Donor and financial transparency policy

Posted Sunday, October 17, 2021 5:50 pm

The JOLT News Organization is committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our journalism.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics and special projects. As a nonprofit organization we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.

Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters opportunities to assign, preview or edit content.

We make public all revenue sources and donors who give $5,000 or more per year. As a news nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations 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 with our work or compromise our independence.

Status as a nonprofit entity

The JOLT launched in May 2020 as a division of a local business, Pareto-Curve Marketing, Inc. Over the course of our first year we realized that our public service mission is more aligned with the operations of other nonprofit news organizations around the country than as a division of a for-profit business.

As of October 1, 2021 The JOLT began transitioning our accounts to a new nonprofit entity, The JOLT News Organization, a Washington nonprofit corporation. We are filing with the Internal Revenue Service to receive determination as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Until we receive the IRS determination letter, contributions to The JOLT News Organization are tax deductible if made through our fiscal sponsor, Thurston Economic Development Council Center for Business & Innovation, a local 501(c)(3) organization with which we are proud to be affiliated. Kindly notate "JOLT" on your check.

Sponsorship opportunities

If your business, organization, or nonprofit would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities with The JOLT, please contact Danny Stusser on 360-357-1000 x1 or by email here.