WisconsinEye Sets Dec. 15 Shutdown Date Without New Funding

Overview

• Programming will halt and the 30,000-hour archive will go offline on Dec. 15 if the funding gap is not closed.
• WisconsinEye says $887,000 would cover a year of operations and has issued an urgent public appeal for $1 million.
• The current state budget provides $250,000 and pledges up to $9.75 million in matching funds if the group raises $10 million for an endowment by June 2026.
• CEO Jon Henkes is asking lawmakers and the governor to release or repurpose some of the pledged funds for operations or to ease the statutory match requirement.
• The board has paused endowment fundraising to focus on near-term operating cash as donations have lagged in a crowded fundraising environment.