FAQ: New Donor Bonus (2024)

What is the New Donor Bonus?

The New Donor Bonus is awarded to newsrooms for attracting new donors. 

• Newsrooms with operating expenses under $1 million in 2023: Secure 50 or more new donors and receive a $1,000 bonus
• Newsrooms with operating expenses over $1 million in 2023: Secure 100 or more new donors and receive a $2,000 bonus

What newsrooms are eligible for this bonus?

Any newsroom regardless of size is eligible to receive this bonus, but the opportunity is tiered by participant size.

Newsrooms with operating expenses under $1 million in 2023 must secure 50 or more new donors to receive $1,000. Newsrooms with operating expenses over $1 million must secure 100 or more new donors to receive a $2,000 bonus.

What counts as a "new donor"?

A first-time donor who has never supported your organization.

What do I need to report to qualify for this bonus?

Any newsrooms interested in receiving the bonus will be required to complete the NewsMatch reporting process as part of the INN Index and verify the number of new donors that contributed to your 2024 campaign. As part of your report, you will be asked to identify how many donors contributed to your campaign for the first time; we just need the total number, there are no additional bonus-specific questions.