Reporting Guide (2026)

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Reporting Overview

After the campaign has ended, participating newsrooms are asked to complete the INN Index Survey to evaluate the program’s impact.

By asking all NewsMatch participants to complete this annual survey, we are able to measure the impact of NewsMatch which is an essential part of our fundraising case for support. It alerts program staff and funders to challenges, needs, and opportunities in the field and informs the program strategy from year to year. Completion of the INN Index also minimizes redundancy in the questions we would include as part of the NewsMatch reporting process.

Newsrooms eligible and requesting to receive main matching funds, partner funds, or bonus funds must also submit their NewsMatch reports + documentation as part of the INN Index. This information will go to The Miami Foundation to process and verify your payment amount.

Reporting Guide

The NewsMatch reporting guide includes documentation requirements and the questions about campaign performance required from your newsroom. (NOTE: These questions are included in the survey language above, but this guide provides a little more detail about the expectations in the NewsMatch portion of the survey.)

Check it out ahead of time to ensure you're tracking information accurately throughout your campaign.

Index Survey

The Index survey questions are coming soon.

We suggest making a copy of the survey questions and sharing them with your team so everyone can contribute their responses in one place. Once all input is gathered in the shared document, a single staff member can enter the final answers into the survey.

Tutorial

This brief video helps you prepare for NewsMatch reporting by reviewing the match cover sheet, backup documentation, and timeline:

Note: The recording below was created for the 2025 campaign. The process is the same, but dates are different for 2026 (see full calendar here).

Frequently asked questions

Can I close the survey and come back to it?

Yes, your responses are saved automatically as you complete the survey. You can close the survey at any time and your responses will be saved.

How do I access my survey if I close it?

Until the application is submitted, you can use the same link to access the survey again. Any responses you have already made will appear.

Can I share the survey with multiple team members?

Yes, you can share the survey link with other people in your organization to help complete the Index.

What if I need to make an edit to my Index after I've submitted it?

Reach out to index@inn.org to receive a new link to your survey; your previous responses will be recorded, but you can edit, add or delete them.

Do I have to provide documentation for all donations received during my campaign?

No. While the Index will ask for your aggregate campaign totals, you only need to complete the match cover sheet and documentation up to the maximum match amount requested. For example, if you're eligible for the main match ($12,000) and you raise $30,000 in eligible donations, you only need to list $12,000 and provide $12,000 worth of documentation. 

Key Dates

November 2026
 INN Index survey questions will be made available
Dec. 2026 through Jan. 2027
 The Miami Foundation and INN Index team is available to answer questions in one-on-one office hours (Schedule a time)
January 4, 2027
 INN Index Survey and NewsMatch reporting opens; individual links sent directly to participants
January 27, 2026

Deadline to submit your INN Index Survey and NewsMatch Documentation 

Deadline to update banking information
February 2027
 Payment Requests are reviewed by The Miami Foundation
Late March 2027

Payout amounts announced to newsrooms

Payments issued to newsrooms

Need help?

Schedule time with Rebecca Birkholz, Grants Administration Manager at The Miami Foundation, for guidance on:

  • How to complete the match cover sheet
  • Whether or not a donation is eligible for NewsMatch
  • What kind of documentation/verification to include for reporting
  • Changes to payment info or nonprofit status