Power the Future of Radical, Black, Community-based News
Black media is actively suppressed and Black journalism often silenced. We depend on reader support to continue our vital community work and unapologetic truth-telling journalism.
Basic
Standard
Pro
A message from Ryan Sorrell — Founder, The Kansas City Defender
Kansas City’s story has too long been told through a white-supremacist lens that renders Black life disposable and Black joy invisible. At every police shooting, eviction court, and school-board coup, legacy outlets have handed the megaphone to power and called it “objectivity.”
We were forged in the tear-gas haze of 2020 to flip that script. Like Freedom’s Journal (America’s first Black newspaper) born in 1827, we exist to “plead our own cause,” but we do it with livestreams, data leaks, and youth reporters that train the next Ida B. Wells before they can vote.
Your dollars are ammunition in an information war that right-wing fascists have waged against us. Each contribution:
- Funds liberation journalism that names fascism, traces city-budget blood trails, and publishes safety alerts the minute our people need them.
- Builds community infrastructure: grocery buy-outs, Black book archives, protest safety toolkits so our headlines translate into material power.
- Protects Black imagination in an era desperate to cage it.
The Black press has always been our shield and sword. Invest today and help us carve escape routes out of authoritarian darkness and into a future where Black freedom is the baseline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I designate my donation to a specific goal?
Yes! We offer an optional designation:
General Operations – Supports Black journalism, documentaries, investigative reporting, political education, and our Freedom School.
Mutual Aid Fund – Powers our Free Clothing Program, Grocery Buyout Program, and provides emergency assistance to community members.
Hamer Free Food Program – Dedicated exclusively to sustaining the Hamer Free Food Program.
Will my contribution be considered a charitable donation for tax purposes?
Yes! Just let us know if you need additional documentation and we are happy to provide it.
How can I contribute without going through the website?
We accept checks through our fiscal sponsor! Our address is 3200 Wayne Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109. Please make the check out to “Community Capital Fund” and write “The Kansas City Defender” on the memo line.
Is your website secure?
All payments are processed through Stripe. Stripe is a PCI Service Provider Level 1, which is the highest grade of payment processing security. All credit card information is encrypted, sent directly to Stripe and is never sent to our website server. This means that we are PCI compliant and any breach of our website won’t result in stolen credit card information. Learn more here.
I already contribute. How do I cancel my subscription?
If you would like to cancel your monthly or yearly support, please log into Stripe here. Still having trouble? Get in touch by selecting “Customer Service” on our contact page.
I already contribute. How can I update my credit card?
If you would like to update your credit card information, please log into Stripe here. Still having trouble? Get in touch by selecting “Customer Service” on our contact page.
What if I have a different question?
Get in touch by selecting “Customer Service” on our contact page.
The Kansas City Defender is a nonprofit digital startup producing news, digital tools and public services for Black people in Missouri and Kansas.