Ways to Give
Support The Convergence Lens
The Convergence Lens is an independent, reader-supported publication and community platform. Every article we write, every investigation we conduct, every interview we publish – it’s only possible because of supporters like you. Thank you!
About How We’re Funded
The Convergence Lens is a worker-owned cooperative, not a nonprofit. We chose this structure deliberately, because we believe journalism should be owned by the people who make it and the communities it serves, not by corporations and the limits of hierarchical business governance.
What This Means for You:
• Contributions to TCL are not tax-deductible. We are not a 501(c)(3), and we do not intend to become one.
• The Reader-Member co-ownership fee ($45/year) is an ownership stake in the cooperative, not a donation.
• Voluntary contributions are welcome and go directly toward journalism, operations, and our Worker-Members.
Your support – whether through co-ownership, voluntary contribution, or simply reading and sharing our work – goes directly toward:
• Compensating Worker-Members fairly for their labor.
• Funding investigative research and in-depth reporting.
• Maintaining editorial independence from corporate and investor interests.
• Building a sustainable, worker-owned media cooperative for the long term.
• Amplifying marginalized voices in journalism.
Ways to Support
Become a Co-Owner: Reader-Member Membership
The most meaningful way to support The Convergence Lens is to become a Reader-Member, and by doing so, you become a co-owner of the cooperative. For $45 a year, you hold an actual ownership stake in TCL. You get a vote in our cooperative governance, a seat at the table when major decisions are made, and a reasonable share in any surplus profit.
Content Subscription Tiers
In addition to Reader-Member co-ownership, TCL offers content subscription tiers for readers who want access to our community platform and content perks. These are access benefits and do not include cooperative governance rights. You must have a content subscription and account with us in order to become a Reader-Member, but any tier level is acceptable, including the free tier.
Choose your membership tier:
The Observer – Free (Access to our community platform and regular news content)
The Critic – $3/month or $36/year (Everything in Observer plus comment ability, tier-level forum access, and exclusive video content)
The Insider – $10/month or $120/year (Everything in Critic plus Office Hours, insider forums, content input, first access to events)
Note: Platform subscription fees are separate from the Reader-Member co-ownership fee.
Voluntary Contributions
Want to contribute beyond membership? We deeply appreciate voluntary contributions of any amount. Every dollar goes directly toward journalism, operations, and our cooperative.
You can donate via:
• Credit or Debit Card
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Other mobile wallet options
Checks, Cash, & Money Orders
We welcome contributions by check, cash, or money order. Please make checks payable to:
The Convergence Lens
12345 Parklawn Dr.
Suite 200 #1046
Rockville, MD 20852 United States
Please include your email address with your contribution so we can thank you and provide a receipt for your records.
Employer Matching Gifts
Many employers match charitable donations made by their employees. Because TCL is a cooperative LLC and not a nonprofit, we do not qualify as a charitable organization under standard employer matching programs.
However, some employers have programs that match contributions to independent media, small businesses, or cooperative organizations.
It’s worth checking:
• Contact your HR or benefits department.
• Ask specifically whether they match contributions to independent media cooperatives.
If matching is available, your donation confirmation from our contribution page can be submitted for your records.
Gifts of Goods & Services
Sometimes the best support isn’t monetary. If you have skills or resources that could help The Convergence Lens grow, we’d love to hear from you.
We occasionally need:
• Web development or design services
• Graphic design for articles or promotional materials
• Video editing or production support
• Social media management assistance
• Legal or accounting services
• Event space or equipment for interviews/recordings
If you’d like to contribute your professional skills, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line “IN-KIND SUPPORT – [NAME]”
Share Our Work
Not everyone can give financially, and we completely understand. One of the most valuable ways you can support us is by sharing our work with your networks.
Help us grow by:
• Sharing articles on social media and tagging us.
• Recommending The Convergence Lens to friends who’d appreciate our work.
• Engaging with our content through comments and discussions.
• Leaving reviews or testimonials about why you value our work.
• Amplifying our voice in your communities (online and offline).
Word-of-mouth from readers like you is how we reach new audiences.
Partnerships & Sponsorships
We carefully consider partnership opportunities that align with our values and mission. If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring content or partnering with The Convergence Lens in a way that maintains our editorial independence, we’d love to hear from you.
All partnerships must:
• Preserve our complete editorial independence.
• Align with our values and mission.
• Be transparently disclosed to our audience.
• Not compromise our journalistic integrity.
• Not be on the BDS list for complicity in committing war crimes against the Palestinian people.
Contact [email protected] to discuss possibilities.
Questions About Giving?
If you have questions about supporting The Convergence Lens, need assistance with your donation, or want to discuss other ways to contribute, please reach out:
General inquiries: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]
Partnership opportunities: [email protected]
Our Commitment to Transparency
As a cooperative, financial transparency is a governance requirement embedded in our structure. Our Worker-Members have the right to access TCL’s financial records at any time, and Reader-Members receive annual financial summaries. Additionally, we will:
• Continue to disclose all funding sources and partnerships.
• Never compromise our editorial independence for financial support.
• Publish annual financial summaries accessible to all members.
• Keep you informed about how your contributions and co-ownership fees are used.
• Maintain our high ethical and cooperative standards regardless of revenue.
Thank you for supporting independent, worker-owned journalism. Whether you co-own the cooperative with us, contribute voluntarily, share our work, or simply read it, you are part of what makes this possible.
