Ownership & Funding
Full transparency about who we are and how we fund our journalism.
Last updated: January 15, 2026
Nonprofit Structure
First Coast Observer is published by First Coast News Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Florida. We are governed by an independent board of directors with no financial interest in any development project or real estate venture we cover.
Our nonprofit status means we answer to our readers and our mission, not to shareholders or advertisers. All revenue supports our journalism.
Board of Directors
Our board includes civic leaders, journalism professionals, and community members committed to independent local journalism:
- Margaret Sullivan, Chair — Former public editor, retired journalism professor
- Robert Chen, Treasurer — CPA, community banking executive (retired)
- Dr. Angela Washington — Professor of Urban Planning, University of North Florida
- Michael Torres — Attorney, former city council member
- Jennifer Adams — Executive director, Jacksonville Community Foundation
Board members serve three-year terms and receive no compensation. They are prohibited from having financial interests in real estate development or construction companies operating in our coverage area.
Funding Sources
Our journalism is funded through a diversified mix of revenue sources designed to protect our editorial independence:
- Reader donations (45%) — Tax-deductible contributions from individual supporters
- Foundation grants (30%) — Support from journalism and community foundations
- Advertising (15%) — Display advertising with strict separation from editorial
- Events and sponsorships (10%) — Community forums and educational events
Major Donors
We disclose all individual donations of $5,000 or more and all foundation grants. In the past 12 months, we have received major support from:
- Knight Foundation — $150,000 for local news innovation
- Community Foundation of Northeast Florida — $75,000 general operating support
- Anonymous individual donor — $25,000
- Press Forward Florida — $50,000 for permit database development
No donor has any influence over our editorial decisions or coverage priorities. We maintain a strict firewall between fundraising and newsroom operations.
Editorial Independence
Our editor-in-chief has sole authority over all editorial decisions. Neither the board of directors, major donors, nor advertisers have any role in determining what we cover or how we cover it.
We do not accept funding from real estate developers, construction companies, or any entity that might benefit from favorable coverage of development projects. This policy is non-negotiable.
INN Membership
First Coast Observer is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, a network of more than 400 nonprofit newsrooms committed to high standards of journalism and transparency. INN membership requires adherence to their code of ethics and annual financial disclosure.