Based in New York City, Religion Unplugged (RUP) is a non-profit news organization and online magazine publication. It centers on stories and perspectives regarding religion, a topic that typically sees little coverage from media and news outlets. The organization is headed up by award-winning journalist Paul Glader, a seasoned writer with experience in technology, travel, health, science, and finance. RUP is backed by The Media Project, another group that Glader leads.
RUP boasts a lean staff of editors and writers located across the globe, composed of emerging and seasoned writers alike. RUP has collectively received awards from Editor & Publisher, Religion News Association, and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW). There are currently seven staff members and over 30 regular contributors.
Financial support is a critical element in the sustainability of any nonprofit organization; whether the funding comes from grants, donations, or any other external source. In the case of RUP, funding comes from both The Media Project and donors.
Some donors include:
- Fieldstead & Company
- Poynter/Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship
- McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute
Fieldstead & Company is a philanthropic organization founded in 1979 by Howard Ahmanson, Jr. Through its philanthropic endeavors, Fieldstead & Company aims to solve problems surrounding the housing crisis in Los Angeles and Orange counties, support domestic and international relief and development, address religious liberty issues, and support the fine arts and humanities.
The Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship is a program within the Charles Koch Institute to support young professionals in journalism. The Charles Koch Institute is a philanthropic organization that focuses on eliminating modern barriers within education and propelling social entrepreneurs of the future.
The McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute was created in 2014 out of The King’s College in New York City with a purpose to train students for careers in media. They host several events each year for those studying journalism, holding fifteen spots for students within their own program.
Generous support from the stated institutions, and more, enable RUP to continue to offer engaging, relevant, and high-quality coverage of the world’s current events through a religious lens.
