VTDigger
VTDigger is a Vermont-based nonprofit digital news organization providing statewide public-service journalism on government, politics, health, education, and community issues. It distributes free content via vtdigger.org, a multi-product newsletter suite reaching 42,000+ subscribers, and a related jobs board.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBurlington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What VTDigger does
VTDigger is a nonprofit digital news organization headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, structured legally as Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd., and founded in 2008 to deliver public-service journalism covering Vermont state government, politics, public safety, health, education, environment, and community life. The organization serves readers across all 14 Vermont counties and aggregates content from regional partner outlets including Valley News, The Bridge, and The Commons News. Its audience of more than 42,000 newsletter subscribers is concentrated in Vermont, with a stated mission of member-supported independent reporting in an era of contracting local media.
The product portfolio centers on the vtdigger.org website, built on the Newspack publishing platform, and is extended by a suite of email newsletters headlined by the weekday 'Daily Digger,' topic-specific weekly roundups for Economy, Education, Environment, Health, and Government & Politics, a dedicated jobs platform at vtdiggerjobs.org, podcast programming, and a legal-notices service. Distribution runs through owned digital properties (website, email), social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, LinkedIn), and a branded merchandise storefront at vtdiggershop.org, with a publication cadence that produces multiple original stories per day.
VTDigger's revenue model is multi-stream and donation-led. Primary funding comes from reader donations and recurring memberships solicited through donate and become-a-member pathways, supported by direct advertising sales, transactional revenue from the jobs board, and merchandise sales. Pricing and membership tiers are not publicly disclosed. The organization has secured two disclosed grants from the American Journalism Project ($910K in 2019 and $250K in 2024) and has been operating at a loss since 2022. Leadership has experienced material turnover, with the organization searching for its third Executive Editor-in-Chief in just over a year amid union negotiations.
VTDigger firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VTDigger
- Legal name
- Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd
- Website
- https://vtdigger.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VTDigger is a Vermont-based nonprofit digital news organization providing statewide public-service journalism on government, politics, health, education, and community issues. It distributes free content via vtdigger.org, a multi-product newsletter suite reaching 42,000+ subscribers, and a related jobs board.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VTDigger industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Digital News
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC), Podcast Ad Sales Networks & Monetization Platforms (MPACADAD)
Keywords
Where VTDigger is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
VTDigger business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: VTDigger is a nonprofit news organization funded primarily through reader donations and membership contributions. The site features multiple donation pathways including 'Donate' and 'Become a member' options.
- Advertising: The website mentions an 'Advertise' section, indicating advertising revenue as a stream.
- Job Board: VTDigger operates a jobs board at vtdiggerjobs.org, which likely generates revenue through job postings.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
VTDigger product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VTDigger operates a digital news platform that publishes Vermont-focused reporting on government, politics, public safety, health, education, the environment, the economy, housing, and culture. Distribution is centered on the vtdigger.org website, free email newsletters, podcasts, a Vermont jobs board (vtdiggerjobs.org), a Vermont legal-notices section, and a branded merchandise store (vtdiggershop.org). The organization is a member-supported nonprofit structured as Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd, with revenue drawn from reader donations, memberships, advertising, job-posting fees, and merchandise sales.
Product overview
VTDigger operates as a nonprofit news organization offering a comprehensive digital news platform for Vermont. The core product is the vtdigger.org website delivering local journalism across multiple topic areas including Government & Politics, Public Safety, Opinion, Obituaries, Health, Education, Economy, Housing, Environment, and Life & Culture. The platform is complemented by a suite of newsletters (with Daily Digger being the flagship daily digest), a jobs board (vtdiggerjobs.org), podcasts, and legal notices service. The organization is member-supported and operated as a project of Vermont Journalism Trust. The site is built on the Newspack publishing platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VTDigger News Website The flagship online news platform of VTDigger, delivering free Vermont local news, investigative reporting, opinion pieces, obituaries, and multimedia across topics including Government & Politics, Public Safety, Health, Education, Economy, Housing, Environment, and Life & Culture. Built on the Newspack publishing platform and intended for Vermont residents and communities seeking statewide coverage.
- VTDigger Newsletters
Quantifiable outcome
- 42,000+ newsletter subscribers trust VTDigger content
Companies that use VTDigger
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VTDigger technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
VTDigger partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
VTDigger competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Maine Monitor: Nonprofit investigative news outlet covering Maine state government and policy, structurally and editorially nearly identical to VTDigger—member-supported, statewide focus, nonprofit news.
- New Hampshire Bulletin: Nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news organization covering New Hampshire state policy and politics; operates on a similar donor/member-supported model targeting a single New England state.
- The Connecticut Mirror: Nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news outlet focused on Connecticut state government, policy, and politics—same single-state nonprofit investigative model as VTDigger.
- Seven Days (Vermont): Vermont's major alternative weekly covering state and local news, arts, and culture; directly competes with VTDigger for Vermont readers and advertisers, though operates as an alternative weekly rather than nonprofit.
- Valley News: Daily newspaper serving the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire; content partner of VTDigger and direct local-news competitor in overlapping Vermont coverage areas.
Broad incumbents
- Vermont Public (VPR): Vermont's public radio and television network covering the same geographic market as VTDigger with a broader media portfolio (radio, TV, digital); competes for the same audience and donor pool.
- The Texas Tribune: Larger nonprofit state-focused digital news organization covering Texas government and policy; demonstrates the scaled-up version of the same single-state nonprofit investigative model VTDigger operates.
- CalMatters: Nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news venture covering California state policy; same donor-supported, single-state focus as VTDigger but at significantly larger scale.
- ProPublica: Premier U.S. nonprofit investigative newsroom; shares the nonprofit, donor-funded, mission-driven investigative journalism model with VTDigger, though at national scale.
Emerging players
- The Hechinger Report: Nonprofit investigative news outlet covering education policy nationally; shares the nonprofit investigative news model with VTDigger and is part of the same American Journalism Project ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
VTDigger social profiles
Digital presenceVTDigger financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VTDigger leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
VTDigger funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VTDigger M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VTDigger
What does VTDigger do?
VTDigger operates a digital news platform that publishes Vermont-focused reporting on government, politics, public safety, health, education, the environment, the economy, housing, and culture. Distribution is centered on the vtdigger.org website, free email newsletters, podcasts, a Vermont jobs board (vtdiggerjobs.org), a Vermont legal-notices section, and a branded merchandise store (vtdiggershop.org). The organization is a member-supported nonprofit structured as Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd, with revenue drawn from reader donations, memberships, advertising, job-posting fees, and merchandise sales.
Is VTDigger a public or private company?
VTDigger is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was VTDigger founded?
VTDigger was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VTDigger based?
VTDigger is headquartered in Burlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does VTDigger make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are advertising and job Board.
Who are VTDigger's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Maine Monitor, New Hampshire Bulletin, The Connecticut Mirror, Seven Days (Vermont) and Valley News. Broad incumbents are Vermont Public (VPR), The Texas Tribune, CalMatters and ProPublica. The Hechinger Report is listed as an emerging player.
Does VTDigger have an API?
No public API is recorded for VTDigger.
What industry is VTDigger in?
VTDigger's product category is Local Digital News. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAF, Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAIADAC, Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 8600.