BenitoLink’s 2022 fall fundraiser comes to a close with a $15,000 match from the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) plus a bonus of $8,000. In addition, BenitoLink received $89,800 in local support, bringing the total to $112,800.
The Institute for Nonprofit News is a national nonprofit organization that is helping to rebuild local news all over the country. BenitoLink became a member in 2017 when there were about 30 newsrooms involved. Today, INN represents and supports over 330 local nonprofit newsrooms.
Now that INN “NewsMatch” funds have been distributed, we can finally share the full success of BenitoLink’s Fall 2022 fundraising campaign.
As a nonprofit or publicly funded newsroom, BenitoLink largely depends on the residents of San Benito County to financially support their own local news. This annual drive is a community effort that starts with several significant major donors: Sallie Calhoun and Matt Christiano; Randy and Rebecca Wolf; and Hugh and Jackie Bikle. They provide matching funds, so when BenitoLink readers donate, we can double the donation and take advantage of the full INN matching opportunity. This year we achieved the most local support ever, coming in just under $90,000! Thank you, BenitoLink readers and supporters.
That big figure matters not only to our small team, but to the organizations like INN that are behind the rebirth of reliable news and information, because it wants to see that the community is engaged and supporting its news too.
As in previous years, in 2022 we saw continued growth in local readers who demonstrated their appreciation for community news and information by donating to BenitoLink. This increase in local support has allowed us to get the full INN NewsMatch of $15,000 as well as $8,000 in bonus funding.
We received the bonus because BenitoLink demonstrated the wide support we enjoy in our community. Bonus funding was given only to specific newsrooms that have a news team and board of directors that represent the character and cultures of the region they cover. We also received the bonus because we are fortunate to have our own local matching funds that come from our treasured group of local major donors. Deep appreciation goes to our major donors and our board of directors: Rohit Sharma, Dave Wright, Lois Locci, Heather Callens, Phil Esparza, Chang So, Mike Graves, Kris Waller and Shawn Herrera.
Since 2017, investment in nonprofit news organizations has exceeded $270 million nationally.
In its announcement, INN wrote, “For the first time, nonprofit news organizations attracted more matching funds from local funders than from national and regional foundations during NewsMatch, the year-end matching-gift campaign that is transforming how communities sustain and expand access to the news coverage they need.”
INN funders
In 2022, NewsMatch supporters included Democracy Fund, Heising-Simons Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Independence Public Media Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Kaphan Foundation, Loud Hound, Maida Lynn, Natasha and Dirk Ziff, The Schwab Charitable Fund, the Present Progressive Fund, Solidarity Giving, Walton Family Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation, as well as almost 800 local match funders. In-kind support was provided by The New York Times.
Following is a list of all BenitoLink 2022 fall donors:
Alacia Welch
Alan Heminger
Amelia Ryan
Ana Maria De Alba
Anita Kane & Michael Kane
Anna Smith
Annamaria Baez
Anne Hall
Ashleigh & Michael Anderson
Barbara Rubio
Beverley Meamber
Bob Reid
Brenda & Ken Weatherly
Cara Vonk
Carol Hawkins
Carol Lenoir
Chang So
Charles Tobias, DVM
Charles W Sorbet Jr
Chi-Cha Russo
Christina Andrade
Christine Breen
Clark Family Fund
Daniel Dungy & Nancy MacLean
Dave Ruprecht
David Wright
Dawn Soza
Debbie Pollack Cochran
Denise Cauthen-Wright
Dennis Finnigan
Diana Stott
Diane Ortiz
Dianne Carman
Dohn & Mary Larson
Donna & Gary Swanson
Dr. Lois M. Locci
Dr. Martin Bress & Rhoda Bress
Dr. Parveen Sharma
Dr. Ruby Dholakia & Nikhilesh Dholakia
Dr. Stelvio Locci
Drew McAlister
Dylan Smith
Edward DeGroot
Ernest Andrade
Esther & Robert Curtis
Eugene Zanger
Francis Mulville
Gary & Ria Byrne
Gene & Kathy Kogle
George Lewis
Gerri Johnson & Gary Rocchi
Gerry Wright
Gifford Swanson
Greg Pape
Gregory Swett
Harriet Brin
Heather Callens
Hugh & Jacqueline Bikle
James O’Donnell
Jane Dabo Cruz
Janet Grist
Janet Watson
Jean Lierly
Jerry Magorian
Joan Domingues
Joan Randolph
John & Roberta Bessa
John David
John Reed
Judi Johnson
Judy Gansen
Julie & Joe Morris
Karen Van Gerpen
Karminder & Randy Brown
Kate Modic
Kathi Stirling-Morris
Kathleen Davis
Kathy & David Kessler
Kay Filice
Kerry Lorincz Tobias
Kimberly Randle
Kozean & Patrick Wright
Krista Van Laan
Kristine Waller
Larry & Georgeann Anderson
Larry Slonaker
Laura Amaya
Laura Romero
Leila Sadeghian
Leslie Austin
Leslie Schwabacher
Lisa Lentz
Liz Smith
Lynn Overtree
Margret & Russell Ellwanger
Mark & Dawn Eason
Mark Levine
Mary Kathryn Rubino
Mary Margaret & Kurt Lanning
Maryann Armijo
Maureen Serafini
Mayra Zendejas
McCullogh Family Fund
Mel Angel
Melinda Scherr
Michael Dobler
Michael Talley
Michelle Noble McCain
Mitch Hammond
Monica Vargas
Nancy Oliveira
Nancy Walters
Nick Bailey
Pamela Little
Patrice & Doug Kuerschner
Patrick McKenzie
Paul Goodman
Paul Scherer
Phillip Esparza
Rachel Ponce
Randy & Rebecca Wolf
Rebecca Salinas
Regina Datta
Rhonda Perrotti
Richard McDavid & Susan Echaore- McDavid
Robert & Kathryn Tiffany
Robert Connolly
Robert & Jenny Bernosky
Robert Fulton
Robert Marden
Robin Pollard
Roger Brown
Rohit Sharma Rosemary Kley
Roy & Shirley Ethridge
Sallie Calhoun & Matt Christiano
Sandy Cabral
Sara A Steiner
Shari Stevenson
Sharlene Van Rooy
Sophie Schwabacher
Stacie A McGrady
Stephen Hudner
Steven Perricone
Stirling Burnet
Stuart Blakewood
Susan & Franklin Dean
Susan Logue
Susan Schwabacher
Tami Aviles
Teresa Lavagnino
Thomas Breen
Thomas Davis
Tina Baine
Tina Jollyschmidt
Trisha Brem
Valerie Egland
Vivian Fisher
William Baker
William Powers
Willis Pack
Women’s Club of Hollister Women’s Club of Hollister