The Hardwick Gazette’s end-of-year fundraising campaign began in November with an ambitious goal: $40,000 in reader donations. It seemed like a real stretch, because the 2024 campaign’s total was about $30,000.
In the end, readers delivered beyond all expectation. At last count, reader donations totaled $45,451.89. Add in matching funds from local donors and national organizations, and the grand total for the drive will be $89,851.89.
By contrast, the 2024 end-of-year campaign netted about $30,000. Local donations alone increased by more than one-third and the grand total is almost three times as large.
It is amazing and inspiring.
The Gazette enters the new year with more money in the bank than ever before!
The Gazette’s board and staff are overwhelmed with gratitude, and full of confidence that our communities are willing to support a strong local paper.
There’s a renewed commitment to our mission of providing quality journalism for our 11 communities.
Here’s how the money breaks down. Readers donated $40,400 during the campaign, which met or exceeded every matching target. Generous local donors created a matching pool of more than $20,000. Another $20,000 in matching funds will come from the Institute for Nonprofit News, a national organization working to build nonprofit journalism across the country.
INN’s NewsMatch program provided $20,000 in matching funds including a base fund of $15,000 and another $5,000 from the Barr and Knight Foundations. The local matching pool qualified The Gazette for a $3,000 bonus grant from INN. There was also a $1,000 incentive for receiving first-time gifts from at least 50 readers, which was easily achieved.
Add that all together and The Gazette will receive $24,000 from INN and related sources outside Vermont to enhance our local news ecosystem.
Three hundred and nineteen readers showed their support by making donations during the drive, including the local matching pool. That represents 30% or more of the regular readers of our weekly newsletter. It is a percentage any nonprofit organization would love to achieve. (Most would settle for 10%.) Tripling that rate is incredible. It speaks to our readers’ desire for local news and their trust in The Gazette. Thank you again.
The results ensure continued operation of The Gazette, giving us time to strengthen the financial side of the enterprise, which is necessary to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a sustainable operation.
In its two years as a nonprofit, The Gazette has published every week (except the usual vacation the first week of January) with a small paid staff and a lot of volunteer effort. Much has been achieved, but it’s not a formula for long-term success.
The news operation needs to be strengthened to provide the depth of coverage our communities deserve. Fundraising, advertising sales and sponsorships must be bolstered for The Gazette to become a sustainable enterprise. There is a plan in place that has been proven to work elsewhere. It will be challenging, but with your continued support it can be done.
If you’re wondering how you can help, here are a few ideas. First, keep on reading every week and sign up for our weekly newsletter if you haven’t already at hardwickgazette.org/subscribe/
Second, if you operate a business or provide a service, consider advertising in The Gazette, or asking abut sponsorship opportunities. It’s the best way to reach your area customers.
Third, if you aren’t already a monthly sustaining supporter, please consider becoming one. Monthly contributors provide a strong foundation for the entire operation.
Fourth, tell your friends and neighbors about The Gazette; we continue to learn of people who thought The Gazette disappeared completely when it stopped publishing a print newspaper during the Covid-19 pandemic. Help get the word out that we are here and let people know there are now printed copies for sale at the Buffalo Mountain Market in Hardwick and Willey’s Store in Greensboro
Finally, if you’re in a position to contribute to funding the start-up period for us to bring on an employee who will take on development, advertising and sponsorship sales, eventually funding their own position and ensuring The Gazette’s sustainability for many years to come, please contact The Gazette at [email protected].
The staff and board of The Hardwick Gazette thank you for your support. The dollars are important; your readership and loyalty, even more so.
John Walters, NEK Public Journalism Fundraising Chairperson
John Walters is the sole author of The Vermont Political Observer, readable for free (but donations cheerfully accepted) at thevpo.org. Walters has had a long career in print and broadcast journalism. He’s been an observer of Vermont politics since 2011, including a three-year stint as political columnist for Seven Days. He is on the board of NEK Public Journalism. He lives in East Montpelier with his loyal spouse, two house rabbits and two cockatiels.
