IRE's Ring of Honor
The Ring of Honor celebrates IRE members who have made a significant contribution to our organization and to investigative journalism at large.
To make a donation in honor of a Ring of Honor nominee or honoree, use the give online form and include their name where prompted.
Fill out a nomination form and collect donations in honor of the nominee. When you meet the minimum donation threshold, your honoree will be added to the Ring of Honor and recognized at the next IRE conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In addition to honoring retirees and deceased members, the IRE Ring of Honor is designed to be a showcase for diversity in our industry and an avenue for news organizations and friends to honor someone who is making a valuable contribution to our profession.
No. This is a gesture of appreciation while at the same time raising funds for IRE. The honorees already have contributed their time and talents to our field and the organization.
The IRE staff will make a good faith effort to let the honoree know, or in the case of deceased members, a family member, when the minimum funds have been raised and the announcement is made. However, once the the honor is bestowed, it’s appropriate for the nominating group to notify the honoree directly.
Honorees will be listed in the IRE Ring of Honor to be placed on the IRE.org website and listed in conference materials.
Yes. The $2,500 is a minimum threshold amount. IRE welcomes and encourages higher contributions.
The nomination to put the nominee in the Ring of Honor will be considered void, but can be resubmitted to the board for approval. IRE would still welcome any money raised in the effort for the fellowship fund.
Yes. The money raised in tribute to a Ring of Honor honoree is an open, pooled fund that anyone can give to at any point.
No. This program is designed to give donors a way to honor a friend or mentor through a special fund that will help others, so it requires a nomination from a supporter or group of supporters.
In the unlikely event that the honoree no longer remains in good standing in IRE or within the journalism community, through unethical or illegal behavior, the honoree could be removed from the Ring of Honor by a majority vote of the board of directors. The funds raised would not be returned.
Donations will go toward a fellowship fund that can be co-mingled and distributed in any way that the executive director chooses to meet the organization’s mission. The number of scholarships awarded in a given year would be based on earnings from the year and needs of the organization. IRE reserves the right to change the use of funds, based on a vote of the board of directors.
Previously, groups or individuals wishing to honor a longtime IRE member had to raise a sizable amount of money for the scholarship to generate enough interest to be a source of recurring funds. That amount was often difficult to raise. The Ring of Honor funds will be pooled, allowing IRE to nurture it and see it grow. Some endowed scholarships don’t allow co-mingling with other funds.