Double your impact during NewsMatch 2025
Every dollar you give to The Athens County Independent before December 31 will be matched up to $1,000 thanks to NewsMatch. If you become a monthly donor, your first gift will be multiplied 12×.
Your support powers independent journalism that strengthens civic engagement and keeps Athens County connected and informed.
The Hellbender Society
- An indicator species, Hellbenders point to a healthy environment. Members of this grassroots giving level point to a bright future for local news.
The Box Turtle Club
- Box turtles can live up to 100 years. Members of the Box Turtle Club ensure robust local news will live even longer.
The Red Fox Den
- Adept hunters and forages, red foxes find food even in adverse conditions. Amid a declining local news ecosystem, the Red Fox Den ensures Athens County journalism reaches a news spring.
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Benefits
Our membership program sustains our work to deliver independent local news year-round. Whether you give monthly or annually, all members receive:
- A periodic members report on all that your gifts make possible.
- A membership sticker.
- An invitation to our annual members’ forum, which helps guide our work.
- Recognition in the Member Spotlight section of our newsletter.
- Sustainable, thriving local news for Athens County.
Why donate?
High-quality local news is a cornerstone of a vibrant community and a well-functioning democracy. We launched the Athens County Independent in 2022 to fill the need for truly local, community-focused journalism. We’re part of a growing wave of independent, nonprofit news media across the U.S.
Quality journalism is expensive: good equipment, strong resources, and — most important — newsroom staff. We believe that everyone has the right to news, so we don’t have a paywall. Our work is available to everyone, regardless of their ability to buy a subscription. But we still have to pay the bills.
Your tax-deductible donation helps us remain Athens County’s trusted, go-to news source, empowering all residents to drive change toward a more fair, connected and participatory community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my contribution be considered a charitable donation for tax purposes?
Yes! We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and we will provide you a charitable tax receipt. Please contact us if you are missing your receipt.
I can’t afford to make a donation right now, can I support you another way?
Thank you! You can support our journalism by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, and by telling your friends about our work.
If you’d like to advertise with us, reach out by selecting “Sponsorship Opportunities” on our contact page.
Is your website secure?
All payments are processed through Stripe. Stripe is a PCI Service Provider Level 1, which is the highest grade of payment processing security. All credit card information is encrypted, sent directly to Stripe and is never sent to our website server. This means that we are PCI compliant and any breach of our website won’t result in stolen credit card information. Learn more here.
Can I donate another way?
Yes, thank you! To give by check, mail to P.O. Box 2602, Athens, OH 45701. Make checks payable to Southeast Ohio Independent News, the nonprofit that publishes the Athens County Independent. Still have questions? Email us at info@athensindependent.com.
I already contribute. How can I update my credit card?
If you would like to update your credit card, please log into Stripe here.
I already contribute. How do I cancel my recurring donation?
If you would like to cancel your recurring donation, please login into Stripe here.
What if I have a different question?
Get in touch by selecting “Customer Service” on our contact page.
We empower community engagement through accessible public service journalism.
