Fort Collins Report (FCR) has entered into a fiscal sponsorship agreement with Fort Collins Public Media (FCPM), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The agreement establishes a charitable giving and administrative framework to support the launch and growth of Fort Collins Report’s public-service local journalism.
The announcement coincides with Fort Collins Report’s Startup Campaign to fund initial staffing, reporting, community engagement, and core operational infrastructure.
Under the fiscal sponsorship arrangement, donations are made to Fort Collins Public Media in support of Fort Collins Report. This structure allows community members and funders to support Fort Collins Report through tax-deductible contributions, while providing sound financial oversight and stewardship.
“Fort Collins deserves consistent hyper-local news that is accessible to all,” said Christopher Crenshaw, Publisher of Fort Collins Report. “This fiscal sponsorship agreement with Fort Collins Public Media helps us build the operational foundation to publish reliably, expand reporting capacity, and serve residents with accountable, community-centered journalism. This partnership provides a trusted pathway for philanthropic support and helps strengthen the civic information ecosystem in our community.”
What the Startup Campaign Will Fund
Funds raised during the Startup Campaign will support the core capacity needed to launch the newsroom and begin consistent publishing, including:
- Pathway to independent nonprofit status: support for the IRS 501(c)(3) filing fee as Fort Collins Report pursues independent tax-exempt status.
- Core newsroom infrastructure: essential tools and systems including Microsoft 365, website hosting/domain, and bookkeeping software, plus supporter payment capability.
- Secure records and archiving: support for archival media and secure storage of key organizational and reporting materials.
- Professional services: legal counsel and accounting assistance to establish strong compliance, contracts, risk management, and financial controls during launch.
- Fiscal sponsorship administration: support for the 10% sponsorship fee associated with fiscal sponsorship and oversight.
- Expanded coverage through freelancers: support for freelance reporting and contract-based content production to increase coverage during startup with flexibility.
- Staffing and newsroom launch capacity: partial salary support for a Founding Publisher to lead startup operations, oversee editorial planning, coordinate publishing workflows, manage partnerships, and guide the newsroom launch.
- Student reporting and training: stipends for two Colorado State University interns for three months each to expand reporting capacity and provide hands-on journalism training.
- Accountability reporting resources: funding for Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests, essential for public interest and watchdog journalism.
- Community awareness and engagement: outreach and audience growth costs including marketing materials, targeted ads, community tabling/engagement, and branded items to build visibility and gather story ideas.
How to Support Fort Collins Report and Fort Colins Public Media
Supporters can learn how to contribute at fcreport.org/donate or can contribute directly by opening our campaign page: Join | Fort Collins Public Media.
About Fort Collins Report
Fort Collins Report is a nonprofit local news initiative dedicated to public-service journalism that informs residents and strengthens civic life in Fort Collins.
About Fort Collins Public Media
Fort Collins Public Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Fort Collins community through public media and civic information. Learn more at fcpublicmedia.org