Our Policies
Ottawa News Network has adopted the Donor Transparency Policy from Institute for Nonprofit News’ policy; ONN is actively seeking membership with INN.
Tiny News Collective serves as the charitable fiscal sponsor of Ottawa News Network.
The Tiny News Collective (EIN: 85-3963369) a Delaware nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxation pursuant to IRS Code 501(c)(3), with the charitable purpose of providing the tools, resources and commonwealth of knowledge to help people build sustainable news organizations that reflect and serve their communities and supporting voices historically excluded from media and media ownership.
The Tiny News Collective will administer charitable donations received on behalf of Ottawa News Network. Such funds will be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You should confirm such deductibility through your own tax advisor.
Charitable donations via check must be payable to “Tiny News Collective Inc.,” with “Ottawa News Network” in the check memo.
Please mail to:
Tiny News Collective
#3868
111 North Wabash Ave. Ste.100
The Garland Building
Chicago, IL 60602
Unfortunately Tiny News Collective cannot accept checks that are made out to “Ottawa News Network,” or “Ottawa News Network/TNC,” etc. Such checks will be returned to the sender.
Editorial Independence Policy
Ottawa News Network is committed to the following:
ONN adheres to established traditions of journalism independence. Our news staff has final authority in decisions about what we cover, how we present that coverage and what we publish on our digital channels, in accordance with our mission statement.
We recognize that our sources of income may come from individuals and institutions who have their own missions, including advocacy of causes. We respectfully pledge that they, along with our Board of Directors, shall not interfere with our news coverage while we thank them for their support.
Further, we have adopted a donor transparency policy that identifies donors who contribute $5,000 or more annually. That policy and the list of such donors are available here.
ONN also endorses the ideals of the following organizations in journalism ethics and transparency:
Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, spj.org/ethicscode.asp, the key provisions of which are:
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts. Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility. Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news. Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not. Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage. Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two. Prominently label sponsored content.
Institute for Nonprofit News membership standards, excerpted below:
Editorial independence and financial transparency are critical pillars of nonprofit journalism that aim to strengthen public trust in journalism. They help ensure that funders, partners and parent organizations will not influence a publication’s reporting. By becoming members of INN, organizations demonstrate that they follow industry-upheld standards.
The terms of our Editorial Independence Policy do not prevent our readers and supporters from offering valuable input on our news reporting, including suggesting story ideas, pointing out possible errors, or providing feedback on any aspect of our coverage. If you encounter any factual errors or potential ethical breaches, contact our editor or submit a correction request. We pledge to correct any significant inaccuracies in our articles and make note of such changes.
Donor Policy
Donors to the organization who give more than $5,000 in a year are publicly listed on our site and we will post a link to 990 tax filings that identify donors of $5,000 or more.
- Our individual donor list
- View donating organizations
We strive to ensure that no more than 15 percent of our total annual budget derives from anonymous donations.
— Adopted by the Board of Directors, Ottawa News Network, December 9, 2024.