1 / Journalism The Campaign for GBH / 2015–2020 FINAL REPORT Digital Century Digital Leadership in the Leadership 1 / GBH Greetings More Than We Could Have Dreamed: Thank You LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS & CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE Dear Friends, CAMPAIGN STEERING When we launched The Campaign for GBH have dreamed possible. It has been COMMITTEE five years ago, we felt a sense of urgency. a humbling honor to work on such an Media consumption and platforms were— ambitious fundraising effort and to witness Kirstan Barnett and still are—in a state of continual the depth of commitment donors have Henry Becton transformation. to GBH’s future. Marcia Blenko Richard M. Burnes, Jr. We also felt a deep sense of certainty A strong GBH not only enriches Boston and Lynn Bay Dayton that GBH, which has been a leader New England, it can guide the nation toward Ann Fudge in media innovation for more than six more civil public discourse, a more profound Ann Gund decades, could—with a solidified financial respect for truth, a greater appreciation Laura Johnson foundation—lead public media into of our shared culture and history and more Susan Kaplan the digital age. equitable access to learning. William Lowell Susan Luo Through the support of hundreds of You will find in this report an overview Oscar Malcolm generous and thoughtful donors, the of the deep impact of the five-year Diana Markowitz expertise of our talented producers and Campaign. On behalf of GBH and the Rodrigo Martinez Christopher McKown the strength and leadership of our Board, Campaign Steering Committee, we extend Liz Morningstar we have achieved more than we could our sincere thanks for your support. Alex Panas Cynthia Strauss William Thorndike Simone Winston Lynn Bay Dayton Richard M. Burnes, Jr. Hans Ziegler Vice Chair, Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus, Board of Trustees Campaign Co-Chair Campaign Co-Chair 3 / GBH Greetings Ensuring a Robust Future for Public Media LETTER FROM GBH PRESIDENT & CEO JON ABBOTT Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of including children’s media and education; led by Co-Chairs Lynn Dayton and so many, our five-year Campaign enabled journalism; history, art and culture; Rick Burnes; and to our Board of Advisors GBH to deliver on its public media mission, and science. led by Chair Liz Morningstar. And a special with broadcast and digital-first content, thanks to Chair Emeritus, Rick Burnes, podcasts, apps, video games and more. In the five years since we began the who led the Board of Trustees during most We are doing our part to lead public media Campaign, GBH has evolved, greatly of the Campaign. into the future, and we fulfilled our promise expanding our geographic reach with to seek the truth, enable democracy and the additions of New England Public I am deeply grateful to all of our donors ensure diverse voices are heard. Media in Springfield and our Worcester and dedicated staff who believed in the news bureau, and with the merger of PRI power of public media, helping GBH bridge As the country’s largest producer of and PRX. We’ve added new leadership communities and cultures, connecting public media programs, our content can at the helm of GBH News, NOVA, us all for years to come. now be streamed on any device, anywhere, and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, and on-demand. And even during the all productions across the Foundation challenges brought by the coronavirus garnered many prestigious awards over pandemic, our digital and over-the-air the course of the Campaign. learning services for children are providing In an increasingly diverse and inter- needed continuity in elementary and Jonathan C. Abbott secondary education, helping close the connected world, our mission has never equity gap. been more important. GBH is a hub for President & CEO positive change and understanding, Throughout this Campaign, we’ve achieved focused on the public good. GBH sustains several significant milestones as the media and affirms a democratic society by being landscape rapidly shifted, especially in a catalyst for civic dialogue, facilitating the past year when we pivoted amid the stronger, more engaged communities— pandemic, a reckoning on systemic racism while inspiring and illuminating along and a consequential election. In the pages the way. that follow we will illustrate the significant FPO-PHOTO OUT impact the Campaign helped to realize I extend my sincere thanks to our Board FOR RETOUCHING in our priority programming areas, of Trustees led by Chair Ann Fudge, the Campaign Steering Committee 5 / GBH Greetings You make everything at GBH possible. The Campaign for GBH: Leadership Unrestricted and designated Catalyst in the Digital Century was the largest Funds provided substantial support, in GBH’s history, raising $215 million, especially critical in these times of rapid against an original goal of $175 million. change, allowing our visionary storytellers, The effort helped to strengthen GBH as journalists and producers to sustain a public media leader on multiple platforms excellent programming, pursue research in children’s media and education; history, and development and make investments arts and culture; journalism and science. in emerging media platforms that meet audiences where and when they want The Campaign attracted support at every to consume content. level and from multiple philanthropic sources, from annual gifts to the Ralph Lowell Society that sustain our day-to-day Your investment operations, to major gifts from individuals and foundations for specific initiatives, to planned and endowment gifts that takes GBH to provide for the future of public media. the next level. 7 / Engage Media & Education Children’s Children’s Media & Education As a leading and trusted producer of children’s media, our multiplatform educational resources inspire and entertain as they teach critical thinking, science literacy and civic engagement. Education is at the core of GBH’s mission. Long a leader The Campaign enabled GBH to continue to transform the lives of children, youth, families and teachers. in producing award-winning children’s and youth media and classroom materials for PBS, GBH reaches millions When schools across the state closed in March 2020 of young people annually through engaging and interactive due to the pandemic, GBH was the go-to resource for the Massachusetts Department of Education to ensure content that can be accessed across all platforms. that learning could continue. With Campaign support GBH is uniquely situated to increase access to quality we were able to respond and develop: educational programming and resources among all Free digital resources from PBS Family Fun at Home, children, particularly those in underserved communities. LearningMedia, easily accessible for an English/Spanish more than one million monthly users summer program featuring hands-on activities, online On-air programming via GBH games and print copies WORLD that reached more than that were distributed 65,000 families with limited access across the state— to broadband and devices, a third of all starring beloved which identify as minority households PBS KIDS characters Teacher training through webinars and interactive virtual workshops 9 / Children’s Media & Education Children’s “Scant words can express the deep gratitude I have for what GBH has created for students and their families.”—MASSACHUSETTS PARENT GBH crossed an important threshold by 47 million including 8.5 million kids ages In addition to supporting beloved and long-standing programs, Engaging Young creating in 2019 the multiplatform series 2–11. Of those 47 million, 820,000 are donor gifts provided revenue to fund a team focused on new Audiences Molly of Denali, the first nationally American Indian/Alaska Native viewers. distributed children’s series to feature an initiatives with educators, families and communities. Supporters Reaching out to Generation Z Alaska Native lead character. Alaska Native Molly of Denali is an action-adventure also enabled continuing research and development, including and Millennial age groups, GBH comedy that follows the adventures voices were brought into all aspects of impact studies to evaluate learning media success and areas produced in 2020 Keep It Social, production, both on and off camera. The of curious and resourceful 10-year-old a national weekly digital series for improvement or enhancement. Promising pilot projects program has won critical acclaim and Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl. focusing on topical social numerous awards, including the 2020 The series is also educationally rich, include the following: and digital media issues Television Critics Association award for designed to help kids ages 4–8 develop and trends, streaming weekly Outstanding Achievement in Youth knowledge and skills for interacting 2Gen, an initiative developing Supporting Teachers: As COVID-19 on YouTube. Career Hacks, Programming and a George Foster with informational texts through video educational media that addresses disrupted all aspects of school and a digital series for high school Peabody award for Children’s content, interactive games and real- the learning needs of both immigrant learning in 2020, the GBH Education and college graduates, offered Programming. Immediately world activities. children and their parents. In collab- Department launched its virtual tips on how to effectively popular, the program has oration with New England Public Media Educator Peer Exchanges to support work from home and enter To complement the award-winning series, a reach of more than (an affiliate of GBH), this initiative is teachers as they engaged in distance the workforce. For tweens, GBH created a suite of new hands-on built on clear evidence that improving learning. In June, with the nation an often-overlooked audience, games for 4– to 8–year–olds featuring parent education and economic stability reckoning with racial injustice and GBH launched a new podcast, indoor and outdoor activities that support translates into gains for kids’ learning violence, the series continued, with “The Creeping Hour.” Released literacy and strengthen social studies and development.