Ballmer gives $80 million to NPR, with strings attached

Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder of the Ballmer Group, has given $80 million to NPR. That’s roughly seven years’ worth of government funding ($11.2m) after Trump and Congress cut funds for public media, but only a fraction of NPR’s full annual budget of $300 million. NPR may still cut jobs because the money has strings attached.

The money is specifically “to support the digital innovation that is essential to meeting the needs and serving the interests of public media audiences wherever they are and whenever they seek information,” according to a press release. NPR journalist David Folkenflik writes that this donation, and another $33 million from an anonymous donor, “were intended for specific purposes, not to build the endowment or to expand news coverage.”

It sounds like NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher is expecting to lay off staff despite the additional money. Here’s an excerpt from Folkenflik’s report:

“This does not replace federal funding,” Maher said. “This does not replace the shortfalls. We still need to continue to operate effectively in order to be able to do the work that we do day in and day out.”

Several people within NPR said the network has been planning scenarios for alternative levels of job cuts, though no plans are currently set. Executives also are trying to figure out the degree to which the network could rely more heavily on reporters from local stations for national coverage, staffers said.

“I support NPR because an informed public is the bedrock of our society, and democracy requires strong, independent journalism,” wrote Ballmer, for NPR’s press release. “My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network.”