The news we report on has always been sourced, reported, edited and published right here in Colorado, except for those times that we’ve traveled out of state to bring you stories.
As of Nov. 15, 2023, The Colorado Sun is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Prior, we were a public benefit corporation, which meant we were a for-profit company incorporated with a mission. Our mission remains unchanged: To provide our community with quality, nonpartisan journalism — and no paywall. The Colorado Sun makes news judgments that are not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.
The majority of The Sun’s funding comes directly from reader memberships, with additional revenue from business sponsorships, events and grants. More on how we accept sponsorships and our transparency rules can be found in our ethics policy.
Every dollar we receive goes directly toward supporting the journalism we produce. Period. Join us today.
When we launched in 2018, Civil helped us get started with financial and technical backing. We no longer are partnered with them.
Below are some of the people, organizations and other entities that have helped The Colorado Sun.
Sun Sponsors
Our Major Supporters
These organizations and individuals have supported The Sun’s mission with money and consulting services.
- Catena Foundation
- CoLab
- The Colorado Media Project
- The Colorado Trust
- CU Media Enterprise Design Lab
- CU News Corps
- Gates Family Foundation
- JB Holston
- Ireland Stapleton
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Old Town Media New York
- OnSight Public Affairs
- Original Thinkers
- Report for America
- University of Denver
- Wend Collective
Previous Supporters
- Aspen Journalism
- Boettcher Foundation
- Colorado Mountain News Media
- Groundfloor Media
- Modworks
- Montgomery, Little & Soran
- Moye White
- The National Trust for Local News
- SE2
- Wynkoop Brewing Company
Individual Donors
Thank you to the following donors who have supported The Colorado Sun. Donors strengthen independent journalism in Colorado with their contributions. Learn more about supporting The Sun.
This list includes donors who have contributed $250 or more in the given fiscal year. The Colorado Sun began accepting donations in December of 2024. This list is updated monthly. Membership transactions are not included.
| Gift Amount | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000+ | Thiry-O’Leary Foundation | |
| $10,000 – $24,999 | ||
| $5,000 – $9,999 | JAB Charitable Fund | Barton Family Foundation Alpenglow Foundation |
| $2,500 – $4,999 | Jeffco DeAngelis Foundation The Jerry Gart Family Foundation | The Townsend Fund at The Denver Foundation |
| $1,000 – $2,499 | William Baird Merganser Fund | Winslow Foundation The Grymes Fund at The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Danny Rosen |
| $500 – $999 | Blanca O’Leary Honey Hochstadt Family Fund The Thomas David and Janet Torrey Schultz Fund Rice Kerr Giving Account Pamela Simpson Nolting Karen A Wagner | The Ellenoff Family Fund Martha Fulford Connie Lehman Mark Hinton Cara Baldwin |
| $250 – $499 | Ken Ogan Foster-Connolly Charitable Fund | Sean Buck Kathleen Doyle Theresa Oleski Margaret Eagan Susan Daggett Luis Chalmeta Carol Atha Jim Kelley Carolyn Grant Carrie Augustine Dale Trone Dave Hoyt Daniel Esch Mary C. Beitner |