KDVS DJs at Picnic Day 2005 The KDVS Fundraiser is an annual April event that benefit's Davis's radio station, KDVS 90.3 FM. The station broadcasts into the Sacramento Valley and toward the Bay Area. The funds raised each year cover over two thirds of the station's operating budget. In exchange for listeners' donations, the listeners can select a "premium"--a thank-you gift consisting of music, books, t-shirts, crafts, shot glasses, gift certificates, opportunities for free live DJ services, time live on-air, and countless other fun items that are usually worth more monetarily than the amount of the listener's pledge. The station gets this stuff from record labels, local businesses, crafters, and other donors who care about supporting non-corporate community radio and want to help the station thank its listeners for their donations.
Longtime KDVS volunteer Rick Ele has stated in relation to the fundraiser: "Just to make a better case of why we need this money...KDVS does not receive any taxpayer money. A lot of people think that because we are a "public" radio station, we do, but we don't. Much of the budget comes from ASUCD registration fees. On a per quarter basis, not quite a dollar per student goes to KDVS for our expenses. The next biggest part of our budget comes from listener contributions, and we only ask for donations for one week a year. This is it. A little bit more money comes from the support of local business sponsorship. We run a 9200 watt station with a big web presence on just under $100,000. The Stanford station is 1/20th the power and runs on 3.5 times that. So it's very important to have the support, and there's so much we do to deserve it. Please keep donating and help us out...thanks!"
History of the Fundraiser
The KDVS Fundraiser began in 1993 as the result of ASUCD budget cuts. The fundraiser is an integral part of KDVS' current operations, with listener donations accounting for 65% of the the the station's yearly budget. The size and amount of funds pulled in during the fundraiser have increased over the years. In 1997, KDVS raised $12,000. Ten years later, in 2007, the goal of $70,000 was reached at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the last day of the fundraiser.
Year by year
• 2015
April 18-April 27
Theme: Underground Radio
Goal: $60,000
Amount totaled: $51,815
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
-Dr. Andy offered a personalized poem to any listener who would donate $??? to his show.
• 2014
April ??-April ??
Theme:
Goal:
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2013
April 22-April 28
Theme:
Goal: $60,000
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2012
April 23-April 30
Theme:
Goal:
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2011
April 18-24
Theme: Radio That Delivers
Goal: $60,000
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2010
April 19-April 25
Theme: Let Freeform Ring
Goal: $60,000 dollars
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2009
April 20-April 26
Theme: A Sound Investment
Goal:
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2008
April 21-27
Theme: Homemade in Davis
Goal: $75,000
Amount totaled:
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2007
Dates?
Theme: Radio Justice for All
Goal: $70,000
Amount totaled: over $73,000
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
- Punk Roge and Riot sang punk songs about callers-in (donors)
- Local favorite band Buildings Breeding did a fundraiser show on Live in Studio A
- Art Lessing and the Flower Vato snorted cayenne pepper for every $100 donated to the station! That's hot!
- AWESOME CD packages, from Miles Davis, Of Montreal, and Rites of Spring to Johnny Cash, Beck, Ozomatli, the RZA, and Mastadon. Simply put, there was something for everyone.
- Interesting freebies such as fondue sets and fondue books, toasters, vintage '60s ottomans, suitcases, classic novels, videos, decorative vinyl by the pound, 45s and tons of other stuff
- The DJ compilation package with comps made by KDVS favorites like DJs Mucky, Rick, Megan, Janie, Maggie Cat, and many more! Plus a special local music compilation put together by KDVS Recordings
• 2006
April ??-??
Theme: How To Break A Record
Goal: $65,000
Amount totaled: $65,000
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
-Teddy Briggs performed freestyle raps
• 2005
April ??-??
Theme: Our Listeners Keep Us Running
Goal: $60,000
Amount totaled: $60,056
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
• 2004
April ??-??
Theme:
Goal: $55,000
Amount totaled: $50,000
Noteworthy on-air shenanigans/exceptional premium offers:
Premiums
As stated previously, KDVS premiums are thank-you gifts from the station to donors. They consist of music, books, t-shirts, crafts, shot glasses, gift certificates, opportunities for free live DJ services, time live on-air, and countless other fun items. They are tiered based on how much a listener has donated, so if you donate $5, you can select a premium from the $5 category, though what you receive is actually usually worth more monetarily than the amount of their pledge, so it's a win-win! The station gets these items from record labels, local businesses, crafters, and other donors who care about supporting non-corporate community radio and want to help the station thank its listeners for their donations. Sample premiums:
$25 will get you this super-duper underpants
One of the $5-tier premiums; one-of-a-kind illustrations
A $10 donation will get you this shot glass...or anything of your choosing in the $10 tier
$175 during the 2015 fundraiser could get you Raider's tickets
$30 for hallmark turntable head KDVS t-shirt
Advertising
Fliers
The fundraiser is promoted in a variety of manners, including but not limited to physical fliers, online social media posts, and print and digital write-ups.
A flyer for the 2012 fundraiser
Video
In the 2000s, the station has created online short films to promote the fundraiser, all viewable here:
• 2014
• 2012
• 2011
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
Annual t-shirt designs
KDVS holds a t-shirt design contest each year at fundraiser time in order to offer listeners and station volunteers something fresh to wear in representation of freeform radio.
2015 winning design by Haley Belenis
2010 winning design by Elise Kane
