The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting’s Board of Directors voted unanimously Jan. 3 to approve a fundraising policy that requires full financial transparency and prevents improper donor influence.

FCIR’s fundraising policy, which was modeled with permission after the one adopted by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, states that acceptance of contributions or gifts “neither expresses nor implies any voice in editorial decisions beyond the broadly stated mission of investigative journalism.”

At least once per year, according to the fundraising policy, FCIR will make available on its website an updated list of all donors to the organization. In addition, contributions of $5,000 or more will be announced at the time of the gift or grant and publicly acknowledged during the period those funds are used to support FCIR’s journalism.

“While we encourage our readers (and their family and friends) to support our journalism, we also want everyone to know and respect our editorial values and independence,” said Sharon Rosenhause, president of FCIR’s Board of Directors. “We do that by holding our work to very high standards and by being transparent about our funding sources. That’s why it’s so important that the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit committed to public service journalism, explains how and why we take contributions.”

FCIR is committed to transparency and following the guidelines established in the January 2010 report “Ethics for the New Investigative Newsroom” (PDF). What’s more, FCIR’s fundraising policy complies with rules established by the Investigative News Network, a national association of more than 40 nonprofit newsrooms.

Grants from foundations and individual contributions make FCIR’s journalism possible. Learn more about supporting investigative reporting in Florida.

For more information about FCIR’s fundraising efforts and policy, contact Associate Directors Trevor Aaronson and Mc Nelly Torres.