The turn of the year has brought another milestone for The Urbanist, with the promotion of long-time reporter Ryan Packer to full-time contributing editor. Packer (they/them) has been paid on a per-article basis previously, but the promotion to a full-time staff position will allow greater stability and an ability to take on larger stories and play an even bigger role in steering coverage. It is a well-earned reward for their nine years of contributions at our organization. Our team is thrilled to have them on staff full-time.
“2024 is going to see even more in-depth reporting on the issues Urbanist readers care about, work that I’ve already started and am so excited to share with you,” Packer said. “With the legislative session coming up, local comprehensive plans, a big transportation levy renewal in Seattle and a potential climate levy in King County, there couldn’t be a better time to ramp up this work.”
Earlier this month, The Urbanist board approved our 2024 budget that cleared the way for the contributing editor hire. Greater financial resources, thanks in large part to our generous donors, funded the position, but to sustain it and continue to grow coverage, we are counting on continued revenue growth. Please keep The Urbanist in your year-end giving plans.
For those seeking to take advantage of a giving option that is tax-deductible and eligible for corporate match programs, The Urbanist has a pass-through arrangement with fiscal sponsor, Urban Sparks, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In order to save The Urbanist processing costs, we respectfully ask that donations to our sponsor be at least $250 — or $125 if there is an employer match. We are able to accept grants of at least $250 from private foundations and donor-advised funds, too. If you’ve been waiting to use your employer match, or get a tax deduction for supporting The Urbanist, this 501(c)(3) donation page includes the instructions to do that. Reach out to development [at] theurbanist.org with questions.
Of course, we’re always seeking more subscriptions and one-time gifts through our normal channels. We continue to accept donations of any size at our regular donation page or by using the form below, either as monthly subscriptions or as one-time gifts. The form below still goes to the non-tax-deductible 501(c)(4) side.
Thanks to all who support our work! You have made this hire possible. Show Ryan your support with a gift today.
Doug Trumm is publisher of The Urbanist. An Urbanist writer since 2015, he dreams of pedestrianizing streets, blanketing the city in bus lanes, and unleashing a mass timber building spree to end the affordable housing shortage and avert our coming climate catastrophe. He graduated from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington in 2019. He lives in East Fremont and loves to explore the city on his bike.