About Us
We’re changing the face of local journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering independent news to the nation’s 10th largest city.
Our Mission
San José Spotlight is the city’s first nonprofit news organization dedicated to independent political and business reporting. Our mission is to change the face of local journalism by building a community-supported newsroom that ignites civic engagement, educates citizens and strengthens our democracy.
Our community needs another voice, an alternate source for high-quality, independent local news. Our stories will search for truth, shed light on wrongdoing and hold the powerful accountable. We are the community’s newsroom and we’re powered by your support and donations.
San José Spotlight is a project of the San José News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. San José Spotlight is fiscally sponsored by the Institute for Nonprofit News | Tax ID: 27-2614911. All donations are tax deductible.
Photo credit: Andy Nguyen
Our Team
From left to right: Victoria Kezra, Josh Barousse, Aliyah Mohammed, Ramona Giwargis, Grace Hase, Julia Baum
Editorial Independence Policy
We adhere to the editorial independence policy adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News.
San José Spotlight relies on donations and memberships to power our nonprofit newsroom, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. Donors and sponsors have no influence over our content. Donors have no involvement in news decisions and we do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.
News judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Your trust is the cornerstone of San José Spotlight’s success. We’ll always maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue.
Donor Transparency
We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization. That’s why we disclose every penny donated to San José Spotlight.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to support our work. Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.
We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our Board of Directors, present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.
| San José Spotlight Donors | Amount |
|---|---|
| Santa Clara Valley Water District | $16000 |
| Pat Waite | $5000 |
| Jackson and Main | $5000 |
| Jenny Wolfes (event sponsor) | $5000 |
| Ron Gonzales and Guisselle Nunez (event sponsor) | $4810 |
| Marquis Advisory Group | $3000 |
| Rich Robinson | $2500 |
| Norm Kline | $2500 |
| Rick Callender | $2500 |
| McManis Faulkner | $2500 |
| David E. Cohen | $2500 |
| Nicole and Sean Morley | $2500 |
| Voler Strategic Advisors | $2500 |
| Gary Kremen | $2000 |
| Ted Smith and Amanda Hawes | $1800 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $1200 |
| Erik Schoennauer | $1000 |
| Terry Christensen | $1000 |
| UA Local 393 | $1000 |
| Harmeet Dhillon | $1000 |
| Al and Carmen Castellano | $1000 |
| Ash and Bianca Pirayou | $1000 |
| LIUNA Local 270 | $1000 |
| Sam Singer | $1000 |
| Geoff and Andrea Ralston | $1000 |
| Patricia Gardner | $550 |
| David and Elisa Ginsborg | $550 |
| Meri Maben | $500 |
| Rich De La Rosa | $500 |
| Bob Staedler | $500 |
| Leslye Corsiglia | $500 |
| Robert Handa | $500 |
| Teresa Alvarado | $300 |
| Ruth Silver Taube | $275 |
| Dave and Pattie Cortese | $250 |
| Doug Greven | $250 |
| Ray Bramson | $225 |
| Tara Sreekrishnan | $200 |
| Xavier Campos | $200 |
| Otto Lee | $200 |
| Steve Borkenhagen | $200 |
| Joe Head | $200 |
| Jodi Nunes | $200 |
| Derecka Mehrens | $180 |
| Wendy Ho | $150 |
| Dianna Zamora-Marroquin | $150 |
| Kevin Zwick | $150 |
| Diane Ritchie | $150 |
| Sheril Woodburn | $140 |
| Carol Stephensen | $125 |
| Susan Frank | $125 |
| Chris Roth | $120 |
| Jon Graff | $120 |
| Jorge Vittes | $120 |
| Alan Hase | $120 |
| Victor Gomez | $100 |
| Jerry Strangis | $100 |
| Ben Field | $100 |
| Gabriel Montes | $100 |
| Michele Hatfield | $100 |
| Jesus Flores | $100 |
| John Mukhar | $100 |
| Megan Roehl | $100 |
| Susan Frank | $100 |
| Allison Brunner | $100 |
| Patrick Heisinger | $100 |
| Rich Tran | $100 |
| Don Rocha | $100 |
| Mickey Mericle | $100 |
| Michele Lew | $100 |
| Mary Gloner | $100 |
| CEMA | $100 |
| David & Karen Martin-Keller | $100 |
| Michael Mulcahy | $100 |
| Jason Shueh | $100 |
| Steve Aponte | $100 |
| Michelle Rindels | $100 |
| Anna Marie Cruz | $100 |
| Armando Gomez | $100 |
| Catherine Matsuyo Tomkinson | $100 |
| Nuria Fernandez | $100 |
| Geoff Morgan | $100 |
| Angel Islas | $100 |
| Rogelio Ruiz | $100 |
| Carol Garvey | $85 |
| Roseanne Compitello | $75 |
| Gloria Chacon | $75 |
| Catherine Crystal Foster | $75 |
| Jeffrey Buchanan | $75 |
| Leslie Rodriguez | $70 |
| Janice Bitters | $70 |
| Paul Escobar | $70 |
| Chelsey Cartwright | $60 |
| Olivier Mange | $60 |
| Amy Feldman | $60 |
| Don Albert | $50 |
| Louise Auerhahn | $50 |
| Jeremy Barousse | $50 |
| Kristen Clements | $50 |
| Bob Brownstein | $50 |
| Beth Leary | $50 |
| Shane Patrick Connolly | $50 |
| Pattie Cortese | $50 |
| Larry Gerston | $50 |
| Lydia Guel de Bustamante | $50 |
| J. Manuel Herrera | $50 |
| Helen Chapman | $50 |
| Tim Kawikami | $50 |
| Hanh Mo | $50 |
| Guisselle Nunez | $50 |
| Angelica Ramos | $50 |
| Brendan Rawson | $50 |
| Erlinda Reyes | $50 |
| Vince Rocha | $50 |
| David Urhausen | $50 |
| Heather Zimmerman | $50 |
| Maria Fuentes | $50 |
| Kelly Snider | $50 |
| David Tran | $50 |
| Ellen Pulskamp Turner | $50 |
| Nicole Fernandez | $50 |
| Jeanette Lee | $50 |
| Jodi Nunes | $50 |
| Ken Heredia | $50 |
| Eleanor Pett | $50 |
| Denise Belisle | $50 |
| Gabriela Banks | $50 |
| Patrick Chung | $50 |
| Andrew Alfaro | $50 |
| Alice Kaufman | $50 |
| Andrea Perry | $50 |
| Kent Greathouse | $50 |
| Brian Wheatley | $50 |
| Seth Cole | $50 |
| Barbara Goldstein | $50 |
| Kaia Eakin | $50 |
| Norma Callender | $50 |
| Long Nguyen | $50 |
| Karen Schuler | $50 |
| Patrick Goddi | $50 |
| Denise Herrera | $50 |
| Jim Frizell | $50 |
| Jeffrey Levin | $50 |
| Ray Mueller | $46 |
| Shaunn Cartwright | $45 |
| Terry Reilly | $45 |
| Chava Bustamante | $40 |
| Jerry Wilburn | $35 |
| Mayra Flores de Marcotte | $35 |
| Sam Ho | $35 |
| Milan Balinton | $35 |
| Mario Lopez | $35 |
| Matthew Wilson | $35 |
| Ky Le-Nguyen | $35 |
| Gail Osmer | $35 |
| Lizzie Nolan | $30 |
| Rich Brashears | $25 |
| Michael Casas | $25 |
| Lisa Chung | $25 |
| Richard Crowley | $25 |
| Kiet Do | $25 |
| Steve Kline | $25 |
| Scot Griffin | $25 |
| Mary Anne Groen | $25 |
| Stacey Hendler-Ross | $25 |
| Chad Johnston | $25 |
| Kieran Kelly | $25 |
| Alex Shoor | $25 |
| Huascar Castro | $25 |
| Patrick Falzer | $25 |
| Beth Willon | $25 |
| Anh Nguyen | $25 |
| Sean Kaldor | $25 |
| Carlos Barrientos | $25 |
| Alice Kaufman | $25 |
| Elisa Koff-Ginsborg | $25 |
| Lara McCabe | $25 |
| Michael Melillo | $25 |
| Adriano Naderi | $25 |
| Pierluigi Oliverio | $25 |
| Christian Ollano | $25 |
| Frank Ponciano | $25 |
| Caleb Prewitt | $25 |
| A’Dreana Quevedo | $25 |
| Robert Reese | $25 |
| Rosa Reyes | $25 |
| Daniel Reyes | $25 |
| Judy Rickard | $25 |
| Robert Stromberg | $25 |
| Eddie Truong | $25 |
| Gill Villagran | $25 |
| Brian Wheatley | $25 |
| Justin Lardinois | $25 |
| Mitchell Mankin | $25 |
| Anne Sherman | $25 |
| James Reber | $25 |
| Barbara Gould | $25 |
| Edesa Bitbadal | $25 |
| Julia Baum | $25 |
| David Vossbrink | $25 |
| Sergio Lopez | $25 |
| Minh Pham | $25 |
| Grace-Sonia Melanio | $25 |
| Riley Snyder | $25 |
| Meghin Delaney | $25 |
| Gabby Chavez-Lopez | $25 |
| David Cohen | $20 |
| Brian Haberly | $20 |
| Judy Burt | $20 |
| Carla Marinucci | $20 |
| Alys Milner | $20 |
| Miguel Santiago | $20 |
| Gabe Carhart | $20 |
| Lauren Puckett | $20 |
| Vera Sloan | $20 |
| Bruce Pickett | $20 |
| Glen Shaffer | $20 |
| Matt Steitz | $20 |
| Scott McMichael | $20 |
| Maggie Graves | $20 |
| Sue Cross | $10 |
| Vivek Kollipara | $10 |
| Mary Greenwood | $10 |
| Amy Brown | $10 |
| Judy Pipkin | $10 |
| Victoria Kezra | $5 |
| Jeremiah Haze | $5 |
| Lisa Chung | $5 |
| Brian Consiglio | $5 |
| San José Spotlight Member | Amount |
|---|---|
| Editor's Circle | |
| Christopher Thompson | $100 |
| Dan and Cheryl Connolly | $100 |
| Fourth Estate Club | |
| Vijay Sammeta | $50 |
| The Worker Agency | $50 |
| Leslye Corsiglia | $50 |
| Sergio Jimenez | $50 |
| Zach Pallin | $50 |
| Mary Greenwood | $50 |
| Guardians of Truth Club | |
| Lydia & Noe Bustamante | $20 |
| Jean Cohen | $20 |
| Andrae Wara-Macapinlac | $20 |
| Leslie Rodriguez | $20 |
| Rich Tran | $20 |
| Heather Zimmerman | $20 |
| Michael Melillo | $20 |
| Ash Kalra | $20 |
| Kathleen Thomas | $20 |
| Derecka Mehrens | $15 |
| Free Speech Club | |
| Roland Li | $10 |
| Carol Garvey | $10 |
| Patrick Ahrens | $10 |
| Jamie Fearer | $10 |
| Adour Adrouny | $10 |
| Jim Griffith | $10 |
| Lauren Urhausen | $10 |
| Betsy Hammer Carr | $10 |
| Richard Crowley | $10 |
| Frank Biehl | $10 |
| Jennifer Loving | $10 |
| James Anthony | $10 |
| Michael Melillo | $10 |
| Steve Anderson | $10 |
| Marsha Grilli | $10 |
| Victoria Ramirez | $10 |
| Maria Fuentes | $10 |
| Victor Gomez | $10 |
| Terry Christensen | $10 |
| Chris Roth | $10 |
| Huy Tran | $10 |
| Steve Anderson | $10 |
| Ashur Attanous | $10 |
| Frank Ponciano | $10 |
| Kaia Eakin | $10 |
| Susan Frank | $10 |
| Leslye Corsiglia | $10 |
| Sergio Jimenez | $10 |
| Jeremy Barousse | $10 |
| Diane Doolittle | $10 |
| Joel Corona | $10 |
| Vicky Mattson | $10 |
| Kathleen Thomas | $10 |
| Sandra Bendorf | $10 |
| Jaye Bailey | $10 |
| Stacy Owen | $10 |
| Mimi Hernandez | $10 |
| Dan Chapman | $10 |
| Michael Melillo | $10 |
| Blanca Alvarado | $10 |
| Dev Davis | $10 |
| Silvia Mahan | $10 |
| Rose Amador-Le Beau | $10 |
| Jorge Escobar | $10 |
| Long Nguyen | $10 |
| Kyra Kyzantzis | $10 |
| Edwin Tan | $10 |
| Maria Ohollearn | $10 |
| Steven Ellenberg | $10 |
| Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez | $10 |
| Mayra de Flores de Marcotte | $10 |
| Elizabeth Monley | $10 |
| Steve Kline | $10 |
| Shirley Lee | $10 |
| Megan Fluke | $10 |
| Betsy Hammer Carr | $10 |
| Josue Garcia | $10 |
| Carol Stephensen | $10 |
| Ray Bramson | $10 |
| Leila McCabe | $10 |
| Michael Casas | $10 |
| Chris Funk | $10 |
| Ian Cruelidad | $10 |
| Matt Quevedo | $10 |
| Judy Rickard | $10 |
| Janine Zacharia | $10 |
| Patricia Gardner | $10 |
| Diane Doolittle | $10 |
| Patrick McGarrity | $10 |
| Steve Preminger | $10 |
| Anna Marie Cruz | $10 |
| Matt Savage | $10 |
| Jesus Flores | $10 |
| Anne Wilson | $10 |
| Erin Salter | $10 |
| Koumban Boesch | $10 |
| Miguel Santiago | $10 |
| Kris Karnos | $10 |
| Amy Neymyr | $10 |
| Sparky Harlan | $10 |
| Marilyn Leonard | $10 |
| Chuck Stevens | $10 |
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority | $10 |
| Phillip Gonzales | $10 |
| Clark Williams | $10 |
| Christopher Corpuz | $10 |
| Brian Haberly | $10 |
| Lawrence Lui | $10 |
| Matt King | $9 |
| Valley of the Heart’s Delight Club | |
| Janice Bitters | $5 |
| James Reber | $5 |
| Henry Millstein | $5 |
| Steve Anderson | $5 |
| Sal Alvarez | $5 |
| Johnny Khamis | $5 |
| Ken Stark | $5 |
| Larry Gerston | $5 |
| Jeff Larivee | $5 |
| James Carter | $5 |
| Sandy Jacobs-Tolle | $5 |
| Bruce Pickett | $5 |
| K. Likens | $5 |
| Paul Southworth | $5 |
| Allison Bridger | $5 |
| Frank Monachello | $5 |
| Sandra Dilling | $5 |
| Adriana Farkouh | $5 |
| Amy Wright | $5 |
| Erin O'Dougherty | $5 |
| Susan Price-Jang | $5 |
| Catherine Williams | $5 |
| Annette Boyer | $5 |
| Ron Echeverri | $5 |
| Ed Rast | $5 |
| Lynda Ramirez Jones | $5 |
| Steve Eckhert | $5 |
| Cassandra Kamuchey | $5 |
Privacy Policy
We will not release your name, email address or any other personal information to anyone outside San José Spotlight without your consent, unless we are under a legal order to do so, or there is an emergency involving danger to a person or property.
