It’s official! BenitoLink recently received its final letter of approval, allowing us to start 2016 as an independent nonprofit. In July 2015, Benitolink filed for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation and this past week it was finalized.
The “hyperlocal” news and information website was an outgrowth of VISION SAN BENITO listening sessions that were held throughout the area and sponsored by the Community Foundation for San Benito County. They were a unique opportunity for community members to learn about what hopes, dreams and concerns residents have about the county.
Although BenitoLink was started as a project of the Community Foundation, it will now operate as a separate, nonprofit with an independent board of directors. BenitoLink recently completed the first fundraising campaign bringing in $20,000 in individual donations with a match from the Community Foundation that doubles it to a total of $40,000.
BenitoLink was developed to primarily serve the residents of San Benito County as a source of dependable local news and information, while encouraging reader participation as content providers and commenters. It is accessible and available to all residents who register for free on the website and follow the terms of service. Residents are invited to write stories and commentaries on issues important to them or post calendar events on the website.
BenitoLink’s Statement of Values:
- Truth
- Inclusiveness
- Civility
- Ethical Reporting
- Proper Attribution/Credit
- Local Emphasis
- Open Identity (no anonymous posting)
2016 promises to be an exciting year for the BenitoLink team, which is made up of board members, news staff, website developers, graphic artists, writers, photographers and contributors. Today there are more than 30 regular contributors using the site to explore and share their ideas. Community dialogue and exchange of ideas has increased dramatically on the website over the past year. BenitoLink now has as many as 25,000 unique visitors enjoying the site per month.
BenitoLink…….your stories, your county.