The Worcester Guardian online news site, which was founded by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, has received tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit from the U.S. Internal Revenue Services.
The designation allows the Guardian to tap into additional funding sources, including from businesses and philanthropic organizations, according to a post Thursday on the Guardian website. The news site was founded using a $50,000 grant from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Guardian plans to announce additional funding sources and partnerships in the coming weeks, according to the post.
The designation from the IRS makes the Guardian exempt from federal income taxes.
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce launched the site in September in what it said is an effort to address the decline of local journalism. The Guardian has since named Charlene Arsenault as its editor and appointed a founding board of directors, which includes the current CEO and a former executive from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“This IRS determination reinforces our commitment to serving the public interest,” Tim Loew, chair of the Guardian board, said in the post. “Being a 501(c)(3) allows us to partner with the community in new ways to support our journalism.”
