<div><strong>Our Mission to Save Ken’s FM by August 31st, 2026</strong> - For nearly 14 years, KNNZ 89.1 FM - affectionately known as Ken’s FM - was a sanctuary on the Fargo-Moorhead airwaves. Founded by our friend, the late radio engineer and legendary local broadcaster Ken Bartz, the station stood as a defiant alternative to the same ol' commercial radio heard elsewhere on the dial ("Our philosophy is very simple: if it's not alternative, it sucks!"). Ken's FM was a station built on an irreplaceable foundation, all by Ken himself. We had hand-picked favorites from Ken's own 'Vault of Vinyl,' alongside an eclectic blend of ’80s New Wave, ’90s Alternative, the 'hottest Modern Rock on the planet,' and everything in between.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Ken also emphasized an unwavering commitment to showcasing 'homegrown' local artists and musicians throughout the day, even in-studio performances during his live flagship show on late Saturday nights, 'Modern Rock Worldwide.' This, alongside original programming such as 'Your First Listen,' 'Adam's Archive,' 'Rock &amp; Roll Space Station,' 'Nineties Nebula,' and more. Creatively, we've be able to do things on this station that wouldn't fly elsewhere!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>After we lost Ken in July 2025, our 100,000-watt terrestrial FM signal went dark. Our small dedicated team took it upon ourselves to keep the KNNZ 24/7 online livestream pumping. But, a digital stream cannot replace that pure magic of a true, warm and fuzzy FM broadcast only found on a car radio during a commute, a boombox in the garage, or that living room stereo. That comforting, ubiquitous FM signal cannot be replicated via apps.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Now, the future of this independent pillar of the local airwaves is ENTIRELY in the community's hands! Pioneer Public Broadcasting is dedicated to live on and continue Ken's ultimate vision of providing the coolest radio station around.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The GOAL</strong> - We are launching this official rescue mission to legally acquire KNNZ from Ken's estate, and restore the physical FM signal (from our transmitter site near Barnesville) for Fargo-Moorhead and the Lakes area.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>However, <strong><em>WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!</em></strong> Our FM transmitter is currently inactive under a temporary FCC Silent STA window. This means we have been granted permission until September to go silent in the aftermath of Ken's passing. <strong>We have until August 31, 2026, to secure the funds and execute the buyout before the historic 89.1 frequency is lost forever.</strong> To achieve this, we have designed a highly transparent, two-phase legal acquisition strategy:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Phase 1 - Baseline Goal: $50,000</strong> - This MANDATORY threshold is what we still need to legally purchase the essential station assets, including the official FCC broadcast license, the vital tower/transmitter site infrastructure, studio equipment, and Ken's existing music library.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Phase 2 - The Ultimate Dream Stretch Studio Goal: $250,000</strong> - If we can miraculously push past our baseline target of $50,000, the remaining $200,000 will be used to purchase Ken's HISTORIC North Fargo studio and house outright. This ensures we can permanently preserve the basement radio studio, protect its unique live-performance acoustics, and guarantee the station never faces the threat of relocation or closing up forever.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We don't just want to save Ken's FM. We want to grow it into the powerhouse Ken always dreamed it could be! Once the FM signal is secure, our ultimate goal is to transition from a volunteer-run operation to a sustainable, core staff. Our future plans also include the addition of a recording studio which shall be accessible to area recording artists. <strong>PLUS, we also have some exciting, short-term programming plans that can't be revealed just yet, but you're in for a treat if we can raise the funds!!</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>A Call to Major Donors &amp; Angel Investors</strong> - In the past, Ken’s FM survived and thrived thanks to incredible individuals who stepped up with massive contributions. If you are a past major donor, a local music advocate, or an angel investor with deep pockets who can give thousands at once, we need you now more than ever. A sizable donation today could immediately secure this station’s survival and permanently protect the independent airwaves.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Beyond KNNZ's Acquisition</strong> - As you know, it still costs money to operate a radio station, even a small, independent one like Ken's FM. Our MONTHLY BUDGET alone is CRITICAL to "keep the lights on." We've been fortunate enough to pay out of our own pocket this past year to keep the 24/7 livestream active, but that's only a fraction of what it takes to fully power a 100-kW transmitter site and keep everything running smoothly.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We need to emphasize that this GoFundMe campaign is strictly to clear the hurdle of acquiring the KNNZ assets to resume operation on the FM airwaves. Once the infrastructure is legally ours, the battle shifts to KEEPING the power on (as we've always called it, <strong>"POWER THE TOWER."</strong>) Our transmitter site electricity bill alone costs at least $1,000 EVERY SINGLE MONTH just to stay powered. A realistic baseline of $1,500-$2,000 a month is required to cover baseline operations, which includes transmitter power, ongoing equipment maintenance, building utilities, Internet service for remote access, and mandatory non-profit music licensing fees. The reality of radio is that if one part blows out, it needs replacing to keep the FM signal alive and on-air.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Calling All Area Businesses!</strong> - While we can't legally set up or activate new local on-air sponsorships until we officially secure the station assets first, we are building a "reboot" roster right now. Once we are up and running on the 89.1 FM signal again, our immediate priority will be showcasing the area businesses who commit as little as $150/month in underwriting partnerships to keep community radio alive via Ken's FM. You'll join other longtime sponsors such as Breadsmith of Fargo, DJ Colter Agency, Elevated Concrete &amp; Snow Removal, Joe Irby Law Firm, and The Shack on Broadway (only a few blocks north of the KNNZ studios!).
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Long-Term Sustainability</strong> - Upon the success of our GoFundMe campaign, a new KNNZ Patreon &amp; "Ken’s FM Club" will also be launched for the monthly survival of the station. In the past, Ken always asked listeners for simple donations via PayPal. While we will continue utilizing that for one-time donations, we MUST rely entirely on ongoing community support through sustaining pledges/memberships.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Separate from this initial $50K fundraiser, we will be establishing a dedicated KNNZ Patreon platform to establish a reliable, monthly membership base. Patreon will allow loyal listeners to step up as sustaining members, keeping the station algorithm-free and independent forever! Humans helping humans for that "human touch" that is SO important to local public radio in Fargo-Moorhead. No A.I. DJs here! To thank our monthly sustainers, we will be offering exclusive station merch (t-shirts, stickers, magnets, pins, etc.) and an authentic, printed "Ken’s FM Club" Certificate.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How You Can Help:</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Make a GoFundMe Pledge TODAY!!</strong> - Every dollar brings us closer to keeping the airwaves independent, authentic, and algorithm-free.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Share the Signal!!</strong> - Pass this campaign along to every fellow music lover, commuter, and local arts advocate in the Red River Valley, Lakes Area, and beyond. Use that social media to spread the word!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Let’s turn the 89.1 FM signal's power back on once and for all, protect Ken’s incredible legacy, keep his longtime vision alive, and let homegrown rock &amp; roll stay on the radio dial!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>REMEMBER, WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 31st, 2026 TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>***PLEASE NOTE: IF WE DON'T REACH OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL, ALL DONATIONS WILL BE REFUNDED. THIS IS AN ALL-OR-NOTHING CAMPAIGN AND WE WILL NOT KEEP ANY OF THE FUNDS IF WE CAN'T HIT $50K!***</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Support the Ken's FM rescue mission today! More information is available at <a href="https://www.kensfm.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our official website</a> and our Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KensFm891." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.facebook.com/KensFm891.</a>
</div>

Hilary Ray

Jonathan Triggs

Brent Hitterdal

Anonymous

Samantha Wei

Lachlan Etherton

Steve Osvold

Andrea Mae Alfson

Joseph Irby

Alison Krein

Eric Schultz

John Dixon

Joe Foss

Constantine Hannaher

John and Jeanine Machacek

Clinton R Kliewer

Help Save 89.1 Ken’s FM KNNZ by August 31st!! - Fargo, ND

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Eligible for Profile Comment Badge

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

isEligibleForProfileCommentBadge

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.3.0 and above

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Save 89.1 Ken’s FM KNNZ by August 31st!! - Fargo, ND

Still $46,784 to go. Help us build momentum.