Our Supporters

As a nonprofit newsroom, members are critical to our sustainability. Your financial support helps make our journalism possible. Every dollar stays local and supports fact-based, non-partisan journalism by local journalists in Wichita.

We’re grateful for our growing community.

We are committed to editorial independence and transparency in our funding. Our organization retains full authority over editorial content, operations and management to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. 

We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and funders. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions. We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

The Beacon may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.


Wichita Foundation News and Information Fund • American Journalism Project • Arnold Ventures • GroundTruth Project (Report for America), with additional funding from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative

Founding Members 

Thank you, Wichita, for helping us celebrate our first year of publishing. So many Wichitans have stepped up to become Founding Members, and the list is growing every day! Your early support helps keep our journalism free for all. Donate today to have your name added to this list. (Updated July 25, 2022)

Angela Breer • Ann Spradlin • Anne Welsbacher • Anthony Scala • Ashley Gardner • Ashley Watkins • Barbara Coats • Barbara Olson • Belinda Childs • Ben Blankley • Betty Lanzrath • Brandon Forester • Breanna Major • Brian Ast • Carolyn Schwab • Carrie Heiman • Carrie Van Sickle • Carter James • Catherine Webber • Cecilia Green • Cheryl Carmichael • Cheryl Wertheimer • Chris Poelma • Christian Manahl • Christian Taylor • Christopher Brown • Christopher Pumpelly • Claudia Peebler • Courtney Bengtson • Craig Slawson • Crista Switzer • Curt Gridley • Cynthia Berner • D A  Leep • Dan Dickgrafe • Darcy Gray •  David Davis • David Nienstedt • Deborah Bates • Debra Fraser • Deborah Gann •  Denise Fleming • Diane Quantic •  Dianne  Powell • Donna Fisher • Donna Lynden • Douglas King • Doug Oliver • Ebony Clemons • Edward Flentje • Elizabeth Ewers • Eric Sexton • Ernestine Krehbiel • Evelyn Fisher • Faith Martin • Frances Broaddus-Crutchfield • Fred Pinaire • Gail Finney • Gentry Thiesen • Gloria Farha Flentje • Harold Schlechtweg • Harvey Sorensen • Helen Healy • Insia Wang • James Chipman • James Ian Tennant • James Lee • Jane Bradley • Jane Byrnes • Janice Van Sickle • Jan Randle • Jason Taylor • Jayna Rogers • Jeffrey Usher  • Jennifer Green-Miracle • Jennifer Hack • Jerrod Bishop • Jesse Moore • Jessica Dai • Jessie Gray • Jessi Wigdahl • Jill Erickson • John Adams  • John Buck • John Hartis • Jordan Walker • Joseph Klein • Joseph Mohr • Joshua Dutcher • Julie Doll • Julie McLain • Julie Pearson • Justin Bjork • Katherine Abel • Katherine Melhorn • Katherine Miller • Kathie Moore • Kathleen Rivers • Kathryn Nelson • Kathy and Dion Lefler • Keith Holt • Keith Sellers • Kelly Johnston • Kelly Walker • Kelsey Ryan • Kevin Polite • Kristy Nyp • Kylie O’Connor • LaRue Rains • Laura Bernstorf • Laurie Garrett • Lawanda Deshazer • LeAnna Beat • Linda Chance • Linda Gregory • Lisa Perry • Lisa Pesina • Lisa Vayda • Lloyd Hanna • Lonny Wright • Loretta Chao • Lori and Mark Jenkins • Lori Lawrence • Lori Rankin • Lorna Harder • Lou Heldman • Louise Brinegar • Lynne Murrow • Lynn Stephan • Maia Cuellar Serafini • Margaret Ochs • Marian Rice • Mark Janzen • Mary Anne McCloud • Mary Halsig • Mary Hetherington • Mary Starr • Matt Hennie • Matt Moore • Megan Wright-Hagan • Meghan Carver • Melanie Addington • MeLinda Schnyder • Melody Miller • Michael Barushok • Michael Miller • Michael Neth • Michael Pointer • Michael Ramsey • Michele  Davis • Mike Marlett • Mike Morton • Nancy Dahlinger • Nancy Hack • Nancy Huffman • Nancy Trier-Metzger • Natalie Sollo • Naquela Pack • Ngoc Vuong • Nicole Browning • Noelle Barrick • Paul Abromeit • Paul Berkey • Peter Storandt • Polly Wenzl • Rachelle Depew • Rebecca Allen-Bouska • Rebecca Fields • Renee Deggs • Richard Biever • Richard Crowson • Richard Leslie • Robert Brasier • Robert Hack • Rod MilneRussell Kennedy • Ruth Harries • Sarah Simister • Scott Miller • Seth Etter • Sharon Powell Quincy • Shawn Harris • Shelly Prichard • Sherri  Rawlins • Sonja Armbruster • Sophie Culpepper • Stacy Anderson • Stacie Henderson • Steven Duba-Maack • Susan Edgerley • Suzannah Bowden • Suzanne Jessup • Suzie Ahlstrand • Tammy Allen • Tammy Penland • Tara Parker • Teajai Kimsey • Ted Farha • Teresa Veazey • Terri Henry • Tim Buller • Tim Holt • Tom Byler •  Tom Ewert • Tom Scanlon • Tommy Hornbeck • T.R. Goering • Tracee Adams • Treva & Balbir Mathur • Tristan Loper • Troy Tabor • Twila Puritty • Ty Nighswonger • Ty Patton • Valerie White • Vera Bothner • Virgil Miller • W. Alan Kailer • Ward Jewell • William Cutler • Yashi Wang • Yolanda Camarena • Constance Porazka • Mary Starr • Catherine & Forrest Ehmke • Barbara Hartness • Mary Humble • Rahudy Abreu • Richard Biever • Michael Birzer • Ernestine Krehbiel • Margaret Ochs • Shawn Harris • Daniel Flynn • Debbie LaGrange • Lisa Vayda • Jonathan Powell • Linda Winter • Jim McKeel