You read that right: Forty. Years. Forty! With your love and support The Porch Press has survived the headwinds of the digital revolution, Covid-19, and any number of other obstacles to proudly remain your favorite source of free, print-based, volunteer-powered, hyperlocal news in southeast Atlanta for the better part of half a century.
Specifically, it was August 1986 that saw the publication of Volume 1, Number 1 of this venerable newspaper. Therefore, we will start to celebrate our big anniversary in earnest around the late summer and continue into the fall festival season. More details on those events will be announced as they solidify.
As these plans to commemorate our big year begin to coalesce as we enter 2026, I also wanted to report on how The Porch Press itself is doing as an organization.
In a word, we are stable. This means that we bring in enough revenue every month from advertising, donations, and the occasional grant to fully cover the principal costs of the printing and postage of 6,500 copies (about 6,000 of which are sent directly to our free subscribers in NPU-W), for eleven months of the year. We must also keep up with our liability insurance payments as well as less frequent costs such as printer ink for galley proofs during production. On average, then, it costs about $4,500 per month (or just under $50,000 per year) to keep this project afloat.
As mentioned in my last report (July 2025), our savings on postage through the US Postal Service — we were granted a reduced rate tied to our recent shift to 501(c)(3) status — equates to about $500 per month ($5,500 per year). But even with this discount, postage rates are still rising. This means that we must continue to reduce our overhead costs while increasing revenue through not only advertising, but also individual donations and institutional grants.
So, what can you do to help? Well, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, any donation you make to us can be deducted from your annual taxes. We will gladly send you an official letter of receipt if needed, especially for donations over $250. Our tax-exempt IRS status also makes it particularly easy for you to direct any annual or one-time giving to us through a fiduciary. And small but monthly, recurring donations in the amount of, say, $5 or $10 mean a lot on their own, but are particularly powerful when many of you give them.
But if you really want to help us, please consider getting involved directly! We still have many openings for volunteer roles in proofreading, layout, and regular editorial contributions, i.e., writing articles about your perspectives, knowledge, and memories about living in our wonderful constituent neighborhoods of NPU-W. Email treasurer@theporchpress.com for more information.
Thank you, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year!
