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- Membership FAQ
- MemberCard User Guide
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Questions? Contact Us
Phone (812) 855-6114
Toll-free (800) 662-3311
Fax (812) 855-6323
WTIU Membership
1229 E 7th St
Bloomington, IN 47405-5501
WTIU is You!
Your Comments
"This service is vital to our community and to our nation. Public Broadcasting provides journalism that is not purchased by special interest groups, educational outreach to our children--especially those most in need, safe programming for families, and a general counter-balance to other media vehicles that have screamed out of control in damaging and dangerous directions. This is our nation's final link to sane broadcasting and our only hope for continued mass communications that are not controlled by political-, religious- or profit-based marketing."
--Amy H. of Bloomington
To show your appreciation of the wide variety of quality programs on WTIU, MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION today!
Membership F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the links below to find answers to your membership questions.
For First-Time Contributors
- How do I decide how much to contribute?
- Another Pledge Drive? Isn't there a better way to raise money?
- How do I become a WTIU member?
- Why should I become a "member" of a television station?
- Where does WTIU get its funding?
- Where does my money go?
Online Giving
- How do I know if my browser supports secure transactions?
- I've never used my credit card on the Internet before. Is it safe?
Member Benefits
- Do I have to receive the program guide each month?
- What if my program guide didn’t arrive this month?
- Is my gift tax-deductible?
- When can I expect to receive the WTIU umbrella (or other thank-you gift) I was promised when I pledged during the WTIU membership drive?
Mail & Privacy
- Does WTIU exchange its members’ names?
- Why did I get two of these?
- What if I move?
- Why am I getting a renewal or reminder notice after I paid my pledge?
General
Q. Where does my money go?
Your generous support helps fund...
- More than 8,700 hours of thoughtful, high-quality programming broadcast on WTIU each year. Each week, more than 38,000 viewers throughout this region of Indiana tune in for programs geared to educate, entertain and enrich.
- A rapidly growing number of locally produced programs including The Weekly Special, The Friday Zone, WTIU News Breaks, Third House, Our Town: Spencer, Hometown: A Journey Through Terre Haute, Paying for College with the Greenes, and Doc Counsilman: Making Waves. We are your connection to the people, places and events that make this region of Indiana such a wonderful place to live.
- In addition to the thousands of hours each year devoted to programming for children, WTIU provides educational programs and materials to area schools every month including programming devoted to classroom content and professional development of K-12 teachers According to a recent survey, the nation's educators have—for the third year in a row—chosen PBS as the top source of video in the classroom.
- Community outreach efforts including a free Kids Club for our youngest viewers and free workshops on early education and parenting practices for a broad audience of parents, childcare providers, educators, and other adults.
Q. Where does WTIU get its funding?
IU General Fund 37%
Other Grants 16%
Sales and Services 11%
Corporate Contributions 9%
Individual Contributions 8%
IU Donated Suport 7%
State of Indiana 5%
Capital Grants 5%
Investments 2%
Q. Why should I become a "member" of a television station?
A. The intellectually stimulating, quality programming you find on WTIU is extremely expensive. We purchase network programming from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), American Public Television (APT), and other program distributors at a cost of more than $615,000 per year. In addition, WTIU produces local programs such as THE WEEKLY SPECIAL and THE FRIDAY ZONE. We receive some support from the federal and state governments and from Indiana University, especially for facilities and staff. But we turn to the people who watch to help pay the bills for our programming. It's like paying for a subscription to a valued magazine, only we don't have a required subscription rate and we work on the honor system. If you use our service, we request that you do whatever you can to help keep the station viable for the future. And when you do, you'll enjoy the satisfaction of supporting our community's most accessible venue for entertainment, education, art, information and culture.
Q. How do I become a WTIU member?
A. Most people join WTIU for the first time during our on-air membership drives. During the pledge drives, just call one of the phone numbers on your screen and a friendly volunteer will lead you through the membership process. It only takes about two minutes. Or you can call the Membership Department anytime at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. You can also contribute on-line, or if you prefer, you can mail your contribution to WTIU Membership, 1229 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-5501.
Q. Another Pledge Drive? Isn't there a better way to raise money?
A. These on-air pledge drives are the most direct and most efficient way to invite viewers to become part of public television's remarkable voluntary partnership. As viewers watch a program that they feel is worthy of support, they are strongly motivated to make a contribution at that time. Pledge drives also make it easy for current members to renew their annual membership or make an additional gift, as well as for new viewers to join. During our forty (40) days a year of televised fundraising, we're able to generate more than 25% of our annual contributions from individuals. We must attract new members and additional gifts on air, so that there are more dollars available for the programs you enjoy.
Q. How do I decide how much to contribute?
A. The amount you contribute is entirely up to you. With an annual contribution of $40 or more (or $25 for IU full-time students), you will receive a full year's subscription to our monthly viewing guide. The MemberCard, good for two-for-one dining and entertainment savings, is available with a gift of $75 or more. Contributions at higher levels often qualify for special thank you gifts.
Q. I've never used my credit card on the Internet before. Is it safe?
A. For your protection, WTIU's Online Pledge Form is stored and served from a secure server, and it requires the use of a secure browser. The financial information your computer sends us is encrypted while in transit. Encrypted files are scrambled and can only be reassembled by someone who has the correct encryption key.
Q. How do I know if my browser supports secure transactions?
A. Your browser can't connect to a secure page unless it is equipped to read data securely. If you do have a browser that supports secure transactions, such as Netscape 3 or higher or Internet Explorer 3 or higher, look in the bottom left corner of your browser window. You'll see a key icon or lock icon that closes or completes. You may also see a dialog box, informing you that you are entering or leaving a secure page.
Q. When can I expect to receive the WTIU umbrella (or other thank-you gift) I was promised when I pledged during the WTIU membership drive?
A. To minimize costs and maximize programming dollars, most thank you gifts are not ordered from our suppliers until after the pledge drive is over. You should receive your gift four to six weeks after your pledge has been paid; however, availability and demand sometimes result in delays. We'll try to let you know if there will be a delivery delay. Members paying by monthly installments will receive their gifts after the station's costs are covered. In addition, WTIU assures you of quality. If you are unhappy with your thank-you gift, we will gladly replace it or offer an alternative. Just send us an e-mail at or call (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 during normal business hours.
Q. Is my gift tax-deductible?
A. Your contributions to WTIU are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law if you itemize on your U.S. 1040 form. Current IRS regulations allow you to deduct the amount of your contributions during the year minus the estimated fair market value of any thank you gift(s) you received in return. You will receive a statement from the IU Foundation showing the total amount of your contribution and the value of any gift(s) you requested. In Indiana, an actual tax credit of 50% of a donation (up to $100 for individuals and up to $200 for couples) can be claimed on your Indiana IT-40 Form for Indiana College Credit. The CC-40 Form, or a statement showing the same information, must be attached to your Indiana income tax return. We recommend that you consult your tax advisor for details.
Q. What if my program guide didn’t arrive this month?
A. There are several possible answers to this question. Have you moved? We may not have your correct address. Your membership may have expired. Your copy may have been lost in the mail. Whatever the reason, e-mail or call the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 during regular business hours, and we’ll gladly send you another copy. Or call after hours and leave us a message. You can also download a PDF version of the current program guide.
Q. Do I have to receive the program guide each month?
A. You decide exactly what you want to receive from WTIU. You may request to be eliminated from program guide mailings, additional gift solicitations, member contact and/or telemarketing calls. We will mark your membership record as you wish. Call the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 or e-mail with your membership preferences. If you would like an electronic version of the program guide, you can download a PDF of the current issue.
Q. Why am I getting a renewal or reminder notice after I paid my pledge?
A. The most likely answer is that your payment and our notice just crossed in the mail. If you believe your account is in error, please contact the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 or e-mail us at to verify that we received your contribution and have posted it to the correct account.
Q. What if I move?
A. To avoid delays of your member benefits, please complete and submit our change of address form or call the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311.
Q. Why did I get two of these?
A. If you receive two copies of any of our mailings, you may have duplicate membership records. Please e-mail or call the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 during normal business hours, and we’ll fix the problem.
Q. Does WTIU exchange its members’ names?
A. Lists of donors to WTIU and WFIU are confidential. Your decision to support public broadcasting is a fundamentally private decision; we are committed to keeping that decision private. For more information on WTIU’s official policy on the exchange of membership lists, contact Eva Zogorski, WTIU’s Membership Director at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311.
Q. How long is my membership valid?
A. Membership extends for one year from the date of your contribution. Your expiration date is printed on the label of your viewing guide. You will be notified by mail when it’s time to renew your annual membership. To ensure continuous delivery of your member benefits, be sure to renew promptly. You may receive a phone call as a reminder if your membership expires.
Q. What is my membership contribution used for?
A. Your contribution is invested in the acquisition, production and broadcast of the wonderful programs that you see every day on WTIU. Your gift also supports the station's many educational and public service projects. And your gift helps offset the cost of station operations and technical requirements.
Q. How is WTIU involved in my community?
A. WTIU is great television, but just as important, it is a vital community resource for families, life-long learners, and citizens. Through an award-winning combination of children's programming and the Ready to Learn program, WTIU cares for families in the area by providing free workshops about using television wisely. WTIU Kids (more than 25% of our broadcast schedule) and our free Kids Club offer a rare broadcast oasis where children learn to use their imaginations, are encouraged to use their minds, and are enticed to pick up a book rather than the remote control. And WTIU is helping viewers earn their high school equivalency diploma through the GED on TV program. Furthermore, WTIU helps our community's citizens make informed decisions when choosing elected officials by providing broadcast coverage of candidate debates and profiles, as well as election night returns. Through locally-produced series like THE WEEKLY SPECIAL, THE FRIDAY ZONE, and documentary specials like SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST BADEN SPRINGS: SAVE OF THE CENTURY, and many others, WTIU's local programming encourages viewers to explore, celebrate and appreciate the joys, the rich history and the cultural diversity our community offers.
Q. Will my employer match my gift?
A. Many companies and foundations will match the contributions of their employees (including spouses and retirees) to public broadcasting. It's a simple way to make your dollars go even further for public television. Refer to our matching gift directory or check with your Personnel or Human Resources Office to determine if your company will match your contribution. Fill out the employer-provided matching gift form and send to WTIU at 1229 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-5501.
Q. How can I purchase a WTIU membership as a gift for a friend?
A. Gift memberships are welcome—and a great gift for those hard-to-buy-for family members or friends. Gift memberships begin at $40; your friend will get all the benefits of membership, while you’ll have the satisfaction of supporting your public television station. When pledging on-line, simply select "gift membership," fill out the form with your personal information and then provide the name & address of the gift recipient in the comment section. Of course, you can always call the Membership Department at (812) 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 during regular business hours. We’ll even send notice of your generous gift to that special person!
Q. Where is the WTIU Membership Office?
A. The WFIU/WTIU Membership and Development Office is located on the ground floor of the Radio/TV Building on the IU Bloomington campus.
Do you have a different question? Please e-mail us at or call 855-6114 or (800) 662-3311 during normal business hours.