Membership Policy

Effective Date: November 2024

The Fort Collins Report is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to independent, fact-based local journalism. Our membership program exists to allow community members to support our work in a transparent, ethical, and sustainable way.

This Membership Policy explains what membership is.

1. What a Membership Is

A membership with the Fort Collins Report is an annual purchase that supports our newsroom and includes a set of defined, non-editorial benefits.

Memberships:

  • Are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase
  • Must be renewed annually to continue benefits
  • Are not charitable donations
  • Do not confer ownership, control, or influence over our newsroom

Membership revenue helps fund reporting, operations, and community engagement initiatives that serve the public interest.

2. What a Membership Is Not

A Fort Collins Report membership:

  • Is not a donation
  • Is not tax-deductible
  • Does not grant editorial input, approval rights, or story selection authority
  • Does not provide governance rights or board representation
  • Does not guarantee access to unpublished or embargoed journalism

Editorial decisions are made independently by our newsroom, regardless of membership status or level of support.

  • All memberships are issued for a 12-month term
  • Members may renew annually to maintain benefits
  • Renewal reminders are sent prior to expiration
  • Benefits may pause or end if a membership is not renewed

We may offer optional auto-renewal for convenience; auto-renewal is always clearly disclosed at checkout and can be canceled at any time.

4. Membership Benefits

Membership benefits may include:

  • Recognition as a supporter (where applicable)
  • Member newsletters or updates
  • Invitations to events or briefings
  • Discounted admission to ticketed events
  • Occasional merchandise or promotional items

Benefits:

  • Are non-substantial and mission-aligned
  • May vary by membership level
  • May evolve over time as the organization grows

The Fort Collins Report reserves the right to modify or update benefits to best serve our mission and community.

5. Editorial Independence

The Fort Collins Report maintains strict editorial independence.

No member, regardless of membership level:

  • Influences news coverage
  • Reviews stories prior to publication
  • Directs investigative priorities
  • Receives favorable coverage in exchange for support

Our editorial decisions are guided solely by journalistic standards, community relevance, and the public interest.

6. Relationship to Donations

Memberships and donations are separate forms of support.

  • Memberships are paid annually and include defined benefits.
  • Donations are voluntary contributions with no material benefits in return.

Individuals who wish to make a charitable contribution may do so through our donations page, where applicable disclosures are provided.

7. Transfers, Refunds & Cancellations

  • Memberships are non-transferable
  • Refund requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis
  • Memberships may be canceled at any time, but unused time is not guaranteed to be refunded

Questions about memberships can be directed to:
[email protected]

8. Policy Updates

This Membership Policy may be updated periodically to reflect operational, legal, or programmatic changes. The most current version will always be available on our website.

9. Our Commitment

Membership support helps ensure that local journalism in Fort Collins remains:

  • Independent
  • Accessible
  • Community-centered
  • Free from political or commercial influence

We are grateful to every member who helps make that possible.