Funding Guidelines

Overview

The GroundTruth Project, Inc. is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, and the home of two flagship journalism programs: Report for America and Report for the World. The GroundTruth Project is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Editorial Independence and Donor Influence

We are firmly committed to protecting the editorial independence of the journalists and newsrooms we support. To safeguard that independence:

  • News organizations that host Report for America or Report for the World corps members maintain full editorial control over the content produced and all publishing decisions.
  • Donors—whether supporting with unrestricted support or contributing specifically to Report for America or Report for the World—have no influence over the editorial content produced by corps members or newsroom partners.

Gift Transparency and Donor Recognition

We are committed to transparency in our philanthropic relationships. Unless anonymity is explicitly requested by the donor, the names of individuals or institutions contributing $5,000 or more will be disclosed upon request.

Funding Structure and Flow

Funding for Report for America and Report for the World flows through The GroundTruth Project, which then provides support to participating newsroom partners. This structure reinforces a clear separation between funding sources and editorial decision-making, helping to prevent any actual or perceived influence.

We reserve the right to decline any donation from individuals or entities that, in the judgment of our Board of Directors, present a conflict of interest or could compromise the integrity or independence of our work. Additionally, we may review and, if necessary, decline gifts of assets that pose liquidity challenges or are otherwise difficult for the organization to manage.

Fiscal Sponsorship

The GroundTruth Project serves as a fiscal sponsor for many of our newsroom partners that lack their own 501(c)(3) status. As fiscal sponsor, we provide financial oversight, ensuring that all funds raised comply with nonprofit regulations and adhere to our charitable purpose. Gifts to fiscally sponsored organizations are subject to The GroundTruth Project’s gift acceptance policy.

For information about how to make a gift, please visit our website at https://thegroundtruthproject.org/support-us.