Tell us a little about your business/organization: how it began; what are your services/products, etc.

Delaware Public Media launched as Delaware First Media/DFM News – a stand-alone online news operation in June 2010. Soon after, we were able to obtain a radio signal and license, and in August 2012, the DFM News website transformed into Delaware Public Media/91.1 WDDE-FM, the first Delaware-based NPR news station.  Our primary service is journalism. We produce on-air and online local news coverage, interviews, podcasts, and stories about government, education, environment, arts and culture, and the people and communities that make Delaware unique. We also provide national and international reporting through NPR and other public media partners so Delaware residents can stay informed about the world around them.

We broadcast on WDDE 91.1 FM, stream online and through our mobile app, send weekly email newsletters, and publish daily news stories on our website. At the heart of it, our service is to provide information, storytelling, and connection to the First State. 

Tell us about your role in the business/organization.

As Development Director at Delaware Public Media, I lead the station’s fundraising and community engagement efforts, ensuring the long-term sustainability of Delaware’s only statewide public media news service. I oversee membership programs, major gifts, and special initiatives that connect listeners and donors more deeply to our mission. With federal funding no longer part of our budget, my work focuses on building a broad base of local support to keep independent, fact-based journalism accessible to all Delawareans. Drawing on decades of experience in public broadcasting, I work closely with our team and community partners to strengthen relationships, grow revenue, and reinforce DPM’s role as a trusted source of news and information. 

Tell us something that makes your business/organization unique. 

Delaware Public Media (DPM) is the first and only public media news service and NPR affiliate located in and dedicated to Delaware. With the change in funding last summer, DPM’s work is made possible by our listeners and neighbors, sponsors and local grants, which is both humbling and empowering.

DPM is here to serve Delawareans by providing unbiased, in-depth news and information that informs, educates, and engages, and we do that by providing local, award-winning reporting from our newsroom alongside trusted content from NPR and other public media partners. Our team covers everything from state government and education to arts, culture, and human-interest stories that reflect the people and communities of Delaware.

What do you see for the future of your business/organization?

Our future is rooted in continuing to serve Delaware with trusted, independent journalism – and expanding access to our news and content. We want to reach more Delawareans through digital platforms, streaming, podcasts, events, and community engagement while strengthening our newsroom.

We see a future where public media plays an even larger role in civic engagement, education, arts and culture, and community building. We want all residents to have access to reliable information about their government, schools, environment, economy, and communities.

How has the Chamber helped your business/organization grow?

The Chamber has connected us with other nonprofits, local businesses, and leaders who care about Delaware. Those connections often turn into meaningful partnerships that strengthen our work and community.

It also helps us stay connected to the business community and better understand the economic and workforce issues affecting Delaware. That insight helps inform our programming so we can produce relevant news and information.

Public media works best when it’s connected to the community, and the Chamber helps make many of those connections possible.

What is your best advice to other businesses/organizations?

I would encourage others to focus on community and partnership. When you focus on serving your community and doing meaningful work, growth and support naturally follow.

Start by listening to the people you serve to better understand and meet their needs. Then partner with other organizations that are doing the same. Don’t just do the thing for the community – build it with the community.