We at the West Essex Tribune have some big progress to announce: We have officially taken the first step in converting to a registered 5 01 c3 nonprofit newspaper, by entering into a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (more on them and why we made this decision below).This initial step enables us to accept tax-deductible donations to support the newspaper. Which brings me to my second exciting announcement: We are officially launching a fundraising campaign to support our newspaper.The Tribune is one of the very few independent weekly newspapers left in New Jersey. The others have been absorbed into big chain operations, losing their local connections, or they have gone out of business - I’m sure most readers have noticed that our newspapers have been smaller for most issues, and unfortunately, it’s getting tougher and tougher for community newspapers to survive. We at the Tribune are determined to remain a viable and sustainable source for the local news of Livingston; transitioning to a non-profit model is a secure way to accomplish that goal.A guiding partner on this journey is the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM). We have been speaking with CNJLM about nonprofit journalism for more than three years, and we have full confidence that they are the right partner for us. We have watched them work with other local, independent papers, and we feel comfortable that they will be a partner who cares about the preservation of local newsrooms such as the Tribune.As previously mentioned, the first step of this transition is to come under the fiscal sponsorship of CNJLM, a registered 501c3 nonprofit operating under EIN 85-2177281, which will enable the paper to accept tax-deductible donations. Through the process of fiscal sponsorship, CNJLM will act as a “parent” organization for us, not only helping us prepare for the transition to a nonprofit newsroom but also ensuring that we learn and abide by the best practices of a current nonprofit.We chose CNJLM for a reason. They are dedicated to preserving and expanding the quality and accessibility of professional journalism that is vital to informed civic engagement and the practice of democracy. The organization’s stated goals are to preserve and strengthen community and nonprofit journalism; to facilitate community access to important local and regional policy issues through print, online, and social media, public events, conferences, and online forums; and to enhance the ...
