James and Kathy Ganley - Finding Home Through MPR

Jan 28, 2026

Reflecting on her early memories of radio, Kathy Ganley smiles. She recalls riding in cars and listening to music. Lots of music. 

“Back then, what were there? Eight radio stations? I grew up in East Lansing, MI. We listened to what mom was listening to.”

James Ganley grew up in and around New York City. His memories of radio come from time spent at the small bungalow in Queens, where his family spent their summers. 

“It was a tight-knit community, and we were outside all the time. The music drifted out of the open windows. We were on the beach all day. No TV. And the music of the 70s!” In high school, James’s father became a public radio listener. “That’s when I first heard Garrison Keillor and figured out the whole public radio thing.”

James and Kathy met in a study group when they were getting their MBAs at the University of Chicago. James continued his business focus, working in investments for 14 years at an investment bank and 16 in investment firms. For Kathy, art has been a durable interest. Kathy turned her attention to being an art advisor. 

“Growing up I thought I would be an artist. Then in college I started loving art history. When we traveled, I spent a lot of time in museums. James and I lived in London for about 12 years. Our three kids were born there. There was such a great art scene. It solidified for me what it means to be a collector.” 

They moved to Minneapolis in 2009. At the time many galleries were closing, and it offered her an opportunity “to help people locally find art that really resonates.”

James arrived in Minneapolis from London before Kathy and the family. He recalls driving all over town to furnish their new residence.  “When you're moving somewhere new, you're trying to understand where you are. I found The Current was the first place where I said, hmm, okay, I can start to feel like this is what it's like to move to Minneapolis.” James resonates with the mission of The Current, its music selections, the DJs, and the way it connects with the local scene.

Over the years, their interests have expanded to include a passion for the news. James shared, “I was looking for something that I knew I could trust with fair and honest reporting and also has the variety of content in news and information. Kathy will tell you she’s big fan of ‘Art Hounds’ and ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’ We appreciate the depth of programming that comes through MPR.”    

James added, “I think everybody knows about Marketplace. They do a terrific job at taking what can be very complicated and making it accessible. It's a perfect example of what I think public radio does so well. It doesn’t assume that the listener is beyond whatever the concept is. And they make sure to deliver it in a way everyone can understand. I think that's incredibly, incredibly valuable.”

James joined the MPR |APM board in 2023 and has come to appreciate the breadth and depth of what MPR | APM delivers. “Whatever your interests, whether cultural, news, or the local, there is a way to connect.”

Kathy added, “We’ve been regular contributors. Small gifts every month. With so many great organizations doing great work, you need to be thoughtful. James and I both feel strongly that reliable news is important. We believe getting accurate information out to people is vital. MPR delivers a great product. We appreciate the way MPR builds community. We’re better together. We want to keep Minnesota strong.”

As a board member, James has a window into the ways the media landscape is changing quickly. He wanted to make a bigger commitment to the future of MPR through the comprehensive campaign. He and Kathy have made a major three-year commitment to the campaign. They also decided to keep the commitment unrestricted, with some special attention to James’ love for The Current. 

James summed it up, “What makes Minnesota Public Radio such a great option for someone's generosity is that you know you're making an immediate impact and that you're building community. And that's not always so easy to find when you're contributing money.”