INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FUND

SUPPORTING JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS POWER ACCOUNTABLE AND DRIVES CHANGE

Local investigative journalism exposes injustice, fights corruption and rights wrongs.

The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund, an initiative with Seattle Foundation, is collaborating with community funders and personal champions of the free press to ensure the future of local investigative journalism and protect and expand the ambitious, rigorously reported work that has a direct impact on our community.

Our goal is to build one of the largest local investigative teams in the nation to increase our ability to engage the public, call for accountability, and explore solutions to make a difference for the people of our region. Join us in supporting this important work.

“It's about holding powerful people accountable and it's about saving lives.”

MICHELE MATASSA FLORES

Executive editor, The Seattle Times

Help ensure the future of investigative journalism in your local community.

Investigative reporting is the most essential journalism a news staff can do – and the most expensive. Support the Investigative Journalism Fund and protect the future of investigative journalism that has a direct impact on your local community.

RECEIVED TO DATE PHASE 1 GOAL PHASE 2 GOAL

$598,626

$500,000

$1,000,000

25% 50% 75%

Donations to The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund through Seattle Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. No goods or services are received in exchange for donations.

Changing lives and public policy

Seattle Times investigative journalism changes lives and public policy and has resulted in action at the highest levels of government. We have an established track record of digging deep to tackle urgent community issues head-on, surface viable solutions and create change that has a direct impact on our community. Seattle Times investigations have saved local lives from dangerous painkillers, protected vulnerable seniors from abuse, made airplanes safer, exposed double-booked surgeries at a local hospital and expedited FDA changes to help prevent birth defects, to name a few.

STOPPING THE NEXT TRAGEDY BEFORE IT STARTS

The Oso landslide took 43 lives. Public officials claimed the tragedy was “unforeseen,” but The Seattle Times revealed there had been warning signs – for decades. Gov. Inslee eventually signed a bill requiring the state to share mapping of geologic hazards that threaten communities and citizens. The Seattle Times won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting.

PROTECTING PATIENTS IN JEOPARDY

The Seattle Times’ Quantity of Care series exposed double-booked surgeries, risky medical procedures and lapsed protocols at a prominent Seattle hospital. The series led to state and federal investigations, the hospital CEO’s resignation, suspension of a surgeon’s medical license, and widespread reform, including largely banning overlapping surgeries. The reporters received a 2018 Selden Ring Award.

PREVENTING DEADLY BIRTH DEFECTS

When a cluster of rare, fatal birth defects was detected in Central Washington, killing babies at a rate five times higher than the national average, The Seattle Times uncovered that the FDA had long delayed a decision to add folic acid – which prevents such defects – to corn masa flour, the way the supplement has been added to other grains for years. Lawmakers saw the stories and pressured the FDA to take action. The agency finally did, allowing folic acid fortification immediately.

The Seattle Times difference

The Seattle Times is proud to be one of the few remaining independent, locally owned news media organizations in the U.S.; the most-visited digital information source in the state and the second-largest newspaper on the West Coast. A trusted local institution since 1896, The Seattle Times remains deeply rooted in public service and committed to serving the Northwest with principled, quality journalism. Rigorously reported, in-depth investigations have helped earn The Seattle Times 10 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organization in the Northwest.

Thank you to our donors

Community support for public service journalism sends the message that a free press matters. Donor contributions help sustain and ensure the future of investigative journalism that has a direct impact on our shared community. Donor lists are updated monthly and include pledges to be distributed over multi-year periods. Thank you for your support.

PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE

Bernier McCaw Foundation

Jon and Bobbe Bridge

Kemper Development

Charles and Yvonne Pigott

Raikes Foundation

Jim and Jan Sinegal

Bradford Smith

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HEADLINER

Tom Alberg and Judi Beck

Andre and Sally Alfred

Howard Behar

Anonymous (1)

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NEWSIE

Elliott D. Barnett

Gail Mason Brilling and Steve Brilling

Richard Buck and Susan Pelton

Ian and Renee Colle

Columbia Modern Living

Imelda and John Dulcich

Erin Farquhar and Kristi Waite

Mark Gitenstein

Sharon and Gary Greenwood

The KLEO Foundation

Elizabeth Martin

Chris and BJ Ohlweiler

Danny O'Neil and Sharon Pian Chan

Anonymous (4)

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FRIEND

Neil Aaland and Jody Ferguson

Julie Adams

Cindy Aden

Ben Adlin

James Allison

Joaquin Alvarado

Jean Amick

In memory of: June Anderson Almquist

Jim Avery

Ann and John Backman

Mike Baker

Jacqui Banaszynski

Susan Barrows

Bartlett/Walker Charitable Fund

Loren Bast

Elena A. Bianco

Cindy Black

Robert and Connie Blair

Ann Boyd

Myles Brady

Eric Richard Bronson

Edward Broyles

Bob and Carolyn Burnham

Janet Callis

Eugene Carlson

Dave Carlstrom

Linda Chapman

Cindy

The Cooper/Kroon Family

Lynette Cronin

Barbara Daum

Kim Drury

Wives Dixon

George Erb

Erin

In honor of: David Fahrenthold, Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, The Washington Post

David Fahrenthold, Seattle Times Intern Class of 1998

Henry Farber

Rollin Fatland

Steve Faust

Brian Feinstein

Jai Ferguson

Carolynn E. Ferris

Mark Foltz

Thomas Fox

Dorothy Frisch

Jessica Fu

Andy Fulton

Paul Gates

Jon Gelsey

Anne Gillies

Lisa Graham

Stuart Grant Gerger

Colleen Hardy

Anne C. Harper

Thom Harrington and Stewart Wong

Brad Harwood

Sonia Hearsey

Deena and Chris Heg

Daniel F. Heldring

Peter Hendrickson

Cathy Henkel

Pete Higgins

Jo and Dwayne Hinman

Mardie Holden

Mary Hollen

Richard Huffman

David Huls

Lanita Hyatt

In memory of: The Issaquah Press

Kathleen Barry Johnson and Mark Johnson

Calvin Jones

In honor of: Journalistic Integrity

Brenda Knudson

Christa and Laurie Kriesel-Roth

Jennifer K. Larsen

John Lindley

Jeffrey Litvak

In honor of: Brandon and Jo Masterson

Robert McClure and Sally Deneen

Stuart McFeely

Geoff McGhee

Jordan McKenna

Marilyn McKenna

Jeanne McKinnon

Mary H. McLaughlin

In honor of: Joe and Pat Messinger Family

Scott Miles

Paul Ming

In honor of: Douglas F. Moore

Gilbert Moore

Nectar Communications

Ann and Marshall Nelson

Okuno Consulting

Linda Oswald

David and Allison Patton

Don Percival

Carol Pucci

David R Randin

Susanna Ray and Patrick McNelly

Bob Raymond and Dorothy Downes

In honor of: Reporters

S.X. Rosenstock

Connie Saari

Andres Salomon

Lisa Sawyer

Russell Sciandra

Taylor Seidel

Greg Shaw and Anna Mastroianni

Christina Shih

Barney Singer

Tyler Sipe

Nickolas Southerland

Betsey Stahler

Lesley Sullivan

Susa Family

Anna Swenson

Ryan Tansey

David and Glenda Tecklenburg

Daniele Terdina

Rachel Tougher

Margo Vansynghel and Cory Potts

Brady Walkinshaw

Rogers Weed

A. Weydahl

Cathy Wissink

Chelsea Wolk

Celia Wu

Zhangjianzhong (张建中)

Robi Zocher

Anonymous (44)

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To learn more, contact Kristi Waite, director of development, at kwaite@seattletimes.com.

The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over content produced with fund resources. Funders do not have any input into the reporting of stories or into any of the specific content that will be produced with fund resources. Funders are not aware of specific stories The Seattle Times newsroom is working on and do not review them before publication. Funders do not have special access to reporters, and readers know who our funders are.

The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund is a component fund of Seattle Foundation, a Section 501(c)(3) organization. Seattle Foundation has exclusive legal control over all funds received. Accordingly, contributions to the Fund are treated for tax purposes as gifts to a Section 501(c)(3) public charity and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.