I’m writing on this Giving Tuesday to ask for your help in making sure Johnson County has the independent community news source it deserves by joining our “Commit to Community” fundraising campaign.
Our goal? To raise $15,000 this month to fund more of the in-depth reporting our readers have been telling us they value so much. Every dollar we raise will go directly to our newsroom to help produce even better coverage of Johnson County in 2025.
Why are you running a fundraising campaign?
If you’ve followed the news business for the past several years, you’re probably aware that the traditional business model that newspapers relied on for decades is crumbling. Start up web-only news organizations like the Johnson County Post are trying to fill the gap that’s been left by the reduced newspaper coverage of local communities.
But there’s not a proven model for making sites like the Johnson County Post sustainable long-term institutions. Some, unfortunately, have folded up shop even after years in operation.
Thankfully we’re in no danger of going away any time soon. With the support of 7,500 subscribers and dozens of advertisers, we’ve built the largest news-gathering operation dedicated to Johnson County in nearly two decades.
But the fact is that our staff is still smaller than we need to fully cover Johnson County and its 600,000 people.
We’ve been at this for nearly 15 years now. Our task today is to make sure we’re around for another 50.
Every additional dollar we can secure goes directly to our newsroom, funding the kind of truly local community coverage you won’t find anywhere else and helping us grow into a durable institution that will serve Johnson County for decades to come.
What are the benefits of making a donation?
With trust in “the media” at an all time low, we know it’s more important than ever to proactively engage Johnson County residents to find out what they need and want out of a local news source.
Donors will have the option to join our “Commit to Community” circle in 2025, giving you access to a Facebook group and Discord channel where we’ll host discussions about the biggest issues facing Johnson County and talk through possible approaches to meeting them. We’ll also be surveying our “Commit to Community” circle to get their ideas about stories that may be overlooked.
When you make a donation to our “Commit to Community” campaign, you’ll not only be helping fund our reporting, but you’ll have the chance to help us set a course for 2025 that makes the Post even more responsive to the needs of Johnson County residents.
You don’t have to be a subscriber to donate — though if you’re ready to try a full access subscription, you can get your first month of full access plus our premium newsletters for just $1 here.
Are the donations tax deductible?
Unfortunately, no. Because we are an S-Corp and not a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization (more on the importance of that distinction for news operations in the current political environment here), donations made to the site are not tax deductible.
Can I make a donation with a check, or do I have to give online?
We will gladly accept donations by check. Simply mail your gift to: Johnson County Post, PO Box 8005, Prairie Village, KS, 66208 with “Commit to Community” in the memo line.
