Lincoln Chronicle extends its fundraising campaign through July 5 in effort to reach contribution goal

By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle

It’s been very nice to get checks in the mail, of course, during our annual June fundraising campaign. But just as nice are some of the comments and thanks that readers and supporters send along with their contributions.

“Keep up the great work!” wrote a contributor from Corvallis. “I really enjoy and appreciate the Lincoln Chronicle.”

“Thanks for all the hard work done by you and your excellent staff,” said a supporter from Yachats.

“Thank you for all you do. Democracy dies in darkness. Your team continues to shine a light,” said a Waldport contributor.

“Thank you! Local news is so important,” wrote a supporter from Toledo. “Keep up the good work.”

“We appreciate your expanded coverage of news from Newport,” a note from a Newport couple said. “Your section with Q&A’s for the county commissioners was excellent.”

It’s the financial support from readers – and your encouraging words – that helps keep us focused on providing professionally-reported local news in Lincoln County.

Because of that – and because we’re a bit short of our fundraising goal for the month – we’re extending our campaign through Sunday, July 5. During this extra week, your contributions will still be doubled by a generous supporter who is matching all reader donations.

Through June 28, readers and supporters have contributed $30,000 to help offset our operating expenses which this year are expected to reach $185,000. While we are in reasonable financial shape, it takes help from readers, advertisers and the occasional foundation grant to pay the bills.

Because of the unlimited matching challenge, our fundraising goal is to raise $50,000 from readers – turning that into $100,000 so we can, as I like to say, “Do more and better.”

Here’s how to help.

A check: Some readers just like to write a check and be done with it. If you are one of those people, please make the check out to Lincoln Chronicle and mail it to P.O. Box 284, Yachats, Ore. 97498.

Online via PayPal: Others prefer to donate electronically — either one time or via smaller, monthly amounts. Our revised and updated donor page can handle both methods. Go here to make a one-time donation or set up an automatic monthly donation, which 145 readers currently do.

Gifts of stock: We also have an account at Fidelity Investments that allows us to accept gifts of stock, which can have tax advantages to the donor.  If you are interested in learning more about that, contact me via email at [email protected] or call me at 503-970-3867.

Advertise: Or, if you own a business or head an organization, you can support us and help yourselves by advertising and getting your message in front of 170,000 readers a month. Our ad director, Tiffany Sullivan of Blue Sprocket Brokerage can be of great help. Here is a link to our advertising rate card and Tiffany’s contact information.

YachatsNews, the publishers of Lincoln Chronicle, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and any contribution is tax deductible under IRS rules. Our federal EIN is 92-0324739.

Our story, our mission

This is the last of stories this month asking for your support but also explaining our work, our plans, and the evolving local and Oregon news landscape. For now, I’ll leave you with our mission statement:

“Provide local, professionally reported, fair, unbiased straightforward news of Lincoln County and the central Oregon coast, its governments, people, community organizations, businesses and the natural environment with an emphasis on good government, transparency, community involvement, civic participation and engagement. Independent, non-profit news. Free to all, funded by readers.”

Thank you for reading and for your support.

— Quinton Smith/editor & board chair