Beacon’s annual matching-gift campaign starts Nov. 1

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For the sixth straight year, the Rochester Beacon will participate in NewsMatch, the nation’s largest annual fundraising campaign for nonprofit news. The campaign starts next tomorrow and runs through Dec. 31.

Since 2017, NewsMatch has helped nonprofit newsrooms that deliver fact-based, nonpartisan news and information raise more than $330 million. Gifts from national and local funders are pooled to match small-dollar donations by individuals to participating organizations, all of which have operating budgets below $1 million.

NewsMatch this year will match, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per donor, with a cap of $15,000 per participating nonprofit news organization.

The campaign is managed by the Institute for Nonprofit News, a nationwide network of 450 independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations.

NewsMatch has nearly 20 key national funders including Independence Public Media Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The New York Times, Walton Family Foundation, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. It is a collaborative fund held at the Miami Foundation.

“Our mission to provide vital journalism for Rochester thrives in proportion to the generosity of our readers,” says Alex Zapesochny, Rochester Beacon publisher. “By contributing during NewsMatch, your support is multiplied, enabling us to continue our commitment to quality journalism.”

To be eligible for NewsMatch, donations must be made by individuals—personally, or through a business they own, a family foundation or donor-advised fund. They also must be made during the campaign period, Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

“The NewsMatch matching-gift campaign is the No.1 reason why for the last six years we have been able to provide high-quality, nonprofit local journalism that everyone can access for free,” Executive Editor Paul Ericson says.

“Each year so far we have surpassed our total campaign goal of $20,000 from individual contributors,” he adds, “and we believe our generous supporters in the community will help us do so again in 2024.”

All NewsMatch participants are 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), follow best practices in financial transparency, and publish original, high-quality reporting that is investigative or public service by nature. In addition, all are full members of INN.


The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected]

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