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"PBS Foundation's Path and Progress Toward Success"

Cheri Carter
Development Conference
Baltimore Waterfront Marriott
October 5, 2006

Thank you Susan, and good morning to all of you.

It's terrific to be in Baltimore.

I want to thank Beth Suarez and the PBS Development team for inviting me to be with you.

I always appreciate the opportunity to visit with this group.

This morning, I want to take a few moments to update you on the work of the PBS Foundation during the past year – including the good news that we have raised almost 18 million dollars to date.

I also want to share with you the enormous progress the Foundation has made in several key areas - including our efforts to support PBS's work: TO HELP AMERICA'S CHILDREN AND TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL CITIZENS TO BECOME BETTER CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

And then, I have a special challenge and later, A SPECIAL TREAT, for everyone here.

I want to begin with a simple question: WHY?

Why does PBS need its own foundation?

How do our efforts affect the tremendous work that each of you do in your communities?

For the answers, take a look at your colleagues around you.

Because the PBS Foundation exists for YOU.

We are here to complement the work that you do ...

... to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the work of strengthening public television.

PBS – as we all know – is the proto – typical local / national partnership.

At the national level, PBS works with its member stations, program distributors and independent producers to deliver quality content to the American people.

Your stations do the same thing at the local level.

You take PBS's national programs and services and combine them with local programming and local decision-making to your communities.

And you do it, OH SO WELL.

The difference is PBS does it at a national level.

We are seeking and securing extraordinary gifts that will allow PBS – the national organization – to flourish in the years to come.

And when I say extraordinary, that's exactly what I mean: WE FOCUS ON SEEKING GIFTS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE.

Another important point is that we go about our work in partnership with YOU at the member stations.

The PBS Foundation has its own board of directors – including Paula and Beth – and we also have a station advisory council comprised of station leaders from around the country.

Susan Moritz is a member of our station advisory council – which provides the Foundation with guidance and support – as we work to strengthen PBS's financial resources.

And when the PBS Foundation identifies a potential donor – one of the FIRST calls I make is to the PBS station manager in that community – so that we can discuss ways to approach the donor together – AS A TEAM.

We work hard to ensure our fundraising is very transparent.

To that end, I have spent a lot of time on the road during the past year – traveling the country and meeting with station leaders - talking about how we can strengthen and coordinate our fundraising efforts.

So far, I've visited more than 40 PBS stations – including KQED and WNET in just the past few weeks.

These visits have helped underscore the spirit of COLLABORATION and COOPERATION that is driving this Foundation.

For example, during one of my early trips to San Francisco, KQED and the PBS Foundation forged a partnership and submitted a joint proposal to the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund.

It turned into a huge success for both the station and the Foundation.

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