Thermometer IRE's endowment stands at $3.75 million in donations and firm pledges.

IRE's Endowment Drive

IRE's endowment drive received a tremendous boost recently when the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation offered to extend its matching program through Sept. 30, 2008.

As part of a $2 million grant - the largest in IRE's history - the foundation offered to provide partial matching money for up to $1 million raise by IRE for its endowment fund. For every $2 raised by IRE, Knight would provide an additional $1.

The drive was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2007. We made a major push to raise as much as we could by that deadline. Through the dedication of a number of major donors, plus the involvement of more than 350 members who raised $85,000 through our $25 club alone, we took in a little more than $700,000.

Because of that strong show of support and a belief in IRE's mission, the Knight Foundation decided in February to extend our deadline for a short period so we could take advantage of the full matching program.

The goal is within our reach, and the math is simple: We need to raise about $300,000 in donations and firm pledges. If we do, we'll get another $150,000 from the foundation. All of this money will go into our endowment, which provides the bedrock that will allow IRE to thrive for years to come.

We greatly appreciate the support of everyone who has donated to date. What this deadline extension will allow us to do is complete several fundraising efforts that were under way when the deadline passed.

So join us on this final effort to take advantage of the Knight Foundation matching program, and help ensure that IRE will be helping journalists for years to come.

IRE seeks the aid of all audiences that value quality investigative journalism and recognize its importance in keeping the public informed and governments, businesses and individuals accountable.

In June 2000, IRE kicked off a $5 million Endowment Drive. Our goal is to ensure that IRE's independent voice, state-of-the art training, up-to-date resource library, and vast array of networking possibilities for journalists continue into the 21st century. We are a viable tool for an increasing number of journalists and we want to continue to be this vital link for journalists.

We need the help of every dedicated journalist to help us reach our goal. If you are reading this sentence, then you are one of those dedicated journalists. If you have attended one or more of the 70 conferences and seminars we conduct annually then you know we charge the lowest conference fees and membership dues of any journalism organization our size. We want to maintain the low fees to provide every journalist an opportunity to attend our training.

Our goal is to build a strong endowment fund to create the financial base we need to keep conference fees and membership dues low. A substantial endowment fund will allow us to put even more of our efforts into our programs. When you give to the endowment, you may designate that your gift be applied to the General Fund, which allows IRE to use endowment income where it is needed most within a given year, or choose one of our current funds.

For more information on Breakthroughs, please contact Jennifer Erickson, IRE's development officer, at 573-884-2222 or .

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the "IRE Breakthroughs" Endowment Drive, follow these easy directions:

To contribute by check send your donation to:

Investigative Reporters and Editors
Attention: Heather Feldmann Henry, Fiscal Officer
138 Neff Annex
Missouri School of Journalism
Columbia, MO 65211

To make your donation by credit card, click here (secure server), or call Heather at 573-884-7902.

The $25 club

The $25 club recognizes that not everyone can make million-dollar contributions to IRE's endowment fund, but every dollar counts.

Endowment news

Download brochure

Help us meet the Sept. 30 deadline for the Knight Foundation matching grant.

Click here
to support IRE's future.