Our 2026 in Numbers

2026 was the year The Tolerant found its stride. Across twelve months, our small but determined team published stories that mattered — and readers responded. Our total revenue for the year reached €83,000, spread across seven income streams that reflect our commitment to editorial independence.

Memberships & Subscriptions (€24,900 — 30%) remained our largest source of income, a direct expression of reader trust. Every subscriber who chose to support us helped keep our journalism free from advertiser pressure.

Merchandise (€20,750 — 25%) surprised us. Our branded collection, built around the identity of a tolerant Europe, resonated far beyond what we expected. Proceeds went directly into editorial operations.

Grants & EU Funding (€16,600 — 20%) supported specific investigative projects, including our cross-border reporting series on democratic backsliding. We remain committed to full transparency about any funding conditions attached.

Ethical Sponsorships (€8,300 — 10%) came from three European organisations whose values aligned with ours. No sponsor had editorial input of any kind.

Advertising (€6,640 — 8%), Crowdfunding (€3,320 — 4%), and Consultancy (€2,490 — 3%) rounded out the picture — modest but meaningful contributions to our operational independence.

We are proud that no single source accounts for more than a third of our income. Diversity in revenue means diversity in editorial freedom.

The Tolerant publishes its full accounts annually. For questions, write to hello@thetolerant.eu.