connections between the global economy and our daily lives. And with your support, the MPR news team is better able to inform Minnesotans about the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of the 2020 elections, and the pressing issues and events that we all need to understand.

Your support helps us bring calming, joyful and inspiring music to millions of listeners in Minnesota and around the world. Through our Classical Music playlists and educational resources, and The Current’s virtual music festivals and listener-informed countdowns, we know this programming is important to you and to so many others. You’re also fueling essential cultural content and engaging podcasts that inform, share personal experiences and create human connection during a time when so many of us feel isolated and need this in our lives.

All of this, all that we do, is made possible by your care and contributions. On behalf of all of us at MPR and APM, thank you for listening and for supporting our public service so generously.

Our mission is to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit, thereby enhancing the
lives and expanding
the perspectives of our audiences, and assisting them in strengthening
their communities.

Warmly and most gratefully,

Jon McTaggart Chief Executive Officer

Mary Brainerd Chair, Board of Trustees,
2018–2020

Your support is making a difference.

20 million weekly listeners to
national programming
from APM

1 million weekly FM radio
listeners regionally

8 million monthly website visitors
across MPR | APM

167,289 contributing members

38 emerging leaders
supported as Interns and Fellows since
the program began

$48M from the Inspired
by You campaign invested across
MPR | APM

1,685 members in the
MPR Legacy Society

$191M in our endowment

1,000+ journalism awards received

Your Impact

This year was a critical time for MPR and APM, the public media service you’ve helped create and build for the community. In what seems like the blink of an eye, teams across the organization responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, state- and nationwide protests against racial injustice and a contentious election season.
Our community has navigated significant challenges, and we’ve done it together.
We were made for these moments.

Your support ensures that MPR and APM can continue to fulfill the
commitment we made to our audiences 54 years ago.

Your generosity

fuels essential daily journalism on topics that listeners, like you, care deeply about.

Your support

brings people together through music and elevates Minnesota’s incredible creative ecosystem.

Your gifts

fund innovative cultural programs that create human connection during a time of isolation.

Your investment

ensures that trusted and accurate news is available to our entire community—whenever you need it, on any device you choose.

Without you, none of this would be possible. You helped MPR and APM weather the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus crisis, and you made sure that audiences in Minnesota and around the world could access trusted, fact-based journalism and inspiring music when our community needed us most.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our mission and supporting our public service so generously. The 2020 Annual Report is a celebration of the extraordinary things you’ve made possible this year.

I’ve enjoyed MPR since the very beginning. Now, I don’t simply enjoy it. I need it. I’d go stark raving mad without it during these times of isolation. John, Ely, MN

These are extraordinary times and MPR is an extraordinary resource. Thank you for all you do to keep MN informed. Deb, Eagan, MN

Accolades

MPR | APM has received more than 1,000 journalism awards and has been recognized for our outstanding music programming and national on-demand content. None of this would be possible without your support! Here are a few that we’re especially proud of. You should be, too.

Madeleine Baran interviews Curtis Flowers. Photo: Ben Depp

In the Dark recognized with Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award

In the Dark: Season Two was honored with a 2020 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in the Radio category for their reporting on the case of Curtis Flowers, a Black man on Mississippi’s death row who was tried six times for the same crime. The RFK Awards honor outstanding reporting on human rights, social justice and the power of individual action. In the Dark cast grave doubts about Flowers’ guilt, and the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed Flowers’ conviction, ruling that the prosecutor used racial discrimination in jury selection. In September 2020, the state of Mississippi dropped all charges against Flowers, making him a free man.

MPR News reporters covering the Noor trial. Photo: Evan Frost

MPR News wins regional and national Edward R. Murrow Awards

The Edward R. Murrow Awards honor outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. This year, MPR News won three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. In October 2020, The Continuing Coverage award recognized their reporting on the trial of Mohamed Noor, a former Minneapolis police officer who was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in the shooting death of 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk. MPR News’ coverage of the Noor trial also went on to receive a national Murrow award in October 2020. Meanwhile, MPR News received two additional regional Murrow Awards. The Investigative Reporting Award recognized “Innocence Lost” for its investigation into a pattern of abuse at the Children’s Theatre, and mprnews.org received the Multimedia Award. This is the fourth year in a row that MPR News’ website has won a regional Murrow Award.

Other Accolades

Angela Davis, host of MPR News with Angela Davis, was named “Best Radio Personality” in City Pages’ Best of the Twin Cities 2020.
In the Dark received the duPont Silver Baton Award and a Peabody Award in the Podcast & Radio category for its coverage of Flowers v. Mississippi.
MPR News was recognized in 19 categories during the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists’ Page One Awards, including wins for Journalist of the Year and Best Beat Reporting.
Lunar Startups won the Inclusive Evolution Award during Twin Cities Startup Week for their efforts to build a more inclusive, safe, thoughtful and engaging environment.
MPR News was recognized by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association in seven categories, taking home first place in two.
Nora McInerny, host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking, was named Best Overall Host—Female at the 2020 iHeartRadio podcast awards.
Emily Hanford won a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for the audio documentary “At a Loss for Words.”
Spectacular Failures won the Silver Medal at the New York Festivals Radio Awards in the Business Podcast category.
David Safar was named to the 40 Under 40 list for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and was selected by the Twin Cities Business editorial staff as one of the 100 People to Know in 2020.
The U.S. Water Alliance named APM Reports and The Water Main’s collaboration with Great Lakes Today and NPR as the winner for the Outstanding Journalism on the Value of Water award.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We moved to Minnesota five years ago, and MPR is what makes it feel like home. I listen in the car, I listen at home and I recommend it to everyone I know. I love the range of music and the expertise of everyone who presents it. Heather, Orono, MN

Donors

Thank You

We are deeply grateful to the 167,000+ members and the many organizations that supported MPR | APM during the 2020 fiscal year (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020). We were not immune to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but extraordinary support from individual donors and funders helped us navigate financial challenges and continue to serve our audiences during an incredibly difficult time.

This section recognizes the leadership donors, funders and underwriters whose financial investments form the foundation for all that we do. We are tremendously grateful for your ongoing support, and for everything you do to inspire our work.

VIEW OUR DONOR LISTS

I’m especially grateful to the MPR reporters, editors, producers and other staffers who are working their hearts out to provide what’s wanted and needed in this crazy time. You are a source of comfort, necessary upset (as I listen to news that’s heartbreaking and infuriating), love, appreciation, fun, down-to-earth information and much more. You reflect life back to us in full. Thank you for all of it.

Melinda V., St. Paul, MN, Member

MPR News is our North Star.

Chris and David B., Shakopee, MN, Leadership Circle

Sanity daily.

Ludmilla M., Brooklyn, NY, Member

voice of peace and love.

Bill L., Fargo, ND, Member

Keeps me connected.

Kari K., Minneapolis, MN, Member

As longtime MPR members, we are moved to support Little Moments Count and Call to Mind because we are committed to efforts that effect deep social change and foster equality for all, regardless of race, gender or country of origin. We give where we see opportunities that raise the public consciousness to free people from ingrained challenges of poverty, mental health and discrimination.

Bill and Susan S., President’s Circle Members

Public radio: It enriches my life.
It entertains me. It educates me. It helps me know what’s going on. It’s a kind of information lifeline. I’m a professor and it’s important that my students and their families have access to the finest news reporting around. That’s why I support MPR;
I want MPR to benefit all the citizens of Minnesota.

Adrienne C., Legacy Society member

Keeps me informed.

Anthony J. C., Rochester, MN, Member

Challenges me.

Bret A., Duluth, MN, Member

Brings me joy.

Willy T., St. Paul, MN, Member

Like Old Friends.

Nick H., Eagan, MN, Member

MPR gives Minnesotans access to news that opens minds, just as UCare gives Minnesotans access to care that creates pathways to better health. As a long-time supporter, we value how reporters pull back the curtain on topics such as health equity, the pandemic, and racial and social health risk factors. MPR and UCare share a deep appreciation for service—and the people that power that service. Thanks for being a trusted news source.

Ghita W., UCare, Sponsorship Partner

My fiancé and I have been working from home in our small apartment for the past eight weeks. The Current is our favorite co-worker. Thanks for keeping us sane and connected to the community during these crazy times! Emily, Minneapolis, MN

About

Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is one of the nation’s premier public media organizations, producing programming for radio, digital and live audiences. With its three core services—MPR News, Classical MPR and The Current—MPR operates a 46-station radio network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states, reaching 1 million radio listeners each week.
A complete list of stations, programs, podcasts and additional services can be found here.

MPR News
The Current
Classical MPR

VIEW HD Radio Offerings

American Public Media

American Public Media (APM), MPR’s national programming division, is a producer and distributor of award-winning radio programming and podcasts. APM is the largest producer and distributor of classical music programming in the country and the nation’s largest station-based producer of public radio programming. APM programs reach 20 million listeners nationwide each week on approximately 1,000 radio stations, and its suite of podcasts delivers over 17.5 million downloads every month. The diverse portfolio of broadcast and on-demand programming is listed here.

APM has approximately 1,000 station affiliates covering all 50 states (including FM, AM and HD channels)

Indicates approximate distribution of MPR and APM programming
St. Paul, MinnesotaAmerican Public Media and Minnesota Public Radio headquarters
Greater Minnesota (Rochester, Collegeville, Bemidji, Moorhead, Worthington and Duluth) MPR News bureaus
Los Angeles, California Marketplace headquarters
Pasadena, California KPCC Southern California Public Radio™ headquarters (a part of APMG)
New York City,
New York Studio/bureau location for Marketplace, The Splendid Table, Live from Here, Performance Today
Washington, D.C. Marketplace bureau location
London, UK Headquarters for BBC—an APM distribution partnership; Marketplace bureau location
Shanghai, China (not shown on map) Marketplace bureau location

Map is intended as a representation of APM programming reach, not of exact station locations.

Programs and Initiatives

as of June 30, 2020

ON THE WEB:

ON Social media:

STREAMING AUDIO SERVICES:

INNOVATIONS AND INITIATIVES:

POPULAR MPR PODCASTS:

BROADCAST PROGRAMMING NEWS AND INFORMATION:

CLASSICAL MUSIC:

POPULAR AND AWARD-WINNING PODCASTS FROM APM AND MARKETPLACE:

[MPR News] does incredible work year round, but I was particularly impressed with their reporting on the murder of George Floyd. Your reporters regularly risked their health and safety to bring us the most updated and informed news. You are true heroes in my mind, and I appreciate you. Anna, Minneapolis, MN

Leadership

Minnesota Public Radio Board of Trustees

as of June 30, 2020

Board officers

Mary Brainerd,: Chair
Jim Dwyer,: Vice-Chair
Jon R. McTaggart,: President
Sima Griffith,: Secretary
Larry Berger,: Treasurer

Trustees

Vivek Agrawal Senior Partner
McKinsey & Co.

Wendy Bennett Consultant to Foundations
in Global Health

Dr. Larry L. Berger EVP & Chief Technical Officer
Ecolab

Mary Brainerd Former CEO
HealthPartners

Julie Causey Chairman Emeritus
Western Bank

Jim Dwyer Chairman of the Board
8th Avenue Food & Provisions

Ivan Fong Senior Vice President,
General Counsel & Secretary
3M Corporation

Sid Gandhi Senior Vice President,
Chief Strategy and Enterprise
Technology Officer
Securian Financial Group

Sima Griffith Managing Principal
Aethlon Capital, LLC

Shawntera M. Hardy Founder & Chief Strategy Officer PolicyGrounds Consulting

Kandace Heck Executive Vice President,
Chief Audit Executive
U.S. Bank

Libby Hlavka President
Driscoll Foundation

Kenneth Holmen, MD President & CEO
CentraCare Health

Omar Ishrak Executive Chairman &
Chairman of the Board
Medtronic Inc.

Rick King Managing Director
Thomson Reuters

Jonathan Low Predictiv Consulting

Nancy Lyons President & CEO
Clockwork Active Media

Jon R. McTaggart CEO
American Public Media Group

David D. Murphy Retired President & CEO
Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc.

Drew Murphy Senior Vice President,
Strategic Planning
Edison International

Liwanag Ojala CEO
CaringBridge

Nii-Ayite Quaye Senior Vice President,
Strategy & Growth
Pentair plc

Marianne D. Short Executive Vice President &
Chief Legal Officer
UnitedHealth Group

Patricia S. Simmons, MD Executive Medical Director,
Health Policy Emeritus
Mayo Clinic

Jean Taylor Board Chair
Star Tribune

Active Life Trustees

Susan Boren King Retired Partner
SpencerStuart

Ian R. Friendly Retired COO
General Mills

Randall J. Hogan Retired Chairman & CEO
Pentair plc

Karin L. Larson Retired Chair
Capital International Research, Inc.

Addison (Tad) Piper Retired Chairman & CEO
Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc

Steven M. Rothschild Founder and Chair
Twin Cities R!SE

Honorary Life Trustees

William Pearce

Joanne Von Blon

President Emeritus

William H. Kling Green Island Group LLC

MPR | APM Staff Officers

as of June 30, 2020

Duchesne Drew President
Minnesota Public Radio

Morris Goodwin Senior Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer

David Kansas President
American Public Media &
Executive Vice President
APM Group

Nicholas Kereakos Senior Vice President &
Chief Technology Officer

Michael Lewis Senior Vice President,
General Counsel & Chief Corporate Development Officer for American Public Media Group

Jon R. McTaggart President & CEO
American Public Media Group

Christine Phelps Senior Vice President &
Chief Human Resources Officer

Mike Reszler Senior Vice President &
Chief Strategy Officer

Carmen Rodriguez Johnson Senior Vice President,
Audience Development &
Chief Marketing Officer

Timothy T. Roesler Senior Vice President &
Chief Business Development Officer

Randi Yoder Senior Vice President &
Chief Development Officer

In the wake of national unrest and a renewed demand for racial justice, and on the eve of a back-to-school season unlike any in memory, Emily Hanford’s new radio doc reminds us why these deep-seated inequalities among U.S. children continue to persist. The Fordham Institute

Financials

Year-End Operating Results and Audited Financial Statements

Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media is financially healthy, finishing fiscal year 2020 with $104 million in Total Operating Support and Earned Revenue. Diversified revenue streams are a strength of MPR | APM; however, following the events of COVID-19, we experienced significant decreases in revenue from underwriting sponsorships and live events. In these challenging times, your financial support is especially important in keeping MPR | APM fiscally strong and enables us to fulfill our essential public service mission. Complete audited financial statements for fiscal year 2020 and other financial information can be found at mpr.org/finances.

Total Operating Revenue

Expenses

Endowment

MPR | APM is the fortunate beneficiary of several endowment funds. As of June 30, 2020, our endowment was valued at $191 million, including $33 million from estates, individual donors and other community gifts. Gifts earmarked for endowment are critically important for organizational strength and sustainability.

Accountability—Top Rating

MPR | APM maintains the highest standards for nonprofit accountability and transparency. We have earned the highest “four-star” rating from Charity Navigator and received the Charities Review Council’s seal for meeting accountability standards that include public disclosure, governance, financial activity and fundraising.

Inspired by You Campaign Raises $98 Million for MPR | APM

When Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and American Public Media (APM) launched the Inspired by You campaign in 2015, we hoped to raise $75 million to transform our public service for the benefit of rapidly changing audiences in Minnesota and around the world. It was an incredibly ambitious goal, but our campaign donors demonstrated their belief in the potential and power of public media, giving and pledging more than $98 million during this campaign.
Thank you so much!

Michael Pollan and Dessa in conversation at a 2019 Call to Mind event.
Photo: Eamon Coyne

Already, more than $48 million has been invested in people with new skills and talents, compelling content, innovative programming on digital channels and platforms, and new technology and tools that enable us to reach larger and more diverse audiences who are consuming media in new ways.

The Water Main in the field. Photo: Evan Frost

We invested in special initiatives focused on three critical issues: clean water, mental health and early childhood brain development. Campaign gifts helped us support an outstanding team of investigative journalists whose diligent work helps uncover the truth and, in one project, informed the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn a man’s death sentence. The campaign has strengthened our news and music services and inspired innovative programming for kids. It funded APM Research Lab, which brings context and credibility to the headlines. It has provided opportunities for the next generation of public media talent through our Interns and Fellows program.
And so much more.

Students at Zanewood Elementary enjoy a Class Notes performance by Siama’s Congo Roots. Photo: Courtney Perry

Our campaign donors also made deferred gifts that will strengthen our endowment and help to ensure the future of our public service—for you, for your children and for our communities.

Organizer and activist Wess Philome counts signs, flags and a camera among his key advocacy tools. Photo: Ann Arbor Miller

Campaign investments prepared us to be nimble in the face of new challenges so that we could be there for our audiences during the moments that matter. We expanded our digital media expertise and added audience insights to inform and customize our broadcasts and podcasts. We also used campaign investments to tell stories in new ways and illuminate some of the cultural inequities brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd in order to better serve the millions of people who rely on us as we navigate these challenges together.

$48M

has already been put to work across the organization

105% outright gift goal exceeded
$21.6M pledged from institutions and foundations
$31.1M from individuals as outright gifts and pledges
$45.5M secured in deferred commitments

Learn more about the transformational impact of the
Inspired by You campaign here. VIEW the INSPIRED BY YOU CAMPAIGN DONOR LIST

Thank you

for supporting MPR through all the moments that matter. Our communities are stronger because of you.

View previous annual reports:

PHOTO CREDITS (from top to bottom, left to right): Home: Liam James, Caroline Yang, Courtesy of Mary Brainerd; Your Impact: Christine T. Nguyen, APM, Evan Frost, Eusebius “Cee” Williams, The Current, Provided, Hunter Hart, Marius Becker, Brendan Bush, APM, APM Research Lab, Christine T. Nguyen, YouthLens 360, Courtesy of Little Moments Count, Derek Montgomery; Donors: Donor Images Provided, Rick Fuller (Courtesy of the Artist); About: Evan Frost; Leadership: Derek Montgomery; Financials: N.A.