Madison365, the nonprofit community news platform for and by Greater Madison’s communities of color, has received a matching grant that will double every donation made by the community, up to $1,000 per donation and up to $28,000 total, for the next 30 days.
“This is the best time to support local community journalism,” said Henry Sanders, CEO and Publisher of Madison365. “If you feel that Madison365 has carried your voice, now’s the time to help us carry it further. You give us a dollar, they’ll match it. Your $5 becomes $10, your $20 becomes $40, your $100 becomes $200, all in support of real community journalism for and by people of color. To make the most of the match, we need to raise $28,000 in 30 days, which won’t be easy. But when this community decides something is important, this community always comes through.”
The “Double Down” campaign, running from October 9 through November 8, is part of News Match 2017, a $3 million collaboration between Democracy Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to support nonprofit news organizations that play a vital role informing the public and holding those in power accountable.
Donations can be made online at https://www.madison365.org/donate or by mailing a check to Madison365, PO Box 842, Madison WI 53701.
Sanders said Madison365 will use the donations to expand local coverage, increase multimedia content and reach more community members.
“We’re asking people to Double Down on Madison365 because we are doubling down on Madison,” Sanders said. “This community has so many stories that need to be told, and our readers know we’re in a unique position to tell them. I’m confident our readers want to be part of making that happen.”
“We want 2017 to be a record-setting year for donations to news to ensure that innovative, nonprofit newsrooms have the resources they need to deliver high-quality reporting to the communities they serve,” said Josh Stearns, Associate Director for the Public Square program at Democracy Fund. “News Match comes at a time when journalists are facing a perfect storm of economic challenges and political attacks. A robust, independent press is essential to fostering an informed and engaged public and vital for a healthy democracy.”
“At a time when trust in media is at an all-time low, nonprofit journalism organizations are directly connecting with people to understand their needs and concerns, while providing vital news and information to communities across the nation,” Jennifer Preston, Knight Foundation Vice President for Journalism. “This initiative will help news organizations that are imperative to our democracy build resources and widen their supporter base, just when they need it most.”
“People are increasingly looking to nonprofit news to fill their information needs,” said Sue Cross, Executive Director and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News. “We need to continue that momentum and build an infrastructure that supports organizations that deliver fact-based, nonpartisan, accountable journalism.”
“The accountability and investigative function of journalism is essential for our democracy and it has been under-resourced for many years,” said Kathy Im, Director of Journalism and Media at MacArthur. “News Match endeavors to strengthen a free and independent press and help restore Americans’ faith in the news media.”
