Our Mission & History
Twenty years of original investigative journalism in the public interest. Breaking stories, holding power accountable, and giving voice to the voiceless since 2006.
Our Mission
To conduct original investigative journalism that holds individuals, corporations, and governments accountable — exposing corruption, systemic failures, and injustice in service of the public interest.
Our Vision
To be the most trusted independent investigative newsroom in America — breaking stories that matter, driving real accountability, and building a more informed and just society.
Our Guiding Principles
Independence
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we answer only to the public. No corporate owners, no political agendas, no conflicts of interest. Our funding comes from readers and foundations — never from the subjects we cover. Donors have zero editorial authority.
Accountability
We hold the powerful accountable — whether in government, business, or institutions. Our investigations expose wrongdoing, corruption, and systemic failures that harm everyday Americans. We follow the evidence wherever it leads.
Transparency
We practice what we preach. Our funding sources are disclosed in our annual transparency report, our corrections policy is public, and we explain our editorial process. We believe transparency is not optional — it is the foundation of trust.
Public Service
Every investigation we pursue serves the public interest. We focus on stories that matter to communities, expose injustice, and drive meaningful change. Impact — not page views — is how we measure success.
Our Journey
From a small team of veteran journalists to a nationally recognized independent investigative newsroom
Foundation
NonProfit Media was founded by a group of veteran investigative journalists who believed that quality journalism should serve the public interest, not corporate profits. We launched with a small team and a single mission: to hold power accountable — organized from day one as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no advertising and no commercial pressure.
First Major Investigation
Our early exposé on pharmaceutical pricing practices led to congressional hearings and policy reforms affecting millions of Americans. This investigation established our reputation for thorough, evidence-driven, impactful reporting and attracted our first major foundation grants.
Expansion Across Ten Beats
We expanded our coverage across ten topic areas: U.S., World, Justice, Health & Wellness, Science & Tech, Environment, Business, Public Protection, Culture & Arts, and Education — building dedicated editorial teams for each beat and deepening our investigative capacity.
Partnership Network
Launched strategic curation partnerships with leading investigative newsrooms — ProPublica, The Marshall Project, InsideClimate News, Reveal, and others — expanding our reach and the depth of our coverage across all ten topic areas.
Impact Milestone
Reached 5 million readers and established our member support program to ensure long-term editorial independence and financial sustainability. Expanded our coverage to all ten topic areas with dedicated editorial teams.
Award-Winning Journalism
Received eight national journalism awards including recognition for investigative excellence, public service, and digital innovation. Our team grew to 45 dedicated journalists and researchers. Launched our annual transparency report marking our first decade of independent journalism.
COVID-19 Accountability Coverage
Published original investigations into pandemic response failures, PPE fraud, and public health accountability. Expanded our investigative data journalism capabilities and launched our secure whistleblower tip system.
Scale & Recognition
Grew our curated investigations library to over 800 articles across all ten coverage areas. Received IRE and SPJ awards for investigative excellence. Established our Ethics Committee with an independent external member and published our annual impact report.
Continued Growth
Expanded our digital platform with enhanced search, topic navigation, and a secure tip submission system. Continued filing FOIA requests, protecting confidential sources, and pursuing the stories that powerful institutions would prefer go untold.
Today — 20 Years Strong
Two decades after our founding, we continue to hold power accountable — funded by readers who believe independent journalism is worth fighting for.
Why We\'re Different
Original Investigative Reporting
We conduct original investigations — filing FOIA requests, interviewing whistleblowers, analyzing data, and spending months following evidence wherever it leads. We don\'t just aggregate the news; we break it. Our curated reporting is clearly attributed and held to the same editorial standards as our original work.
Nonprofit Structure
Unlike traditional media companies driven by profit margins and shareholder returns, we\'re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This means we can focus on stories that matter — not stories that generate clicks or please advertisers. Our bylaws prohibit donors from exercising editorial authority in any form.
Reader & Foundation Funded
Our funding comes from individual readers and foundation grants — never from the corporations or politicians we cover. All donors above $5,000 are disclosed in our annual transparency report. This financial independence is the foundation of our editorial independence.
Impact-Driven Journalism
We measure success not by page views or revenue, but by real-world outcomes: policy changes, corporate accountability, criminal prosecutions, and a more informed citizenry. Every investigation we pursue is chosen for its potential to drive meaningful change — and we track outcomes long after publication.
Support Our Mission
Independent journalism requires independent support. Help us continue holding power accountable and serving the public interest.