Who are ProPublicans?
ProPublicans are smart, generous, discerning readers who believe that fact-based journalism matters, and they donate money to make sure that ProPublica remains financially healthy. It doesn’t take much to become a ProPublican — even a $1 donation will make you one.
Why does ProPublica need money?
Because journalism, especially investigative journalism (the kind ProPublica is known for), is expensive. It’s time-consuming and requires a lot of resources, and that makes it hard to sustain for many newsrooms. But a nonprofit model works well, and ProPublica is on solid ground, thanks to the generosity of ProPublicans. Over the last 20 years, ProPublica has built the largest investigative newsroom in the country, powered by donations.
Why don’t you put up a paywall or require subscriptions?
At ProPublica, journalism is a public service.
Our stories put the facts on the record for all to see, so that people can make informed decisions about how to make things better. We uncover hard truths about the water we drink, the pills we take, the schools our kids attend and the elections that choose our leaders. Our investigations have helped hold officials accountable; exposed life-threatening failures in mental healthcare, flood zones and immigration detention centers; and prompted real change in policies, behaviors and laws.
Our journalism is free for everyone because we want people to have access to the information they need to confront big problems and to understand what’s happening, what’s at stake and why it matters.
It’s investigative journalism for the people, not for profit.
How is my donation spent?
The vast bulk of the money we spend goes straight into producing world-class journalism.
We have a policy of transparent financial reporting, issuing three public reports each year that show the impact of our work, along with our annual financial statements. You can find our 990 tax forms dating back to 2007, with details like executive compensation, revenue, expenses and more, in Nonprofit Explorer, the research tool we created to ensure that the annual returns filed by tax-exempt organizations are public and accessible.
We also have a four-star rating on Charity Navigator.
And we think it’s money well-spent. We’ve won nine Pulitzer Prizes. We keep careful track of the impact of our reporting, and we’ve been able to shine some much-needed light on abuses of power and public trust.
How many ProPublicans are there?
Right now, there are about 90,000 ProPublicans, from the United States and all over the world. The average gift is about $100, but there’s no minimum donation to become a ProPublican.
Any benefits to being a ProPublican?
Yes: a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that you did something good and are part of something special. Every time you read a ProPublica story, every time we earn an award, every time we report on impact — pat yourself on the back because it’s all made possible through the generosity of ProPublicans like you.
Who owns ProPublica? No one.
Unlike many media outlets, we don’t have any owners or shareholders to appease. We have no corporate parent. No government funding. As a nonprofit, ProPublica is 100% independent. That means our only obligation is to the truth.
Our business model protects our editorial independence. We aren’t beholden to benefactors or subject to political influence. Funders have no say in what we cover. Our reporters have the freedom to investigate the most powerful people and institutions in the country and follow the facts wherever they lead, no matter whom they upset.
Our journalism exists to hold power accountable.
ProPublica exists because people like you choose to fund it.
Convinced? Join us here.
This is what it looks like when people come together to sustain independent, fact-based reporting that stays free for everyone. Be a part of it. Become a ProPublican.
