Nonprofit News & the INN Network

Who’s Your Source?

The Institute for Nonprofit News leads the INN Network – 425+ independent, nonpartisan news organizations providing high quality journalism as a public service.

Nonprofit newsrooms that belong to the INN Network are your source for accurate, credible reporting driven by facts, not opinions.

That’s because they answer to one bottom line: the truth. 

Nonprofit news is created for, supported by, and committed to the communities it serves. Through reporters who have deep community ties and topical expertise, nonprofit news elevates untold stories, exposes wrongdoing, and provides the facts we need to make informed decisions. And because most of this content is available without paywalls or subscription fees, nonprofit news makes essential information available to everyone  – not just those who can afford it.

Why does it matter for a community to have a trusted source of news? Because research shows that when people follow local news sources closely, they are more likely to vote in local elections, to vote across party lines and to feel attached to their communities. And at the state and local level, nonprofit news organizations focus on the investigative reporting that holds those in power to account.

The INN Network is an alliance of news organizations committed to shared values that advance excellence in journalism, trust between the press and the public it serves, and best practices for the nonprofit news field.

What does INN membership mean? INN members:

• Form as 501c(3) organizations or similar structures to provide news as a charitable service or public good.
• Set and meet membership standards that demonstrate journalistic quality, editorial independence and public transparency around the sources of their funding and their control.
• Avoid advocating for policies or causes other than the right of all people to freedom of information and speech.
• Work to build a more inclusive news media that represents the communities it serves.
• Collaborate and share content to expand the public benefit of the stories they report.

By the Numbers

425+ nonprofit news organizations across North America sharing content with 7,000 media outlets

3 in 10 member staff are

people of color

More than half of executives

are women

Over 200% membership growth since 2017

73% of
newsrooms

cover local, regional or state news

15% of
newsrooms

dive deep on a single topic

67% of
newsrooms

provide investigative or deep, explanatory reporting

75% of
newsrooms

participate in editorial collaborations

Trusted, reliable journalism is essential to the fabric of our societies. It holds the powerful to account. It inspires individuals to engage, volunteer, and vote. It protects our vulnerable democracy. 

Join us in creating a robust and equitable future for journalism.

Support

nonprofit news

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• Strengthen the field with a gift to INN 
• Contact our development team to build a philanthropic fund for news 
• Find a newsroom covering the region or topic that matters to you 
• Discuss ways to save or build news sources in your community with our Executive Director Sue Cross

START

or grow a newsroom

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• Access INN’s News Startup Resources to learn about everything from fiscal sponsorship to fundraising
• Sign up for monthly News Startup Sessions 
• Explore the benefits of membership in INN 

LEARN

more about the field

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• Get insights from our latest INN Index report 
• Register for upcoming Events or check out our annual INN Days conference 
• Read our Impact Report
• Contact INN’s communications team to request an interview or speaking engagement with an INN expert

Get Our Communications Toolkit

Elevate the story of nonprofit news with our Who’s your source? Communications Toolkit — a free, adaptable set of communications resources designed to raise awareness and engagement with nonprofit news.