Support Independent Investigations
Fund dossiers that hold power to account
Long investigations, built across a global network
Our investigations are dossier-length reports, usually 15,000 to 40,000 words. They take time, travel, records work, verification, and legal review. Your support helps us keep building evidence-led reporting without selling influence.
Trust note: Support does not buy coverage, story choice, or special treatment. Fundraising and editorial decisions stay separate by design.
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Field reporting and source work
This covers travel, time on the ground, and the slow trust-building that lets people speak safely. Real reporting often starts with one small tip and many follow-up calls.
- On-the-ground checks when online claims conflict
- Cross-border coordination with partner desks
- Time to re-confirm details before publication
Records, FOI, and legal review
Good investigations rely on paperwork, not vibes. Support helps with records requests, document fees, and legal review when stories attract pushback.
- FOI drafting, tracking, and appeals
- Libel and risk review before publishing
- Defending truthful work when challenged
- Right-to-reply outreach and response logging
Forensic research and verification
This is the evidence grind: checking documents, comparing datasets, tracking money trails, and confirming claims using open-source research.
- Document analysis and timeline building
- Data cleaning, matching, and cross-checking
- Verification notes that support corrections
- OSINT checks for names, entities, and location claims
Security and source protection
Investigations can trigger harassment and threats. Support keeps communication safer and reduces avoidable risk for sources and staff.
- Secure communications and device hardening
- Threat planning for sensitive work
- Safer storage for evidence and notes
- OpSec refreshers for staff and contributors
- Secure tip intake and careful triage
- Account takeover monitoring and recovery steps
- Physical safety planning for field assignments
- Metadata hygiene for documents and media
- Tool and vendor audits for high-risk workflows
Dossier assembly and follow‑ups
A dossier is not one article. It is a structured report with appendices, source notes, and updates when new facts land after publication.
- Evidence annexes and document repositories
- Translation and localization across the network
- Follow-ups when institutions respond or refuse
Step 01
Research
Collect tips, records, and first leads.
Step 02
Verification
Check every claim against proof.
Step 03
Legal
Review risk and tighten wording.
Step 04
Publication
Publish, correct if needed, then follow up.
Non‑negotiable
Support never decides coverage
We do not trade money for influence. If a supporter tries to shape reporting, we say no. If that “no” ends the relationship, we accept it.
- Support does not change what we publish
- No funding tied to specific outcomes
- We can refuse support that brings pressure
- No paid preview or review of drafts by supporters
How we keep it clean
Clear separation and conflict rules
Fundraising and editorial work are not the same job. We keep records, disclose large support when needed, and follow conflict rules so readers can judge us fairly.
- Fundraising contacts do not assign stories
- Staff disclose conflicts and step back when needed
- Corrections are published even when it is embarrassing
Pick the cleanest path
Five options, minimal friction
Monthly support is the default because it helps us plan long investigations. One-time support stays equally visible because some readers prefer a single clear action.
Payment basics
Methods and currencies
We support card payments and bank transfer options depending on location. If you need an invoice, we can issue one through the supporters desk.
- Card payments where available
- Bank transfer on request
- Multi-currency handling for global supporters
Policies
Cancel, refund, and respect
You can cancel monthly support any time. If something went wrong with a payment, email the supporters desk and we will sort it out with simple, polite steps.
- Cancellation: anytime
- Refunds: handled case-by-case, fast and fair
- Privacy: recognition is optional
Tier
Supporter
Helps keep the basics running: verification time, secure tools, and follow-ups that many newsrooms skip.
- Name listed if you want recognition
- Short methodology updates, no source details
- Annual impact and accountability report
Tier
Sustaining supporter
Helps cover legal and security work that protects the dossier process when pressure hits.
- Invites to public briefings on our process
- Early access window to public dossiers when available
- Recognition controls for privacy
Tier
Patron
Helps fund cross-border work and translation so one investigation can travel across many outlets in the network.
- More frequent updates on how we verify
- Public webinar invites on research methods
- Listed as Patron only if you request it
Handled with care
Founding circle / major supporters
Major support is reviewed for conflicts and independence risk. We keep the right to say no if the fit is wrong.
- Ethics review and acceptance check
- Disclosure rules based on thresholds
- No influence over story selection
- Written terms that confirm editorial separation
What we never offer
No access-for-cash perks
Support does not unlock private reporting, confidential source details, or any role in shaping what we investigate.
- No “choose our next investigation” deals
- No private reporter channel for active cases
- No special treatment in coverage
Recurring support that keeps dossiers moving
Monthly range
Institute of Indigenous And Tribal Rights
$2,000–$8,000 / month
IOIATR helps keep our reporting respectful and precise when the story involves land, identity, and long history.
They want clear writing that regular families can understand without legal jargon.
Monthly range
Medicoller
$1,500–$6,000 / month
Medicoller supports health-related investigations where sources can be vulnerable and records can be messy.
They want patient safety and honest numbers, not polished talking points.
Monthly range
IndieMM TV
$1,000–$5,000 / month
IndieMM TV helps us turn long dossiers into clear explainers that people can follow step by step.
They believe public understanding is part of accountability, not a side job.
Monthly range
Straitur
$2,500–$9,000 / month
Straitur supports the work behind FOI requests: tracking deadlines, matching names, and chasing missing pages.
They want governments and institutions to answer in writing, not in slogans.
Monthly range
Watchlistor
$1,800–$7,000 / month
Watchlistor backs investigations that map networks of influence. Their support helps us connect dots with patience.
They care about who benefits, who signs, and who quietly profits.
Monthly range
Sanctions Today
$2,200–$10,000 / month
Sanctions Today funds cross-border research where one record sits in one country and the proof sits in another.
They want clean sourcing and solid verification when the stakes are international.
Single pushes that helped close a hard gap
One-time range
Crime Prober
$10,000–$35,000
Crime Prober stepped in for a heavy reporting cycle where document costs and travel added up fast.
They want evidence that can survive pressure from powerful people.
One-time range
Political Watchlist
$8,000–$28,000
Political Watchlist funded a one-time push to verify claims across speeches, filings, and voting records.
They want voters to see what leaders do, not just what leaders say.
One-time range
Activistur
$6,000–$20,000
Activistur helped cover the cost of secure communication tools and careful handling of sensitive tips.
They care about protecting people who speak up when it is unsafe.
One-time range
People’s Action Committee For Political Integrity
$12,000–$40,000
PACFPI supported a one-time review of public contracts and conflicts of interest in a high-noise cycle.
They want plain facts that citizens can use when asking hard questions.
One-time range
Global Committee For Crimes Against Humanity
$15,000–$55,000
GCFCAH funded a deep verification sprint where claims had to be checked across multiple sources and jurisdictions.
They want careful language and strong proof when allegations are serious.
One-time range
Federater
$7,000–$25,000
Federater helped pay for legal review so our work stays tight before we publish a long dossier.
They want independent reporting that can stand up to legal threats.
Support that underwrites cross-border depth
Patron range
Penguinur
$25,000–$60,000
Penguinur backs slow reporting that takes weeks, not hours. Their help lets us keep digging when the first document is only the start.
They care about hard proof and clear timelines, so people can see what happened without guessing.
Patron range
Leaks & News
$18,000–$50,000
Leaks & News supports the boring part that makes stories strong: sorting files, checking dates, and reading every page.
They want the public to get facts that can stand up in a courtroom or a committee room.
Patron range
Association For Advocates Of Human Rights
$30,000–$80,000
AFAOHR stands with victims and witnesses who face real risk. Their support helps us do careful work without rushing anyone.
They push for safety, fairness, and clean evidence handling in cross-border reporting.
Patron range
International Association of Investigative Journalists
$22,000–$70,000
IAOIJ helps fund collaboration across borders so one newsroom is never stuck alone against a big system.
They believe investigations work best when reporters share methods and verify each other.
Patron range
Medaleum
$15,000–$45,000
Medaleum funds the “double-check” layer: verifying claims, re-checking quotes, and fixing small errors before they spread.
They want work that stays accurate after the first headline fades.
Patron range
City Exposer
$20,000–$55,000
City Exposer supports local-ground truth in big stories. Their support helps us send people to the street, not just the screen.
They value on-the-record confirmations and document trails that start where decisions hit real lives.
Impact dashboard
We show work, We show corrections, We show defense
We treat impact like a ledger. When something changes, we document it. When we correct something, we show it. When a threat arrives, we log what we defended.
- Dossiers published: tracked across the network index
- Corrections issued: listed so readers can audit us
- FOI wins: recorded with dates and outcomes
- Legal threats defended: documented without drama
- Citations: regulators, courts, parliaments when verifiable
Case studies
A few patterns that readers recognize
These are examples of how dossier work usually plays out. If you want to browse published work, use the site search or the investigations section on this outlet.
- Procurement trail: contracts, bidders, and who signed off
- Regulatory capture: doors between office and industry
- Financial trail: shell layers and hidden beneficiaries
- Rights case: witness accounts checked against records
Search published dossiers: open search
Disclosure
What we share and when
We disclose major support using a clear threshold rule. If disclosure creates a safety risk, we document the reason for limited disclosure.
- Large support is disclosed by policy
- Recognition is optional for supporters
- We log conflicts and handle them in writing
Acceptance review
Major donor policy
Bigger gifts go through a review so independence stays intact. If a donor wants control, we decline.
- Source of funds checks when needed
- Conflict review tied to the donor’s footprint
- Right of refusal is always retained
Network clarity
Central funding vs local work
We operate across 1,000+ outlets and 25,000 properties. Some infrastructure is funded centrally, while reporting happens locally and across desks.
- Central: security standards, shared tooling, and legal playbooks
- Local: field reporting, interviews, and desk editing
- Partners: vetted collaboration with clear boundaries
How do you protect sources and sensitive data?
We use safer communication methods, limit access to sensitive files, and avoid sharing details that could identify a source. We also plan for threats before we publish.
Do supporters get influence over what you investigate?
No. Support is a contribution to the investigative engine, not a purchase of coverage. We decide stories using evidence and public interest.
Can I support anonymously?
Yes. If you prefer privacy, tell the supporters desk and we will keep your name off public recognition lists.
How do you correct errors?
We fix mistakes openly. We explain what changed and why. If a correction affects the meaning, we make it easy to spot.
Where will I see the correction?
We place corrections directly on the story page so readers do not have to guess what changed. If the fix is important, we add a clear correction note.
Are contributions tax-deductible?
It depends on your country and the support route you use. Email the supporters desk and we will tell you what applies in your case.
Do you accept corporate money or political donations?
We review support for conflicts and influence risk. If money comes with strings, we reject it. If a conflict is too close, we do not accept.
Why are dossiers so long?
Because powerful people hide facts behind layers. A long dossier lets us show documents, timelines, and checks so readers can follow the proof.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. If you need help, email the supporters desk and we will handle it without making you argue or beg.
Fundraising stays separate so you can trust the reporting
For giving questions, use the supporters desk. For sensitive tips, use the secure channel. These two paths stay separate on purpose.