Home Contact
 
Wisconsin Broadcasters Foundation logo

Our Mission

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation contribution to broadcasting in Wisconsin encompasses a strategic, long term vision for enhancing, promoting and supporting the broadcast industry by encouraging the preservation of broadcast history, participating in public affairs activities in the State of Wisconsin and providing educational opportunities for professional broadcasters and those who seek future careers in the broadcast industry.

 

WISCONSIN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION

WBA Foundation Awards Educational Support Grants

 

In 2000, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation Board of Directors created a Educational Support Grant Program to award up to $10,000 annually to assist non-profit college and technical school broadcast education programs in acquiring equipment, hardware, software, and/or other teaching materials that are necessary to conduct broadcast education programs and promote careers in broadcasting.


In the first seven years, the program generated such good responses in the quality of applications, that the Foundation Board has actually approved $77,197 in grants. For 2008, the WBA Foundation Board approved an additional $10,334.90 in grant monies.


2008 GRANTS

  • WSUM-FM, Madison - $1,976 for alternative STL and automation system computers for on-air use

  • UW-Madison - $1,168.90 for 2 microphones, 2 portable lights and 5 copies of Final Draft AV software for scripting various television projects

  • UW-Green Bay - $755 for field lighting equipment, an audio interface for a field mixer, and a DCT Training Video for classroom instruction

  • UW-River Falls - $2,000 for 10 digital audio recorders

  • UW-La Crosse - $3,500 for a Radio Console to assist in building a student internet radio station

  • Cardinal Stritch University - $935 for 2 microphones and 2 booms and a CD player for use at the campus internet radio station


Grant restrictions: Grants can be used for equipment, hardware, software or other materials used in teaching in broadcast education programs and/or to promote careers in broadcasting. The support equipment or materials acquired can be used in either the classroom or in broadcast facilities. No part of any grant can be used to fund financial support for faculty or support staff.

Matching Requirements: There are no requirements for matching funds under the program, however, the presence of matching funding or the integration of grant monies in a larger spending program will be taken into account by the Foundation Board. Grantees are also strongly encouraged to participate in WBACollegeNews.net, a radio news network designed to provide the structure for all Wisconsin college and university communications programs to share and air one another’s news programming. Participation in WBACollegeNews.net will also be taken into account by the Foundation Board in the award process in the future.

Consideration to the Foundation: A regular annual report for a period of at least 2 years to the Foundation Board regarding the progress of students for 2 years after they leave the grantee’s program is requested. Appropriate recognition, in an ongoing fashion, of the Foundation grant is requested and grant applications should include a statement indicating how this will be accomplished.