by Robin Kemp
Happy holidays, Clayton County! The Clayton Crescent is extremely thankful to everyone who has donated to keep the site going. At last check, we have had at least $8,896.67 in donations as of press time. That takes care of December… but it doesn’t take us beyond January 1, 2021.
The sprint is going great–but we are in a marathon.
We are trying to amass enough working capital through donations to get through the next few months. This will buy us time to apply for grants and add sponsors. However, if we do not see a way clear for the immediate future, we will need to suspend operations, as we’ve said before.
We need at bare minimum, for a one-person news operation, $6,000 PER MONTH. Not just this month, but every month.
We would need $10,000 or more per month to hire a second staffer.
A full staff would take about $20,000 per month.
And one person can’t do it all forever.
Your correspondent has not had a vacation in over two years and is taking this long weekend to rest and recuperate. This is a big reason why we need your support to grow The Clayton Crescent. We want to hire additional staff. That costs money–more money that we have right now.
We are calling on all Clayton County residents who care about nonprofit news to send in your tax-deductible donation. Otherwise, The Clayton Crescent will suspend operations and the county will be without serious, ongoing, relevant, professional news coverage that reflects our diverse county. And that is a dangerous place to be. Dangerous for your property values, dangerous for government accountability, and dangerous for future growth.
We are pleased to report that NewsMatch will match donations through DECEMBER 31. That means you still have time to make a generous tax-deductible year-end donation to keep The Clayton Crescent growing!
Please use this link:
https://findyournews.org/organization/the-clayton-crescent-inc/
Some people have asked how they can help. We are not set up for volunteer reporters. The kind of work we do does not lend itself to beginners. We also do not believe in taking writers’, photographers’, or designers’ work for free (a common publishing scam targeting amateurs).
The best way everyday people can help right now is to donate and–this is key–get at least two other friends to donate, as well. For example, if you give $20 through NewsMatch and get two other friends to do likewise, that means $120 for The Clayton Crescent. Keep in mond: we would not actually receive any matching funds until Spring 2022. That’s why we’re pushing hard for sufficient funds to get there.
At the moment, we have turned off monthly recurring gifts as a precaution. Should our fundraiser net enough to move into 2022, we hope that you would consider a monthly gift.
Also, please share our fundraising campaign on your social media platforms. We welcome your testimonials, as well. If we did a story that made a difference in your life, let people know. If you depend on The Clayton Crescent to keep up with what’s happening in and around Clayton County, tell people what we offer that other outlets don’t. Share our stories on social media! Did you know that other newsrooms around metro Atlanta depend on The Clayton Crescent to find out what’s happening here? It’s true! Ask them.
Learn more about who we are, how we came to be, and the local, national and international press we’ve gotten in just under two years’ time–coverage that brought the world’s attention to Clayton County. The Washington Post, NPR’s Weekend Edition, BBC Newsnight, GPB’s Political Rewind, and more have taken note of The Clayton Crescent’s vital role in this community and in the world. We’re not about partisanship. We’re about holding the powerful accountable.
Some people have asked how they can support The Clayton Crescent without using online payments. We will not receive any matching funds for such donations. However, you can send a check made out to The Clayton Crescent to:
The Clayton Crescent
118 Stockbridge Road, Suite 106
Jonesboro, GA 30236
We thank everyone again for the outpouring of support! We ask that you enlist two friends to give also. We are a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) news organization and member of the Institute for Nonprofit News.
See you Monday!
Robin Kemp
Executive Editor/CEO
The Clayton Crescent, Inc.
