New York and Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative subscribes to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN):

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

New York and Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

NY&MI SOJO is editorially independent of its fiscal agent, Local Media Foundation. We collaborate on payroll and fundraising strategies, website and technology needs, and other non-journalism business roles.

Donor transparency

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

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 long as they are not in conflict with our work. We are an organization fiscally sponsored by our partner Local Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a public charitable trust. 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 the rights to assign, review or edit content.

NY&MI SOJO will make public all donors who give $5,000 or more per year. 
As a journalism nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office.

See our corrections policy