Funding
How this project is funded and our commitment to independence
HaveIBeenFlocked.com is an independent project. It answers to no backers, and no funder decides what it publishes.[1] It's one developer, driven by community support.
The project is fiscally sponsored by the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation (ANF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are made to ANF, designated for this project, and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law — see the donate page. For check, ACH, stock, or employer matching, email humans@haveibeenflocked.com.
Either way, this page gives a rough idea of what the money goes toward.[2] I intend to update it if there are significant changes, or if the amount of contributions warrants it.
Your taxes fund the surveillance.
Your support funds the audit.
Donations are made to our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. (More information)
Hosting and Infrastructure
The site and database currently cost around $80/month to run. That includes hosting, domain fees, development tools, and so on. Yes, that is much less than what your local police department pays for their website.
Research
Court records, document retrieval, and the occasional PACER deep-dive. I generally refuse to pay unlawful or excessive fees for public records. Instead, I prefer to add those refusals to the ever-growing pile of unresolved legal liability for agencies contracting for mass surveillance.
Legal fees
Flock has already tried to take this site down twice. One attempt failed, one is pending (as of January 15, 2026). If they try again or escalate to actual litigation there will be legal costs. Everything currently operates under my name, which means I can fight back directly, but it also means I'm the one in the crosshairs.
Goals
A fiscal sponsorship arrangement already makes tax-deductible contributions possible. Standing the project up as its own nonprofit remains a longer-term goal, since that would add legal protection, but it requires legal help and insurance and depends on funding.
Independence
Money does not buy silence, access, or influence. The site promotes transparency and opposes mass surveillance. That won't change based on who contributes.
The fiscal sponsor also does not change that. Fiscal sponsorship is an administrative arrangement, not an owner or an editor. The nonprofit receives tax-deductible donations and passes the funds on for the project's approved expenses. It has no say in what this site investigates or publishes, and it does not direct the work — it does ensure tax-deductible donations are used for the intended purpose.
If you have questions about how funds are used, or want to discuss specific ways in which you can help: humans@haveibeenflocked.com