NONPROFIT JOURNALISM FUNDING, SURVIVING, AND THRIVING
For most of the last century, news media operated on a
SIMPLE PREMISE
BUILDING A READERSHIP By providing content
Then selling the attention of that audience to advertisers
PAST TWO DECADES Newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, all had to adapt to A blossoming of an array of outlets on the web
Many of them simply collecting and then disseminating news
The traditional advertising-heavy funding model for media has been steadily plummeting for years
CONTINUES TO DO SO
Even those online news outlets have to start rethinking their business models
WHAT EXACTLY IS NONPROFIT JOURNALISM?
Nonprofit news organizations tend to be investigative and analysisfocused, rather than concentrated on breaking news
NONPROFIT DESIGNATION IS PRIMARILY Legal framework
Business structure
Under the IRS section 501(c)(3)-501(c)(9), a qualifying organization must invest any surplus revenue back into the organization, rather than paying dividends to shareholders
Institute for Nonprofit News (nine years old itself) boasts 180 members
INN says there are about 200 nonprofit newsrooms in the U.S. in total
The nonprofit news sector now pulls in almost $350 million in total annual revenue
SO, WHAT ABOUT THE FUNDING?
Nonprofits, nonprofit news organizations tend to rely on charitable giving
GRANTS AND DONATIONS
Private foundations are an important source of funding for many news outlets
IN THE US
60% Non-profit news outlets derive at least half their budget from foundations
This means that nonprofit media organizations across the great majority of states lack the funding necessary to fill gaps in newspaper coverage
Individual donations of all sizes are still underdeveloped revenue streams for most nonprofit news organizations Revenue from membership makes up between one percent to less than a third of nonprofits’ revenue
A CASE STUDY TRUTHOUT.ORG https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-journalism-funding/
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Nonprofit news organizations have an astonishing potential. They often use their resources efficiently and achieve remarkable results
Nonprofit news organizations fill a crucial gap in information and knowledge sharing
MORE INFORMATION
Nonprofit Journalism Fundraising