20K for KXCJ!

Update: Thank you everyone for contributing to KXCJ! Our little radio station is stepping into the next stage with a tremendous show of support, and there are still donations coming in. Your belief in us, right now and throughout the years, is a very real part of the success of this community effort.

We're going to close the GoFundMe today, as we planned, knowing that those last few dollars are certain to make their way to the station. We're excited to welcome Phillip as our new Station Manager, even as we're heartbroken to see Keeeth and Nellie drive south on Tuesday. Thank you all for your support! We did it!

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Hi there! My name's Keeeth, and I’m the co-founder and station manager at KXCJ-LP, the Illinois Valley's very own community radio station. In 2013, Nellie and I helped start KXCJ. Over the past 7 years, we have grown to be a vibrant, grassroots, all volunteer run radio station. We have 20 DJs, 7 volunteer staff positions filled by DJs, an amazing volunteer tech guy, and a pretty nice studio and office space in town. We’re even adding an emergency backup generator so we can communicate even if the power is down.
 
Many years ago, I made a pledge to my parents that when they needed help at the end of their lives, I’d be there. Wherever I was, whatever I was doing, I’d wrap things up and head for them. That moment has come. Nellie and I are leaving this valley we love, people we love, and a project we’ve invested our lives and livelihoods in, and transitioning it to a new leadership team and moving on to learn how to do new challenging things.
 
We are asking for your help to raise $20,000 to hire a new station manager. The station manager is the person responsible for training and oversight of all the volunteers and everything from trouble-shooting equipment to answering emails, evaluating program proposals, cultivating new donors, hiring contractors, making sure we follow the rules enough to stay on the air, and supporting the KXCJ staff.
 
For the past seven years, I’ve been a fulltime, unpaid station manager. It’s an amazing opportunity and it’s a crazy job. In this community, we’ve seen a lot of projects fall through. There’s no lack of interest, but people are stretched thin—both in time and money. We need to be able to value this work by providing a living wage for the person who steps up to nurture and grow KXCJ into the future. Your donations will help ensure that KXCJ continues to be the accessible, powerful, vibrant community-powered radio station that it is now.

Everyone who donates over $100 we'll thank with a T-shirt!
 
Why $20k? $20,000 will cover one year’s salary for a new station manager, while the Board develops a longer-term plan for providing funds for this job. We’re putting out the word and hoping to hire a new station manager by October so that I can train them before we leave in November. The Board of Directors will continue to support KXCJ and the new station manager through the coming year to keep KXCJ live and local.
 
This is important to me because I believe community radio puts a spotlight on local culture, what local people are doing and saying and feeling, and provides a “town square” where people can give and get the information we need here—and we need that, for democracy to exist. Nowadays, most people walk around with computers in our pockets and we can listen to exactly the music you want to listen to when you want to listen to it…but the radio is always there. You’re going to be surprised, delighted, learn something you didn’t know you didn’t know. I think that’s miraculous. It’s something we can build, we can do together, right here.
 
Thanks for watching and for helping support rural community-powered radio! We’re excited to see KXCJ grow up and become all that it can be. Any amount helps, and you can help us get out the word by sharing this campaign to your Facebook page or your friends and family via email.

Consider setting up a monthly donation or planning an annual gift; and you can always find us at 105.7 FM in the Illinois Valley, or streaming at kxcj.org!

FAQ
How do I donate?
You can donate on GoFundMe by credit card. You can also donate cash or check!
Bring it to the library. If you're in the Illinois Valley, look out for our neon envelopes and you can drop them by the library (or even in the library book return drop).
Mail us a money order or check. You can also mail a check to our PO Box: PO Box 2518, Cave Junction, OR 97523. If you want it to show up sooner on our campaign page, send us a message and we'll add your donation!
Hand us cash! Call the station (541 [phone redacted]) and Keeeth will get your message and find a way to meet up with you.

Can I get a tax deductible receipt?
Yes. Our nonprofit status is pending so you won't get a tax-deductible receipt automatically, but we can email it to you in a few weeks. Let us know if you would like a receipt by emailing/calling/telling us!

How do I let get my t-shirt?
We will contact you, find out your size, and coordinate pickup or mailing.