About Us

The Richmonder is an online news outlet whose mission is to bring Richmond together through storytelling that spotlights the best of our community, while keeping a watchful eye on those in power.

These are the values that guide our work:

Local

From Richmond, for Richmond. We’re dedicated to the people and the stories in this community.

Independent

Our work is non-partisan. Our reporting is balanced and unbiased, free from external influence.

Vigilant

We hold power to account by reporting on local decisions that significantly affect our community.

Optimistic

We spotlight the people and organizations who are working to move our community forward.

Welcoming

We draw in voices from different backgrounds to reflect the fullness of our community.

Inventive

We initiate new approaches, seeking to enhance our work and how people can access it.

Corporate structure

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which allows us to chase impact, not clicks. We are funded through the generosity of our readers. As part of our commitment to transparency, we disclose our donors and members. Donors are never allowed input or influence on story selection or content, and cannot read stories in advance of their publication.

We are a member of and adhere to the best practices of the Institute for Nonprofit News. We are fully nonpartisan, and any mistakes in our reporting will be acknowledged and corrected within the original story.

If you'd like to join us, please consider becoming a member or giving a one-time, tax-deductible donation to fund our work. We are a 501(c)(3) with documentation available on request.

The Richmonder's Tax ID number is 99-3286029. If you need to send us information by mail or make a donation by check, please use the following address:

Our leadership

The Richmonder is overseen by a Board of Directors. The board will provide strategic direction as we continue to grow The Richmonder to represent the entire region, and provide quality, unbiased information on the issues that matter most to the community. Members of the board are:

Blaine Lay (chair)

Blaine Lay is a Partner at CURE, a consulting company focused on brand strategy, customer experience and digital products. He is skilled at developing teams that focus on strategic, purpose-driven work. Blaine loves Richmond for its beauty and goodness, its flaws and imperfections – and believes in its enduring potential.

On why he got involved with The Richmonder: “It helps to know what’s going on. Good information helps you make decisions – whether it’s who to vote for or where to get a great taco. The Richmonder will help people know what’s going on and I’m excited about that.”

Greta Harris

Greta J. Harris leads the Better Housing Coalition, an affordable housing developer and owner, in RVA and is in leadership positions with several nonprofit and corporate organizations. She is a believer in democracy as a pillar of the American dream with all the challenges and hopes that it entails. Greta is a fighter for social justice, who has worked for 35 years across the country helping underserved communities lift their voice for change and ensuring quality housing is available for all.

On why she got involved with The Richmonder: "A free and balanced media is critical to the democratic experiment. I’m excited to be a part of The Richmonder, a new media platform, to ensure that transparency, accountability and light is shared generously throughout our community."

Rose Estes

Rose Estes has a master's degree in social work from VCU. She has a passion for improving education in the Richmond community, and serves on the board of Communities in Schools in the Richmond area. She is originally from Norfolk, and got her undergraduate degree from William & Mary.

On why she got involved with The Richmonder: “With children in RPS and living in the city, I love that the Richmonder is committed to attending City Council and School Board meetings so we all have access to the information we need to make informed choices for the well-being and thriving of the children across our city.”

Wayne Epps Jr.

Wayne Epps is a Prince George native who worked as a sportswriter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch for five years, where he covered VCU basketball, JMU football, Flying Squirrels baseball and more. He currently works as a residential content writer for Homes.com, where he writes neighborhood guides to help home seekers.

On why he got involved with The Richmonder: “I believe in the mission. Richmonders deserve in-depth, quality journalism that's accessible to all, and I'm excited that we now have a new outlet that's committed to providing that.”

Our Founding Editor is Michael Phillips, who oversees the day-to-day operation and news-gathering. He can be reached at mphillips@richmonder.org. David Poole serves as the business manager, and can be reached at dpoole@richmonder.org.

You can meet the rest of the Richmonder team here.

If you have a news story to call to our attention, please email news@richmonder.org. 

If you have issues with the website or your membership, please contact support@richmonder.org.