KTEP Launches Campaign to Raise Funds to Pay for NPR Content
Emergency fund drive comes as station loses CPB grants
EL PASO, Texas (Aug. 13, 2025) – KTEP Public Media, a service of The University of Texas at El Paso, announced that it will hold a fundraising drive August 15 and 16 to raise funds to pay for its popular National Public Radio programming for the next fiscal year.
Previously, NPR programming was funded through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). With the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, CPB lost its federal funding and will close, leaving a significant funding gap for KTEP.
“For 75 years, KTEP 88.5 FM has been a trusted voice for arts, culture, news and storytelling in the Borderland,” said KTEP General Manager John Carrillo. “KTEP is facing an unprecedented loss of funding, and we’re looking to our community to support us during this time of need. We’re taking a fresh approach to fundraising in hopes of connecting with our current and new audience through music.”
KTEP has set a goal to raise $50,000 to help pay for NPR licensing for the next fiscal year.
KTEP’s Emergency Fund Drive begins Friday, Aug. 15. The day-and-a-half-long fund drive will be filled with freeform music, new show previews and community connection. Listeners can expect sneak peeks of upcoming programming like the Tiny Desk Radio Show and an eclectic new music show which will soon join the station’s regular lineup.
Listeners can tune in, discover new music and support the station that is a staple in the Borderland community by visiting KTEP.org or givingto.utep.edu/KTEP.
KTEP Emergency Fund Drive Schedule:
Friday, Aug. 15: 6 p.m. to Midnight
Saturday, Aug. 16: 11 a.m. to Midnight
Anchor programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered will continue uninterrupted during the drive.
About KTEP:
KTEP (88.5 FM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station broadcasting from the Communication Department at The University of Texas at El Paso. With studios in the Cotton Memorial Building, KTEP’s signal reaches parts of Texas, New Mexico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The station is committed to providing high-quality programming that informs, entertains and enriches the El Paso region and beyond.
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on August 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published August 13, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
