50 for 50. Keep It Going.

The greatest show on air needs the greatest supporters.

For 50 years, KCPR’s pledge drive has powered the sound of Cal Poly. This year, we’re celebrating that legacy with a bold goal: raising $50,000 for 50 years of Pledge Drive. Step right up and make your pledge — this show doesn’t go on without you.

For more than five decades, KCPR has woven connections throughout Cal Poly and the greater San Luis Obispo community, nurturing student growth while amplifying diverse sounds, voices, and perspectives. Our studios, staff, and musical landscape have evolved over time, but our identity remains anchored in our motto: Where Different Matters. Across every era of our history, KCPR has created space for experimentation, independent music, local storytelling, and student expression.

As a fully student-led station, KCPR thrives on leadership and collaboration. Our team members contribute across content, news, marketing, music, podcasting, and art, gaining hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment while producing innovative media that resonates far beyond campus. From live Burnt Dog Sessions and bilingual newscasts to original podcasts and our morning talk show, students are constantly building, learning, and creating. 

While balancing academics, jobs, and campus life, a committed group of student volunteers devote substantial time each week to producing, managing, and sustaining the station. While some student leaders receive stipends, those funds cover only a small share of the work required to keep KCPR thriving. Our goal is to increase stipends and expand paid leadership opportunities so that more students can be fairly supported for the professional level of work they provide. 

This year, $20,000 of our $50,000 goal is dedicated to purchasing a new console for Studio B. Studio B is where students prerecord shows, record interviews, produce podcasts, and develop the technical skills that prepare them for careers in media and beyond. A new console will improve sound quality, ensure long-term reliability, and give students hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. To commemorate this investment, we’ve introduced a $5,000 giving level, and donors at this level will have their name permanently recognized on a plaque displayed alongside the new console.

Beyond equipment and stipends, your generosity unlocks transformative opportunities. Pledge Drive funds allow student leaders to attend national conferences such as the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference, where they gain valuable insight, training, and inspiration to elevate the station’s impact. Our Podcast team won Best Public Affairs Program this year! Donations also help us book and pay local and touring bands, expand event coverage, revitalize Club 91, produce multiple original podcasts, and continue offering equipment for learning and experimenting.

Thanks to supporters like you, KCPR continues to grow while staying rooted in what makes it distinct. What we do here matters. Who we are matters. Our alumni, parents, friends, supporters, and community matter. You matter. There’s always room for more in the KCPR tent — and your support ensures that the next generation of students can keep this tradition going.

Whether you’re making your first contribution, have supported us for years, or fall somewhere in between, your gift sustains the energy, creativity, and independence that define KCPR. Help us reach $50,000 for 50 years. Keep it going. Donate today.

PLEDGE DRIVE DONOR GIFTS

We’d like to express our gratitude for your continued support of KCPR with our enchanting 2026 donor gifts!

All of this year’s gifts were designed and inspired by winners of a community-wide design contest held during Fall Quarter 2025.

With every donation, you will receive a sticker pack chosen out of dozens of designs by the KCPR team:

You will also receive a vintage 91.3 pin, lovingly revived by one of our alumni: 

Our 2026 Pledge Drive shirt lets you represent the station wherever you go!

The 2026 commemorative poster features original student artwork inspired by this year’s Greatest Show on Air theme and was created to mark 50 years of KCPR’s pledge drive: 

This custom KCPR pennant is a classic collegiate keepsake designed to celebrate 50 years of pledge drive tradition and display your support for independent, student-led radio:

Savor our custom Burnt Dog coffee blend in our exclusive, limited-edition travel mugs when you are listening to our KCPR morning show:

We'd like to thank SLO Roasted for their generous partnership in sponsoring our custom coffee blend.

In addition to all previous gifts, $1,000 donors will receive a personalized KCPR “mixtape.” A custom-curated playlist crafted by you and our student DJs. Designed to reflect your tastes while introducing you to new discoveries, this interactive playlist celebrates the spirit of college radio and the art of thoughtful music curation. 

At the $5,000 level, supporters will have the opportunity to craft their own KCPR show. You’ll collaborate with our student team to build a one-hour program — selecting music, shaping the theme, and recording a professionally produced broadcast that will be shared with you as a keepsake. In addition, your name will be permanently recognized on a plaque displayed with the new Studio B console, honoring your role in powering the future of KCPR. 

Thank you so much for sparking the magic with your generous donation! 

Gifts will be sent to your mailing address by the end of July 2026.* For questions about shipping please email: jschlitt@calpoly.edu

*Unfortunately, we are unable to ship donor gifts internationally.