KCRW Champions and Amplifiers are advocates, promoters, and protectors of all things KCRW—with the firm belief that accessible, fact-based journalism and cultural content is a necessary right and a path to civic engagement. Generous support above and beyond the Membership level is not only investment in the work you know and love, but also ensures that we can continue to expand our lineup of programs, reach new communities, and offer even more free events.
To reinforce this partnership with our most loyal supporters, KCRW Champions get insider access to exclusive arts and culture gatherings, live music performances, and intimate events with KCRW hosts throughout the year.
Amplifiers get in on the action, too, with invites to many of our in-studio music performances, access to VIP lounges at select Summer Nights parties, and the best party of the year: the KCRW VIP holiday party, with KCRW DJs and hosts.
champion KCRW
Champion Access
5,000+
$5,000 - $9,999 ANNUALLY / STARTING AT $417 MONTHLY (100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
A donation of $5,000-$9,999 ($417+ monthly) is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the benefits of the Amplifier level, as well as:
- Priority access to Live From KCRW recordings: Morning Becomes Eclectic and evening performances at KCRW, and Apogee Studio sessions. When popular acts come through our studio, you get invited first.
- Invitations to KCRW’s summer series at the Hollywood Bowl (bench seats).*
- Invitations to food, arts, and cultural events with KCRW talent — cooking classes with Evan Kleiman, salon-style conversations with Madeleine Brand, and private art gallery visits with Carolina Miranda.*
-
*As space allows. Please note that capacity is very limited for these experiences, and Champions at the $10,000+ levels receive priority access.
$10,000+
$10,000 - $14,999 / STARTING AT $834 MONTHLY (100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
A donation of $10,000-$14,999 ($834+ monthly) is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the benefits of the $5,000 level, as well as:
- Guaranteed access to Live From KCRW recordings: Morning Becomes Eclectic and evening performances at KCRW, and Apogee Studio sessions. When popular acts come through our studio, you get invited first.
- Invitation to at least one night of KCRW’s summer series at the Hollywood Bowl (box seats as available).
- Priority invitations to food, arts, and cultural events with KCRW talent —cooking classes with Evan Kleiman, salon-style conversations with Madeleine Brand, and private art gallery visits with Carolina Miranda.
- Access to Champion Travel with KCRW talent. Past destinations include Rome with Evan Kleiman, Colombia with Madeleine Brand, a Montreal music festival with Anne Litt, and D.C., with Arnie Seipel.
- Invitation to KCRW’s annual President’s Dinner with Jennifer Ferro.
- Priority access to KCRW partner events: LA Art Show and Frieze LA, film and TV screenings, and more.
$15,000+
$15,000 - $24,999 / STARTING AT $1,250 MONTHLY (100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
A donation of $15,000-$24,999 ($1,250+ monthly) is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the benefits of prior levels, as well as:
- Guaranteed access to KCRW partners events: LA Art Show and Frieze LA, film and TV screenings, and more.
- Guaranteed access to food, arts, and cultural events with KCRW talent —cooking classes with Evan Kleiman, salon-style conversations with Madeleine Brand, and private art gallery visits with Carolina Miranda.
- 2 box seats to the show of your choice during KCRW’s summer series at the Hollywood Bowl.
$25,000+
$25,000 - $49,999 (100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
A donation of $25,000+ is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the benefits of prior levels, as well as:
- Invitation to private dinner with KCRW President Jennifer Ferro.
$50,000+
$50,000+ (100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
A donation of $50,000+ is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the benefits of prior levels, as well as:
- Invitation to sit in President’s Box at KCRW’s summer series at the Hollywood Bowl.
- Invitation to private lunch with one of your favorite KCRW hosts, producers, or journalists.
Amplifier Access
1,200+
A donation of $1,200-$4,999 is 100% tax deductible, includes all of the Membership benefits, plus:
- Invitations to Live From KCRW performances, typically 2 or more every month.
- Access to VIP lounges at select Summer Nights events.
- Invitation to the best party of the year — the KCRW VIP holiday party
- Priority seating at film and TV screenings.
- Concierge service, including a VIP text line and personal updates on the impact of your support.
Event Highlights
Champion Highlights
“I’ve been a KCRW member for over a decade, and last year made the move to be a Champion. I’ve long felt I was a part of the KCRW community, but now I’m actually there: taking my daughter to PieFest, or in the audience during MBE. Trust me on this one: become a Champion. It’s almost embarrassing how many events and experiences you’ll be invited to. My only regret is not doing it sooner.”
Charlie Maas
“I’m not a big LA person, but KCRW has made me one. It’s seeing where we live through expansive eyeballs. Seeing who is out there and who is doing what. The Champions also restored my sociability. I think like a lot of people during the pandemic, we were so isolated. Going to the station to be with other people and Champion trips—they restored my desire to connect. I’m left with a feeling of making good connections with people I look forward to seeing again, I think that’s a huge deal.”
Marilyn Mandel
Mike: “I continue to stay a part of the Champions because of the surprises—KCRW is good at not repeating itself, and yet it still can. I don’t know what to expect sometimes, which is good.”
Margaret: “Echoing what Mike said about surprises…KCRW is always providing opportunities for growth. And I think that’s what drew me into KCRW way, way, way back as a small level donor. It made me stop and think about things differently. Whether it was something I knew nothing about or something I thought I had some knowledge about.”
Mike and Margaret Chevedden
“Listening to KCRW is like being at home, no matter where in the world I am.”
Randy Greif
"Listening to KCRW is getting the biggest booster shot of joy; taking the most beneficial multivitamin: you nourish my brain, my soul and my stomach and build my immunity to boredom”
Stuart Bloomberg
Meet the Team
Jill Smayo, Chief Development Officer.
Jill loves connecting people to the mission of KCRW—and is lucky enough to do that every day as the Chief Development Officer. Prior to becoming the CDO, Jill has worn many hats at KCRW including Chief Operating Officer and Director of Development. Throughout these roles, Jill successfully completed the largest Capital Campaign in the organization’s 40+ year history, raising over $20M to create the KCRW Media Center we broadcast from today. She also managed the company's transformative move into its new 35,000 square foot headquarters that houses KCRW's entire broadcast operations and serves as a venue for KCRW community events and live broadcasts daily. Prior to joining KCRW, Jill worked in non-profit fundraising and management from coast-to-coast for leading medical institutions (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York Hospital and Cornell’s Medical College), performing arts organizations (La Jolla Playhouse and San Diego Opera), and also applied her skills toward efforts to stop a warlord in Africa (Invisible Children) before joining KCRW. In her spare time, Jill likes to hike some of LA’s most beautiful trails, enjoys time with her family and friends, and considers reality television a vital part of her self-care routine.
Email: jill.smayo@kcrw.org
Joel Marshall, Director of Individual Giving
Joel is a lifelong fan of KCRW, having grown up in SoCal. He remembers listening to This American Life in the backseat and hearing artists like Toro y Moi, Vampire Weekend, and Alabama Shakes for the first time on MBE. His love of public media took him to jobs at Marketplace and KMXT–a tiny station in Kodiak, Alaska–where he has connected with like-minded supporters to expand the reach of this essential work. He couldn’t be more excited to continue that at KCRW. When he’s not greeting you at the front door of a Live From or dropping an email into your inbox, you can find Joel working on his (terrible) backhand, baking a (delicious) treat, traveling, or spending time outside climbing, hiking, or camping.
Email: joel.marshall@kcrw.org
Emma Rothenberg, Senior Individual Giving Associate
Emma is delighted to be a part of the KCRW Development team as the Sr. Individual Giving Associate, which joins her passion for communication, penchant for making people feel at home, and love of cultural exploration and arts programming. Emma graduated from Stanford with a degree in History, concentrating in Latin America. She spent all four years of undergrad fundraising and leading backpacking trips with Camp Kesem, a student-run non-profit for kids with families affected by cancer. While her previous roles have been in education and HR, people and relationships are at the heart of everything she does — she loves to cultivate donor-driven support for the station. Outside of work, she is bound to be practicing yoga, reading, hiking, or dancing to live music.
Email: emma.rothenberg@kcrw.org
Devon Rosen, Individual Giving Associate
Devon was born and raised in Los Angeles and is so excited to be a part of the Development team here at KCRW as the Individual Giving Associate. She has always had a passion for working with people, and can't wait to continue her career in the nonprofit sector. Prior to KCRW, she worked as a Program Coordinator at The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Devon graduated from Tulane University in 2020 with a degree in Psychology. There she spent her time leading recruitment for Panhellenic Council and working in alumni relations. In her free time she enjoys trying new restaurants, shopping at flea markets, hiking, or playing tennis.
Email: devon.rosen@kcrw.org