BenitoLink.com kicks off its first fundraiser as a nonprofit with the boost of a matching grant from the Community Foundation for San Benito County. Over the last year, the BenitoLink website has successfully established itself as the most widely used news and information source in the county.
The Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFFSBC) has announced its approval of up to $20,000 to be used as a match for BenitoLink’s community-based fundraiser. This would double all individual donations given specifically to BenitoLink. The grant helps send BenitoLink off on its first campaign as an independent non-profit 501(c)(3).
The “Pledge of Champions” fundraiser will kick off with requests for individual support from “BenitoLink Champions” and help the community-supported website become financially independent. “We have a great challenge ahead but the vote of confidence from the Community Foundation means a lot to all of us,” said Leslie David, BenitoLink board president.
BenitoLink is a news website started as a project of the Community Foundation and funded largely by a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Foundation grant. The site has grown from 500 unique visitors (different individuals using the site) in its first year to more than 96,000 so far this year. The site now boasts over 20,000 unique visitors on a peak month.
Jan 1, 2013 to Dec 31, 2013 13, 308 users 97, 698 pageviews.
Jan 1, 2014 to Dec 31, 2014 57,639 users 353,662 pageviews
Jan 1, 2015 to Oct 11, 2015 106,905 users 478,052 pageviews
BenitoLink is a community-based website that was incubated at the Community Foundation and sponsored by the Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation has been committed to re-establishing community websites in particular and news sources in general. Creating BenitoLink was a grassroots effort to fill the media void and provide news and information to our small, unique community.
Although the start-up began as a project of the CFFSBC, BenitoLink will now be a separate non-profit organization of its own. David, BenitoLink’s current board president, thanked Community Foundation CEO, Gary Byrne for the guidance and expertise he’s provided during BenitoLink’s growth and development. “Gary is very knowledgeable about news,” David said. “The Community Foundation board wanted to see our county be more informed and engaged. The Foundation has been a lot of help to us from day one.”
Julie Morris, a founding board member of BenitoLink, conducted an extensive research project for the Community Foundation called Vision San Benito. In her research talking to citizens from all backgrounds throughout the county, Morris confirmed a dire need for basic civic information. In response to this need, BenitoLink was developed to help inform the population about government decisions and community events that affect all our lives.
Adam Breen is the content director for BenitoLink and his role includes writing and selecting the local stories of the day. A veteran of local journalism, he is also the San Benito High School newspaper and yearbook teacher and helps students post their stories on the website. BenitoLink is fortunate to have this student voice as content. Today, BenitoLInk has an average of four to five freelance reporters and two to three photographers covering the community throughout the week.
A unique aspect of the site is that all community members are welcomed to post their own calendar events, commentaries that voice opinions or perspectives and news or features. This openness allows BenitoLink to be a hub for community conversation. After registering on the site at no charge, residents are encouraged to use BenitoLink to tell their own stories or share an events. All voices are welcome as described in the About Us page on the site. The Statement of Values are explained on this page, with a portion related to inclusiveness: “It is a core belief of BenitoLink that including many diverse voices will ultimately strengthen our community. We understand that within our community there are many points of view and differing news priorities. We value and encourage such diversity and will consider this as we strive to produce a site that reflects all of San Benito County’s residents.”
BenitoLink has specific Terms of Use which are stated on the website.. Anyone interested in producing content for BenitoLink is encouraged to contact Breen at (831) 902-7543 or by email at adambreen@benitolink.com. BenitoLink’s goal is to have an inclusive and accurate representation of our local population.
Lori King-Kocsis is the site’s outreach and development coordinator, who works with the business community to place sponsored ads and bring in donor support. BenitoLink’s mission is for “a more informed and engaged community.” BenitoLink’s team works out of an office in the Community Foundation building in Hollister but like many modern businesses, it is a very mobile operation. King-Kocsis can be reached at (831) 801-1356 or by email at lorikk@benitolink.com.
Board President Leslie David (lesliedavid831@gmail.com) said the BenitoLink team looks forward to working closely with the Community Foundation and covering the many valuable nonprofit organizations that help address challenges in the county. “That is important to BenitoLink,” David said. “The Community Foundation has its finger on the pulse of the community, particularly in areas of need. We really value the work they’re doing and hope we can help our site users learn about some of the great work people are doing for one another in this county.”
In 2012, the Community Foundation funded a wide-ranging and explorative research project that helped the community gain a better understanding of itself and needs. Vision San Benito was the beginning of a project that culminated in the creation of BenitoLink. It is now a site serving the entire county with a mission to be inclusive and inform the population on current events.
BenitoLink is starting its “Pledge of Champions” campaign through the month of October and November with the goal of matching the $20,000 grant. Individual community members are being asked to step up for BenitoLink and show their support for local, community-based media.
If you are interested in supporting the BenitoLink, please contact Lori King-Kocsis at (831) 801-1356. Donations are also accepted online in the upper right corner of the landing page (Donate).
“We’ve been so fortunate to have the backing of the Community Foundation and the Knight Foundation as we developed a brand new site,” David said. “The Community Foundation for San Benito County grant demonstrates its support for the project as BenitoLink moves toward a community-supported media model.”
The BenitoLink board and fundraising committee hopes to bring in $40,000 or more with their “Pledge of Champions” campaign, giving the nonprofit a big boost as it moves into 2016.