Oakland Voices is supported by foundations, nonprofit partners, sponsors, and individual donors who believe Oakland needs strong, community-rooted local journalism.
Financial support makes our reporting and journalism education possible. It does not give a donor, sponsor or advertiser the right to assign, review, approve or suppress our journalism.
Oakland Voices is a program of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions designated for Oakland Voices are administered by the Maynard Institute and support Oakland Voices’ reporting, training and operations.
The Maynard Institute serves as Oakland Voices’ nonprofit home and provides financial administration, organizational oversight, and other operational support. The value of that support is separate from the external grants listed below.
The amounts below reflect cumulative grants and contributions designated for Oakland Voices from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026. Multi-year grants are listed according to the total amount awarded, rather than the amount received in a single year.
Thank you to all of our generous donors who amplify Oakland Voices.
Current Supporters
The following organizations provided financial support to Oakland Voices during 2025 and 2026. Amounts reflect total value of grants awarded during this period. This list is updated annually.
| SUPPORTER | PERIOD | AMOUNT | PURPOSE |
| African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council | 2025 | $3,000 | Editorial support |
| Akonadi Foundation | Annual grants, 2024, 2025 | $20,000 | General operating support |
| Alameda County Arts Commission, ARTSFund | 2026-2027 | $1,200 | General operating support |
| Black Arts Movement Business District and Community Development Corporation | 2026 | $10,000 | Editorial support; Community engagement |
| East Bay Fund for Artists 2 at the East Bay Community Foundation | 2025-2026 | $15,000 | Restricted support for community correspondents arts coverage published and public performance by Oakland Voices |
| Community Anti-Displacement and Stabilization Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation | One-year grant | $10,000 | Restricted support for Black arts & culture coverage |
| Fund for Investigative Journalism | Six-month grant | $10,000 | Restricted support for investigative reporting published by Oakland Voices |
| Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Journalism | Summer 2026 | $12,000 | Restricted support for a summer investigative journalism intern hosted by Oakland Voices |
| Press Forward | Two-year grant, 2025-2026 | $50,000 | General operating support |
| San Francisco Foundation | Rapid Response Fund | $20,000 | General operating support |
| The California Endowment | 2024-2025 | $120,000 | General operating support |
Historical Supporters
Since Oakland Voices’ founding in 2010, the following organizations have supported its journalism, education and community engagement. Inclusion does not necessarily indicate a current funding relationship.
- African American Response Circle
- Akonadi Foundation
- Google News Initiative, News Equity Fund
- Kapor Center
- Langeloth Foundation
- News Leaders Association, U.S. Press Freedom Grant
- The California Endowment
Donate
Donate to the Maynard Institute to support Oakland Voices.
Editorial independence Policy
Oakland Voices subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN).
Oakland Voices retains full authority over its editorial content. Donors, sponsors, advertisers and organizational partners do not determine which stories we pursue, whom we interview, what we report or when we publish.
Acceptance of financial support does not constitute an endorsement of a donor or its products, services, positions or activities.
Oakland Voices may accept funding for coverage of a broad topic or reporting project, but the newsroom retains editorial control. Funders do not receive the right to preview, approve or edit journalism before publication.
We maintain an appropriate separation between editorial decisions and fundraising, advertising and sponsorship activities. Paid or sponsored material will be clearly labeled and visually distinguishable from independently reported journalism.
Conflicts involving contributors
Oakland Voices contributors often report within communities to which they belong. Their knowledge and relationships can strengthen our journalism. Contributors must disclose relevant financial, organizational, political, family or personal relationships to their editor. Oakland Voices will disclose a connection to readers when it is relevant to understanding the reporting, or reassign a story when a conflict cannot be appropriately managed.
Donor transparency and gift acceptance policy
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of Oakland Voices’ activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.
Oakland Voices and the Maynard Institute may decline funding that presents an actual or apparent conflict of interest, threatens editorial independence, creates disproportionate administrative obligations or could undermine public trust in our work.
Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review, or edit content.
Oakland Voices will make public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.
Tax filings and audited financial statements
Established in 2010, Oakland Voices is a program of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a California 501(c)3 nonprofit journalism support organization. Our EIN is 94-2427279.
Oakland Voices is not a separate legal entity and therefore does not file an independent IRS Form 990. Its finances are included within the Maynard Institute’s organization-wide tax filings and audited financial statements.
Our most recent IRS Form 990 and audited financial statements are publicly available.
- 2024 IRS Form 990
- 2023 IRS Form 990
- 2022 IRS Form 990
- 2021 IRS Form 990
- 2020 IRS Form 990
- 2019 IRS Form 990
Report on Audited Financial Statements
For more information about Oakland Voices, the Maynard Institute, our board, or our programs, visit our About page.
Last updated: September 1, 2026.