What Truthout does

Truthout is a Sacramento-based nonprofit, independent news organization founded in 2001 that publishes daily investigative journalism, op-eds, interviews, and series on progressive and social justice topics. It serves politically engaged readers, activists, and movement leaders across the United States, covering LGBTQ rights, immigration, prisons and policing, environment and health, labor, war and peace, racial justice, and reproductive rights. The publication operates with a staff of 1-10 employees and extends its editorial scope through contributor partnerships and content syndication.

The organization distributes content exclusively through digital channels: its own website (truthout.org), social media profiles on Facebook, Bluesky, Flipboard, Instagram, Twitter/X, an RSS feed, and an email newsletter. All journalism is freely accessible to the public with no paywall, registration, or paid subscription tiers. Truthout operates sub-brands including the Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism and the Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize, and participates in the Covering Climate Now media collaboration alongside 200+ outlets.

Truthout's business model relies almost entirely on voluntary reader donations — one-time gifts and recurring monthly contributions — solicited through fundraising appeals embedded throughout articles and the homepage. There are no advertising-supported products, paid subscription tiers, or commercial revenue streams described. The organization's revenue base, growth metrics, and leadership team are not disclosed in the available source data, and it has no parent company, no external venture or private equity ownership, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Truthout

Legal name

Truthout

Website

https://truthout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Truthout is a Sacramento-based nonprofit independent news publication founded in 2001 that provides free, daily investigative journalism on social justice, progressive politics, LGBTQ rights, immigration, and environmental issues, funded primarily by reader donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Digital News & Journalism

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Independent journalism
• Nonprofit news
• Investigative reporting
• Progressive media
• Social justice news

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Reader Donations and Fundraising: Truthout is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through reader donations. The site repeatedly runs fundraising campaigns (e.g., 'Help us make up the difference: Please make a one-time or monthly donation if you can' and 'We just finished a fundraiser to cover our basic operating expenses for June, but we fell short of our goal'). Donations are the primary revenue mechanism, supplemented by recurring subscription/donation plans and one-time giving options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Truthout publishes daily independent, nonprofit news articles, op-eds, interviews, and series covering politics, LGBTQ rights, immigration, environment, labor, prisons and policing, racial justice, and war and peace. Content is freely accessible on its website without a paywall and is distributed via email newsletters and social media, with operations funded almost entirely by reader donations.

Product overview

Truthout is a nonprofit, independent news publication focused on social justice journalism. It does not offer a software product, SaaS platform, or technology product suite. Its core offering is editorial content across multiple topic areas including climate, politics, LGBTQ rights, immigration, labor, and human rights. Content is distributed through its website with free and subscription-based access, and includes a podcast series called Covering Climate Now.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism: A center operated by Truthout focused on grassroots journalism initiatives.
• Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize

Products and services

• Daily Independent News Articles

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and minor.

• Covering Climate NownotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTruthout is a participant in Covering Climate Now, a media collaboration initiative co-founded by Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, partnering with over 200 news outlets worldwide to deepen and expand climate crisis journalism coverage.
• DemocracyNow!minorOthersTruthout republishes or cross-promotes content from DemocracyNow!, including video segments and interviews such as Amy Goodman's video content appearing on Truthout's platform.
• The Texas TribuneminorOthersTerri Langford, a journalist with The Texas Tribune, publishes her health services reporting through Truthout's platform, representing a content partnership between the two news organizations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ProPublica: ProPublica is a leading nonprofit investigative newsroom funded primarily by donations and philanthropy. It is comparable to Truthout as a donor-supported independent news organization serving the public interest, though ProPublica is significantly larger and more focused on investigative reporting.
• Mother Jones: Mother Jones is a nonprofit, donor-funded investigative magazine covering politics, environment, and social justice — directly comparable to Truthout in mission, funding model, and progressive editorial positioning.
• The American Prospect: The American Prospect is a nonprofit, reader-supported magazine focused on progressive policy and politics. It shares Truthout's nonprofit funding model, political orientation, and audience of engaged progressives.
• The Nation: The Nation is one of the longest-running progressive U.S. magazines and a direct peer to Truthout — both are independent, donation/subscription-funded news outlets covering politics, social justice, and activism. The Nation is also co-founder of Covering Climate Now, the collaboration Truthout participates in.
• Democracy Now!: Democracy Now! is an independent, donor-funded news program covering progressive politics and social movements. Truthout cross-publishes Democracy Now! content, and the two share an audience and editorial mission.
• The Intercept: The Intercept is an independent, donor-supported news outlet covering civil liberties, politics, and social justice. It is comparable to Truthout as a nonprofit-style digital publication serving a progressive, activist audience.
• Jacobin: Jacobin is a socialist magazine and digital publication covering politics, labor, and social movements with a reader-funded model. It is comparable to Truthout in audience, editorial positioning, and digital-first nonprofit news format.
• Common Dreams: Common Dreams is a nonprofit, reader-supported news outlet covering progressive politics, environment, and social justice — virtually identical mission, funding model, and audience to Truthout.
• In These Times: In These Times is a nonprofit magazine covering labor, social justice, and progressive politics. It is closely comparable to Truthout as a small, mission-driven independent publication with a similar donor model and audience.

Emerging players

• Rewire News Group: Rewire News Group is a nonprofit, independent news outlet covering reproductive rights, social justice, and policy. It is comparable to Truthout as a niche, donor-supported digital publication covering specific progressive issues.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/truthout
• Facebookfacebook.com/truthout
• Instagraminstagram.com/truthout
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/truthout

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Truthout