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Who will look into this? What’s really going on here? Will they get away with that?
Do you ever ask these questions? We do—everyday. And then we do something about it.
The Center for Investigative Reporting is a non-profit news organization supported by private foundations and individuals such as yourself. We’re not beholden to corporate shareholders or special interests. Donations from the public are essential to enable us to look into the issues you care about and bring our reporting to you and tens of millions of other people.
We provide the “shoe leather”—reporting on education, health, environment, criminal justice and more—but need a bit of “wallet leather” to keep going. You can directly help support our work:
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Make a one-time gift or recurring pledge via credit or debit card. Ideal for donations up to $1,000. |
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Send a donation by mail, call our Berkeley office, or send us an email for details. |
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It’s an easy way to donate that can help both you and CIR. |
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If your company matches gifts, let us know so you can double your donation. |
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Consider becoming an “eternal watchdog” by including CIR in your will or other estate planning |
Support Levels:
Check out CIR’s new membership categories below. In today’s challenging environment for journalism, we all must come together to ensure that good, watchdog reporting continues. Your help really will make a difference. Join us!
Basic CIR Membership: $50
Sunlight Circle: $50 to $999
Benefits: Knowing that you’re shining light onto issues that aren’t covered anywhere else. Plus, CIR’s Story Alerts and our monthly email update with insider information.
What can your money buy?
$50 pays for a reporter’s expenses in the field for a day.
$100 covers software that helps us turn investigations into interactive maps and databases.
$250 means we can translate a report into Spanish or other languages.
$600 buys a portable scanner—essential for copying government records on site and avoiding high document fees.
Investigative Team: $1,000 to $9,999
Benefits: Invitation to CIR phone and online briefings; DVD of our forthcoming documentary, “Dirty Business,” on ‘clean coal’ and the battle for our energy future.
What could these donations support?
$1,000 funds a reporting intern for a month.
$5,000 enables us to develop an interactive, multimedia project website to present an investigation in compelling ways.
$6,500 supports office space for a month for our Bay Area headquarters and Sacramento bureau.
Front-Page Editors: $10,000 to $49,999
Benefits: Same as “Investigative Team”; invitation to small-group gatherings with special guest journalists; an annual surprise packet from CIR (which will include best stories, books, or DVDs by CIR authors and our colleagues).
How might these generous gifts be used?
$10,000 covers a special assignment investigation for CIR by a veteran independent journalist.
$25,000 pays for CIR’s insurance (including libel insurance) for a full year.
$45,000 brings on a seasoned radio producer for six months to turn CIR investigations into public radio reports.
New Media Entrepreneurs: $50,000 and above
Benefits: Same as “Front Page Editors,” plus recognition for a year on CIR’s home page or an ad spot—for your company or organization, or the non-profit of your choice—for six months on the CIR or California Watch website.
These major gifts would help journalism thrive:
$50,000 supports a junior staff reporter for a year.
$100,000 lets us hire an experienced reporter to create a new reporting beat.
$500,000 saves journalism (or helps us get there).
Go to our online donations page or, for a donation over $1,000, please email us or mail a check to 2130 Center St., Ste. 103, Berkeley CA 94704.