The Badger Project
The Badger Project is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit investigative journalism outlet founded in 2018, covering state politics, campaign finance, and law enforcement for Wisconsin readers via free, Creative Commons-licensed reporting funded by donations and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Badger Project does
The Badger Project is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit investigative journalism organization founded in 2018 that focuses on state politics, campaign finance, and law enforcement accountability. It produces original reporting on Wisconsin public-interest issues and distributes content free of charge under a Creative Commons license, allowing partner outlets to republish its work. The outlet's coverage has earned recognition from the Milwaukee Press Club and similar regional journalism institutions, including awards for investigative reporting.
The organization operates a reader-supported funding model that combines recurring individual donations (with a $5 per month minimum) with foundation grants from national journalism funders including the NewsMatch program, Press Forward, the Google News Initiative, and Microsoft, alongside contributions from Wisconsin community foundations and individual major donors. Its go-to-market is nonprofit/grant-driven rather than commercial: it does not sell subscriptions, advertising, or licensed content, and reach is extended through syndication to other Wisconsin and regional news outlets via Creative Commons republishing. Governance is provided by an independent board with no parent company, and editorial operations are based in Wisconsin.
Operationally, the publication runs on standard nonprofit newsroom infrastructure (a public-facing CMS-style website, email newsletter, and social channels) without disclosed proprietary technology platforms. Its competitive position is built on years of accumulated reporting archive, brand trust in Wisconsin civic journalism, and a low-friction donation funnel rather than on technology differentiation or commercial scale.
The Badger Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Badger Project
- Legal name
- The Badger Project
- Website
- https://thebadgerproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Badger Project is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit investigative journalism outlet founded in 2018, covering state politics, campaign finance, and law enforcement for Wisconsin readers via free, Creative Commons-licensed reporting funded by donations and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Badger Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Investigative Journalism
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local/Regional News Channels (MPABAIAD), Public Service News Channels (MPABAIAE), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where The Badger Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Badger Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Reader Donations: Recurring monthly donations from readers starting at $5/month, plus one-time donations. Primary revenue source for this nonprofit news organization.
- Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations including NewsMatch, Google News Initiative, Press Forward ($100,000 two-year grant), Evjue Foundation, La Crosse Community Foundation, Loud Hound Foundation, Western Wind Foundation, Microsoft, and others.
- Major Donor Contributions: Large individual donations from major donors including Candace Koehn Watt Trust ($20,000), Chris Hong ($8,000), Sage Weil ($6,000), and others contributing over $1,000.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Reader Donation - Recurring Monthly |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Badger Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Badger Project is an independent, reader-supported nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism covering Wisconsin politics, campaign finance, and law enforcement. Its core offering is original accountability journalism distributed through a free website and an email newsletter, funded by reader donations (starting at $5/month) and grants from foundations and major donors.
Product overview
The Badger Project is an independent, reader-supported nonprofit news organization providing investigative journalism coverage in Wisconsin. The organization focuses on hard-hitting news coverage in areas including politics, law enforcement, and local government. As a nonprofit news outlet, its primary offering is its journalistic content, which is distributed through its website and is free to read, supported by reader donations and foundation grants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wisconsin Politics Investigative Reporting Original investigative articles and reporting on Wisconsin state politics, politicians, legislative activity, lobbying expenditures, campaign finance, and government accountability, distributed free of charge to general readers.
- Law Enforcement Investigative Reporting Original investigative reporting on Wisconsin law enforcement agencies, individual officers, misconduct allegations, K9 programs, and police accountability issues, distributed free of charge to general readers.
- Email Newsletter Free email newsletter delivering updates on The Badger Project's investigative reporting to subscribers, available via sign-up on the organization website.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple first-place journalism awards from Milwaukee Press Club
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Badger Project
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Badger Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Badger Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
The Badger Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ProPublica: The largest U.S. nonprofit investigative news organization with a much broader national scope; competes for the same philanthropic dollars (Press Forward, Google News Initiative) and attention from readers interested in accountability journalism.
- The Intercept: National nonprofit investigative outlet covering government, politics, and accountability — comparable business model (donor-funded investigative journalism) but with a national rather than state-focused audience.
Direct peers
- City Bureau: Nonprofit civic journalism organization producing investigative and accountability reporting with community engagement — comparable as a small nonprofit news outlet funded by foundations and reader donations.
- The Marshall Project: National nonprofit news organization dedicated to criminal justice and law enforcement accountability reporting — directly comparable as a nonprofit investigative outlet where law enforcement coverage is a core editorial pillar.
- The Appeal: Nonprofit news outlet focused on criminal justice, policing, and law enforcement accountability — closely comparable editorial mission, donor-funded model, and use of investigative reporting to drive accountability outcomes.
- Type Investigations: Nonprofit investigative reporting outlet producing accountability journalism funded by foundations and donors — directly comparable operating model, grant dependence, and editorial focus on powerful institutions.
- Wisconsin Watch: Wisconsin's largest nonprofit investigative news outlet, covering state government, politics, criminal justice, and accountability issues — directly overlapping The Badger Project's editorial territory, funding sources, and reader base.
- Wisconsin Examiner: Nonprofit statehouse and policy news outlet focused on Wisconsin government and politics — directly comparable in geographic scope, nonprofit funding model, and accountability journalism mandate.
- Injustice Watch: Nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on criminal justice and accountability reporting, funded by foundations and individual donors — comparable in mission, funding architecture, and editorial depth.
Others
- Institute for Nonprofit News (INN): Industry association and fiscal conduit that distributes major philanthropic grants (including Press Forward and Google News Initiative funds) to nonprofit newsrooms like The Badger Project — relevant as a key ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Badger Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Badger Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Badger Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Badger Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Badger Project 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 The Badger Project
What does The Badger Project do?
The Badger Project is an independent, reader-supported nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism covering Wisconsin politics, campaign finance, and law enforcement. Its core offering is original accountability journalism distributed through a free website and an email newsletter, funded by reader donations (starting at $5/month) and grants from foundations and major donors.
Is The Badger Project a public or private company?
The Badger Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Badger Project founded?
The Badger Project was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Badger Project based?
The Badger Project is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Badger Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Reader Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and major Donor Contributions.
Who are The Badger Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ProPublica and The Intercept. Direct peers are City Bureau, The Marshall Project, The Appeal, Type Investigations, Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Examiner and Injustice Watch. Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is listed as an others.
Does The Badger Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Badger Project.
What industry is The Badger Project in?
The Badger Project's product category is Independent Investigative Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAF, Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations, with a secondary code of MPABAIAD, Local/Regional News Channels. Its NAICS code is 8133.