First, the nonprofit, Addison Independent Trust LTD, is a completely separate business from the newspaper, and it is managed by a seven-person board of directors. While publishers Angelo Lynn and Elsie Lynn Parini serve on the board, they are limited to explaining what a grant would be for (always to fund the news operation and distribution), but anyone (including owners) who might directly benefit from the grant can’t vote on the grant. Only board members who will not benefit from the grant can vote for it. Also, any funding can't be used to finance the advertising department or management. In short, the IRS has strict standards to meet to ensure the money is used for the public good. The board's duty is to see that it is upheld.

Second, just as with advertising, the money side of the business is very separate from the news side. And just like advertisers don't get special treatment in this newspaper, neither would donors. It's been that way since the Lynns have owned the paper these past 42 years and it will continue to be that way while working with the nonprofit. Donors will know that to be the case, just as advertisers do.

Third, with the civic engagement and civic education aspects of the nonprofit, much of that will be used and employed outside of the newspaper. It's a way for our combined mission to be broader than what we can currently encompass.

It’s no different from donors giving to Vermont Public, NPR, VtDigger, Seven Days’ Super Readers and many other nonprofit newspapers and broadcast stations. It's a fairly established way to contribute to publications and broadcast stations, all without the expectation that the news will somehow be favorable to the donor — that, after all, would seriously erode the integrity of the publication, which is what the donor is also trying to boost and protect.

No. The Addison Independent will remain a for-profit business. This will ensure our news team can operate like it always has for the past 79 years — with integrity and trust.

It also allows the advertising, circulation and digital marketing parts of the business to continue generating income. These parts of the business are equally critical to the success and sustainability of The Addy Indy.

Donations made to the nonprofit will be distributed in the form of grants. It will be the Addison Independent Trust board members’ job to evaluate grants and award them based on the nonprofits vision and mission.

Yes. The Addison Independent Trust LTD is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donating to The Addison Independent Trust could be a tax-efficient way for you or your family to support The Addy Indy with Required Minimum Distributions or other charitable giving plans.

To check your ADDY ALL-STAR status or change the amount or frequency of your contributions, visit your My Account page on the Addy Indy website. You can opt for weekly, monthly or yearly contributions. You can even put these regular contributions on a credit card to make it happen automatically. Thank you!

As ADDY ALL-STARS, your contributions come directly to the Addy Indy. The paper uses these funds for its general operations. They also enable us to offer discounted subscriptions to anyone who can't afford the annual cost of a subscription.

The main difference between giving to the ADDY ALL-STARS or the Addison Independent Trust is that a donation made to the Addison Independent Trust is tax-deductible and funds are used specifically to create and grow reliable, quality local news in Addison County. As a qualified 501(c)(3), charitable gifts to the Addison Independent Trust could be a tax-efficient way for you to support the Addy Indy, and we encourage you to consider making a 3- to 5-year pledge. 

The Addison Independent Trust is made up of 7 members of the Addison County community, who are tasked with evaluating and awarding grants. The board members for 2025 are: Lloyd Komesar, Bruce Hiland, Catharine Findiesen Hays, Annina Seiler, Serena Kim, Elsie Lynn Parini and Angelo Lynn.

Angelo Lynn and Elsie Lynn Parini (co-publishers of The Addy Indy) are board members but must recuse themselves whenever a vote is being held that could benefit the local paper.