Dear Supporters,

This month marks a significant milestone for the Ames Voice. It has been six months since our official launch on Oct. 2, 2025, and I am thrilled to share that our trajectory is incredibly positive across every category of our work.

Your belief in local journalism has been the engine behind our growth. As we celebrate this half-year anniversary, here is an update on what we have accomplished together.

Our Community Support

Membership & Subscriber Growth: Well before we launched in October, we began with a small group of 40 “early adopters” who acted as our vital testing group for our technology and publishing processes. Since then, we have seen a steady, inspiring climb. We are proud to announce that we have officially surpassed 1,000 subscribers.

• Strong Engagement: You’ve shown the importance of local news by maintaining an average 75% open rate and 26% click-through rate for our newsletters this year, compared to the national average of 44% open rate and 4% click-through rate for other news publishers across the nation.

Our Newsroom

Newsroom Leadership: Anthony Capps and Amber Mohmand have done an exceptional job mastering the complex systems required to curate the news and publish our newsletters and to our website. More importantly, they continue to successfully recruit and train a growing list of talented reporters who are dedicated to telling the stories of Ames.

Power of Volunteers: Our progress is bolstered by the commitment of our volunteers. We are especially grateful for the expert copy-editing provided by Mike Krapfl and Jodi O’Donnell. Furthermore, our coverage is deepened by the consistent, high-quality content from long-term volunteers like Bill Monroe, who covers the Ames City Council, Jared Larson and Dr. Mike Kitchell, among many others.

Our Funding

Advertising Support: We continue to enjoy solid support from our “Founding Voice” advertisers: First National Bank, Pat Brown State Farm Insurance, and Grandon’s Funeral and Cremation Care. As our membership grows, we are seeing a significant increase in interest from other local businesses eager to align with the Ames Voice.

Fundraising & Sustainability: Our financial foundation remains strong. We continue to receive sustaining membership donations from a large group of monthly subscribers, alongside a steady stream of support from major donors. Our long-term strategy involves a more concentrated effort to cultivate and communicate with our donor base to ensure the Ames Voice remains a permanent fixture in our community.

Endowment: The Ames Voice Endowment is a permanent fund held at the Story County Community Foundation designed to provide long-term financial stability for the Voice. By placing the endowment with the SCCF, the organization ensures professional financial stewardship while allowing the newsroom to focus on its editorial independence and community service.

Our Leadership

Board of Directors: We are fortunate to be led by a highly engaged Board of Directors. I have the honor of serving as board president, and I (Iowa State University Foundation) extend my gratitude to Dan Culhane (Ames Regional Economic Alliance) and Alison Doyle (Digital Ag Innovation Lab) for their dedication. I am thrilled to welcome Luke Deardorf (First National Bank) to the board. Additionally, we are in discussions with Michele Appelgate (ISU Ivy College of Business) about joining the leadership team soon.

The Road Ahead: As we look ahead to the next six months — and beyond — our focus is on long-term sustainability through the following avenues:

• Leadership: We are exploring the addition of a full-time Executive Director, with the goal of having this position filled in the second quarter.

• Content Development: We are firming up a partnership with the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State to offer paid internships, ensuring we are mentoring the next generation of journalists as well as expanding our coverage.

• Collaborative Content: We are also excited to enhance our local coverage through a content-sharing partnership with the Iowa State Daily, allowing us to better connect the campus community with the broader Ames community.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support has turned an idea into a thriving community resource. We look forward to many more milestones ahead.

With gratitude,

Kevin Stow, President of the Board of Directors

Our Mission: The Ames Voice is dedicated to being the primary source of news and information for the Ames area, focusing on complete coverage that values local insights, diverse voices, and ethical reporting, while prioritizing community engagement and empowerment.