Ottawa News Network donations on #GivingTuesday will be tripled in year-end fundraising campaign
On Giving Tuesday, each contribution to ONN, up to $1,000, will be tripled by a group of our local supporters. Every $1 you give will become $3 to provide trusted local news.
OTTAWA COUNTY — The Ottawa News Network is hoping the giving spirit in Ottawa County will help it expand its local news coverage.
On Giving Tuesday, each contribution to ONN, up to $1,000, will be tripled by a group of local supporters.
Janet DeYoung, a member of the ONN Board of Directors and fundraising chair, said the organization hopes to raise $75,000 and gain 100 new donors.
She said 84 new givers have already come forward, and she hopes that will grow to help expand the organization's mission to expand hyperlocal news coverage.
“We believe accurate information is a public good and that all residents should have access to trusted local news. We rely on grants, sponsorships and donations from our readers and those who share that value,” DeYoung said.
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday is an annual global day of generosity that encourages giving back through donations, volunteering and other acts of kindness. Held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it is a response to the consumer-driven days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, focusing instead on charitable giving to a wide range of causes.
Launched in December 2024, ONN is an independent, nonprofit news outlet that embarked on a critical fundraising effort to substantially expand its coverage of Ottawa County in its second year of operation.
The fundraising effort is part of the national NewsMatch campaign, a collective initiative designed to support independent, public service journalism across the country.
Every $1 given on Giving Tuesday will become $3 to provide trusted local news.
This fundraising model, which centers on grants, sponsorships and individual reader donations, is increasingly vital for nonprofit newsrooms across the United States.
It allows outlets like ONN to prioritize community needs and investigative work without the commercial pressures often associated with traditional, for-profit media.
The push to increase capacity comes at a moment when the importance of trusted, local reporting is a frequent topic of national conversation, DeYoung said.
By eliminating the financial barrier of a paywall, ONN aims to ensure that all residents — regardless of income — have access to the news that affects their lives and informs their civic choices.
Donors to the campaign will be directly contributing to the expansion of on-the-ground reporting, ensuring a more comprehensive look at the county's government, schools and cultural life. The success of the NewsMatch campaign will directly determine the scope and scale of this planned expansion.
How to donate
Make an online donation or become a monthly member today at OttawaNewsNetwork.org.
Donations are accepted through check, credit card, or ACH. Checks should be made payable to Ottawa News Network, EIN: 99-4926825
Send to:
Ottawa News Network
P.O. Box 413
Grand Haven, MI, 49417
