About GiveLantern
GiveLantern is a small, independent operation funded entirely by the people who find the work worth something.
What this is
GiveLantern provides a place for readers and supporters to make voluntary donations to support independent creative and editorial work. Donations can be one-time gifts or recurring monthly contributions. Nothing is sold here — the site exists purely so that people who value the work can help keep it going.
Why donations instead of ads
Advertising pays for reach, not for quality. A reader-funded model means the work answers to the people who actually read it, rather than to an advertiser or an algorithm. It is a slower way to build something, but it is the honest one.
How the money is used
Donations cover the direct costs of running this: hosting and infrastructure, tooling, and the time required to research, write, and edit properly. There is no office, no outside investors, and no marketing budget.
How payments work
All payments are handled by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment provider used by businesses worldwide. Card details are entered on Stripe's secure page and never reach this website — we have no ability to see or store them. We receive only confirmation that a donation succeeded, the amount, and any details you chose to provide.
Our commitments
- No advertising on this site, ever.
- No selling of donor data. Not to anyone.
- No paywalls — the work stays free to read.
- Recurring donations can be cancelled at any time, in two clicks.
- Refunds on request within 30 days, no questions asked.
Getting in touch
Questions, problems, or just want to say something? Use the Contact page — we read everything.