About Us

Our mission.

To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.

Who we are.

Common Dreams is a reader-supported independent news outlet created in 1997 as a new media model.

Our nonprofit newsroom covers the most important news stories of the moment. Common Dreams free online journalism keeps our millions of readers well-informed, inspired, and engaged.

We are optimists. We believe real change is possible. But only if enough well-informed, well-intentioned—and just plain fed up and fired-up—people demand it. We believe that together we can attain our common dreams.

What we value.

We share our readers' progressive values of social justice, human rights, equality, and peace. Common Dreams is committed to not only being your trusted news source but to encouraging critical thinking and civic action on a diverse range of social, economic, and civil rights issues affecting individuals and their communities.

What we do.

The Common Dreams news team is dedicated to providing independent reporting to uncover and publish honest, independent news and information that you can rely on. Every day.

We publish a diverse mix of breaking news, insightful views, videos, and press releases covering issues that matter to progressives in every corner of the globe. We compile it all in one easy-to-access online location and present it in a clean, uncomplicated format, uninterrupted by pop-ups, advertising, or gimmicks.

Common Dreams makes sure that the critical issues of today and inspiring ideas for the future are not ignored, providing an alternative to the commercial media.

Editorial independence.

Common Dreams maintains an editorial independence our readers can count on. Our people-powered model is simple: we rely on our readers. And to ensure our independence, we accept no corporate or governmental funding or advertisements of any kind. For over two decades, we've pooled together hundreds of thousands of small donations to keep us moving forward. Those donations in no way influence our editorial principles and judgment.

Our community.

We are hundreds of thousands strong. We are writers. Activists. Everyday citizens.

Our readers are a robust and vibrant community of thinkers and doers who believe a better world is possible.

Common Dreams is a genuinely people-powered and reader-funded news outlet that exists to inform and inspire those fighting worldwide for a better future.

Supporting our work.

Common Dreams is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization #20-3368194. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Please pitch in, we can't do it without you.

In fiscal year 2020, Common Dreams received 61,013 donations (averaging $23.76) from 21,089 individual readers. Also, in 2020, Common Dreams received foundation support from the Schumann Media Center and the Park Foundation. In recent years these foundations also supported our work: the Wallace Action Fund; the Lear Family Foundation; the Fonda Family Foundation; and many small community foundations.