The Springfield Daily Citizen is committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.
Our news judgments are made independently — not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.
Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.
On May 4, 2022, we received notice that the Internal Revenue Service had approved our application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, retroactive to Aug. 20, 2021. (Access a copy of our notification letter here.)
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics and special projects. Consistent with our nonprofit status, we operate as a public trust and we may not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.
At a minimum, we make public all revenue sources and donors who give $5,000 or more per year. As a news nonprofit, we seek to avoid accepting charitable donations – other than through subscriptions or similar programs available to the general public – from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest (see Board policy here) with our work or compromise our independence.
Our structure
The Springfield Daily Citizen incorporated in the state of Missouri in August 2021 as a nonprofit, public benefit corporation. It is organized exclusively for charitable, literary, scientific and educational purposes.
On May 4, 2022, we received notice that the Internal Revenue Service had approved our application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, retroactive to Aug. 20, 2021. (Access a copy of our notification letter here.)
The Daily Citizen collaborates with, but is independent of, Missouri State University, tying into MSU’s statewide public affairs mission. In October 2021, MSU’s Board of Governors unanimously approved a facility use agreement, providing the Daily Citizen with office space and a host of related services. The Daily Citizen is housed in MSU’s Freudenberger House.
The Daily Citizen has separately reached a collaboration agreement with KSMU Ozarks Public Radio, and also provides internship opportunities for MSU students.
Missouri State has no control or involvement in Daily Citizen newsroom activities or editorial decisions. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Daily Citizen do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Missouri State University.
Our funding
The Daily Citizen is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is primarily funded through donations from individuals and businesses. Additional revenue is obtained through grants, events and other activities. As a matter of policy, funders exercise no control over the Daily Citizen’s editorial decisions.
Like other nonprofits, we need to make just enough money to sustain – and hopefully expand – our operations. Our current annual budget is roughly $1 million.
We have a five-year plan to reach sustainability. A start-up fundraising campaign is underway — link here to more information and a pledge form. Initial gifts and pledges provide us with confidence we will have the funding to maintain or grow our current operations. In the long run, we are looking at a mix of revenue sources:
- Subscriptions paid by people who find value in our content.
- Sponsorships from local organizations and businesses, who get some advertising in return.
- Continuing donations from local people who want to support our mission.
- Grants, events and other activities