Support AFP

Augusta Free Press was launched in 2002 by newsroom veterans Chris Graham and Crystal Abbe Graham.

Since then, communities, on average, have lost more than 80 percent of their local journalists.

Despite economic challenges that forced many news organizations throughout the region and nation to cut back or shut down, AFP has continued to deliver top-notch news and sports coverage.

Digging in to get the whole story takes time and resources.

Now, more than ever, with the challenges that our local community, our state, our nation, is facing, independent journalism is needed.

As journalists, we’ve covered stories that no one else has touched. We’ve rallied for the LGBTQ+ community, Medicare for All, affordable housing. Most importantly, we hold local government – and local police – accountable.

• Somebody has to push the Virginia DEQ to hold a first, and then a second, public hearing to try to keep Northrop Grumman from dumping tons of pollutants into the air and our groundwater; remember how the DEQ tried to get away with a public notice in The News Virginian, whose circulation is under 1,000 three days a week now?
• Ditto for there needing to be somebody to remind the Waynesboro School Board that it can’t just hire a new superintendent from within, when the data from the state Department of Education show that our schools are failing, miserably, and are in need of a fresh set of eyes to get things moving back in the right direction.
• Somebody has to press the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police on the officer-involved shooting that took the life of a Staunton man last year, about which there may always be questions, given what happened, and the rush to judgment on the part of the people that are elected to show impartiality in such matters.

2026 goal

We’ve set a goal of $5,000 per month for reader support in 2026.

We are falling short with $25,000 still needed to get us there.

Each monthly or one-time contribution helps us get one step closer to that target.
If you have been waiting for the right time to give to AFP, this is it.

What reader support made possible in 2026:

• Continued to offer content with no paywall and no subscription required
• Redesigned and improved our newsletter so you get the news you care about the most, at a time that is convenient for you
• Moved our website to a more reliable server with little to no downtime
• Created AFP accounts and dedicated more time to developing social media content on platforms including BlueSky, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
• Integrated Google News into the site, publishing content on Google News and Newsbreak
• Partnered with Instaread to add a “listen to” feature on articles
• Invested in technology to produce more video content in less time
• Dedicated time and personnel to participate in a state cohort led by Blue Engine Collaborative and Virginia Local News Project addressing sustainability including building stronger relationships with audiences, growing and diversifying revenue and improving user experience

Your contribution today will help us:

• Expand our team
• Explore app development to put AFP on your smartphone
• Add other “sticky” content to the site including weather, horoscopes, puzzles or games
• Offer additional newsletters for people who want a weekly roundup (in addition to and/or instead of a daily digest); offer a sports only newsletter
• Explore and develop a presence on platforms including Next Door, Reddit and WhatsApp
• Get certified to accept legal notices
• Explore donation platform outside of gofundme

AFP is funded by readers like you. If you value our work, pitch in and help power Augusta Free Press in 2026 and beyond.

Note: gofundme has a slider where you adjust the donation you want to give them, if any. The default is around 17 percent, but you can change that amount.

If you prefer to mail a check, our address is:
Augusta Free Press LLC
200 S. Wayne Ave. #1193
Waynesboro, Va. 22980

Augusta Free Press is not a non-profit organization, so any contribution to The Tip Jar is not tax deductible.

Inside AFP

Our team includes a mix of award-winning journalists, authors and broadcasters who are good at diving into what’s going on, digging up facts and telling interesting stories.

A few stories that take you inside AFP:

• Our local news desert is that much more deserted now
• Waynesboro, Staunton, Augusta County considered ‘news deserts’: What that means
• We don’t report news to make money, we make money to report news
• #TeamAFP isn’t afraid to speak truth to power: We need you to be on our team
• 24 years and counting: AFP marks anniversary of July 2, 2002, launch
• Back in the day: Sports Illustrated used to be the highlight of my week
• We sold AFP in 2022: Now the site is back under our 100 percent full control
• AFP dang-near killed me five years ago: Still here, chasing the dream
• The Washington Post vs. Augusta Free Press: Who’s got your back more here?

Praise

• “Thanks for your professional journalism. It’s meaningful, and I am a financial supporter.”
• “I love following UVA basketball.  And my ability to do so is helped immensely by your articles.  I look for them every day on the Augusta Free Press website … Your basketball knowledge, insights, and opinions address all three and help me to be a well-informed fan.  My sincere thanks for your enjoyable articles, your devotion to UVa, and your courage in writing on topics that may anger UVa Athletics and its fans.”
• “I appreciate your courage and salute your willingness to be vulnerable; I hope you believe in the abundance of strength therein.”
• “Keep on pounding the table and hopefully November 3 will be a very good day for humanity!”
• “Augusta Free Press caught my attention a few years ago and I am a loyal reader. Your combined work resonates with our community.”
• “Your reporting is spot on and one of the only outlets I find actual truth matters. Thank you both for your dedication to providing newsworthy reading.”
• “I just read the latest article – WOW!! Way to go Augusta Free Press!!”
• “I’m just a ordinary citizen of Waynesboro and from time to time I come across your articles and I read them and I like them. I just want to say thank you and continue to do what you do!”
• “I just want to say thank you and I appreciate your dedication to your work and the fact that you report with truth and integrity. You probably feel like giving up at times. Please don’t. There are many people who appreciate and are grateful for what you do.”
• “That was just excellent from the reporting to the writing. All of it.”
• “I just wanted to congratulate you for on your piece about Ben Cline. Damned fine piece of work. I was so impressed that I began reading some of your other pieces, notably your autobiographical series of essays … fight on, write on!”
• “I’m sure you’ve put yourself in the line of fire when it comes to nasty comments and all the other baggage which comes with public political discourse. But thanks so much for taking on that responsibility. The quality of your writing deserves a really big audience, but I appreciate your sacrifice in focusing on Staunton and Augusta.”
• “Appreciate all the intel I get from you about wahoo athletics. You are the man!”
• “Bless you for trying to figure out what happened and hold authorities accountable … Keep up the good work!”
• “Keep up the good work, my friend. We need you and AFP more than ever.”
• “I really enjoy your writing and the Augusta Free Press. Like you, I’m a 50 something white guy, constantly scratching my head asking, “What the hell is going on (in this country)?” I just read Poverty of Imagination and it resonated deeply with me and beliefs. You pass my two beers test. I wish you continued success and look forward to your future work.”