Transparency statement

Spotlight PA is a nonpartisan, independent newsroom paid for by grants from foundations and donations from individuals committed to robust investigative reporting. Now more than ever, the health of our state and democracy depends on strong accountability journalism. Our newsroom provides the time and resources necessary to do investigative work that drives change.

Spotlight PA editors and reporters operate independently of our funders and maintain editorial control over all of the content they produce. Funders do not have input into the selection of which stories Spotlight PA pursues or the reporting process for those stories. Funders do not review any content before publication or have any special access to reporters or newsroom leadership. In short, we answer to you, the public.

All money for Spotlight PA is donated to the nonprofit Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which serves as an extra buffer between our investigative newsroom and our funders. As part of our gift acceptance policy, and consistent with our promise to be fully transparent, we do not accept anonymous donations.

The Philadelphia Inquirer provides in-kind fiscal, legal and administrative support for Spotlight PA employees. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News each provide a reporter including salary and benefits. Continuing fundraising is intended to cover Spotlight PA’s entire annual budget, including all in-kind contributions, making it a fully self-sustaining and independent organization.

To support Spotlight PA, make a donation now.

Major Donors

Laura and John Arnold
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
The Erie Community Foundation
Good Words Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Henry L. Hillman Foundation
Lancaster Community Foundation
H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
The Philadelphia Foundation
The Lois Tack Thompson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Poor Richard’s Charitable Trust
The Steinman Foundation
Wyncote Foundation
York County Community Foundation

Founding Donors

Richard Abraham
Oscar Armas-Luy
Kathleen Baker
Whitney Baldwin
Mark Bazrod
Sigal Ben
Rita Bernstein & Alan Zuckerman
Robert Joseph Biller
Mireille Carigi
Carosella Sr.
Marguerite Chandler
John & Joy Burt Conti
Brett Cott
Karen Crosby
Barry DeSantis
Earl Drumheiser
Mary Erdman
Tamara Goldman
John F. Graybill
Frank Hadden
Robert Haines
B.A. Hamilton
Bob Hoover
Louise Horan
Avram Hornik
Stephen R. Hughes
Annette E. Inker
Evelyn Ishmael
Arlene Jarett
Karen M. Kaplan & Aaron M. Shatzman
J. Kauer & D. Fleece
Alan Kennedy
Cathy King
Steven Kuloszewski
Lora Lavin
Jamie Lemon & Steve Cline
Stephen J. Lipnichan
Daniel Lynch
William H. Maruca
Claudia C. McGill
K. Melton
Keith G. Melville
Jules J. Mermelstein
Ryan Morden
M. Noel
Marty O’Brien
Ronald Ozio
Leanora Paniccia
Amy L. Perez
Rick Piper
Ralph Riedel
David R. Ross
Benedict X. Saia
Kimberley Shore
Josh Singer
Anthony Spisto
Thomas Stone
R. Thomas
Irene Tierney
M. Tillger
Joseph C. Vignola
Karen Weaver
Koert Wehberg, Esq.
Sherley Young