Spokane Public Radio’s capital campaign revolved around Fire Station No. 3: the historic site where Spokane’s first fire engines were assembled. The campaign provided for renovating this landmark and preparing it to house three functional radio streams. I pushed for regular behind-the-scenes content, knowing the perspective would boost donor engagement.
- Inspiring Confidence: Curated photos taken by myself and other members of the staff aided the campaign ideation, proving to donors they could invest knowing it would pay off in services.
- Demystifying Renovation: Regular interviews with Walker Construction and their subcontractors fed curiosity–a key value of our audience and donor base.
- Managing Expectations: Updates also managed audience expectations regarding the move-in date.
Firefighters who lived and worked at Fire Station No. 3 shared their stories in a podcast produced by SPR.
The Impact These stories provided the narrative glue for the final third of the capital campaign. By documenting the administrative move and the technical milestones, I provided donors with a sense of ownership in the station’s new home, culminating in a successful transition to the new facility.
Links to content on SpokanePublicRadio.org:
- SPR Preserving History of Fire Station No. 3 – an introduction to the capital campaign.
- Gathering an Oral History of Fire Station #3 – an engaging history appreciation that led directly to donations.
- Construction Crews Renovating SPR Home – Photos and discussion with the Walker Construction crew members about the demolition phase and artifacts found.
- Building Update: Warmer Winter Helps with Construction
- Fire Station Update: A New Door Opens – With a third of the campaign to go, additional stories about the renovation process kept funding appeals fresh.
- Major Construction Nearly Complete
- Visual tour before staff moved in or installed broadcast equipment.
- When is SPR Moving to Fire Station No. 3? Watch for Updates All Fall – a piece intended to manage expectations and continue to support fundraising.
- Administrative Offices Moved to Fire Station – on of severala behind-the-scenes look
- A two-part celebration of public art and the artist: Introducing the Harold Balazs Sculpture “Listen” and the related acoustic event Harold Balazs Sculpture Rings.
Communication By Design 