Patron & Underwriting FAQ

Mercury Research is the paid research layer ($45/month) — premium analysis and the research archive, which you subscribe to for access. Patronage is different: it’s recurring support for the open public-interest work, and it includes the free Mercury Brief. It does not include the Mercury Research product, and it isn’t a cheaper way to get it.

No. Patronage supports the work. It does not purchase editorial control, investment rights, equity, repayment, revenue share, or financial return. There’s no financial upside being offered, because that isn’t what this is.

It depends on the lane. Community supporters get supporter updates, early notice of public releases, optional recognition, an annual impact note, and — at higher tiers — behind-the-scenes notes, reflection posts, and the ability to suggest public-interest questions. Underwriters get optional recognition, quarterly briefings, an annual impact report, an invitation to the stewardship salon, and the option to sponsor a public-interest theme.

An underwriter can sponsor a theme or direction — “support a series on AI in hiring,” for example. They cannot direct the findings, guarantee coverage, or secure favorable treatment. The independence of the work is the entire point of underwriting it.

We don’t make tax claims unless they’re confirmed for your situation. Please check with your own advisor. If you need an invoice or formal documentation, the stewardship form handles that.

No. Recognition is always optional, in every tier and lane. You can support quietly or be named — your choice, set through the recognition preference form.

Both, in both lanes. Community supporters can switch between monthly and annual at checkout; underwriters can align an annual commitment to their reporting cycle.

Three ways, all on the underwriting page: pay by card, send a direct bank transfer, or request an invoice through the stewardship form — whichever fits how your organization moves.

Yes. Community support can be changed or cancelled anytime from your account. Underwriting arrangements can be adjusted by reaching out directly.

Subscribing to the free Mercury Brief, sharing the work, or introducing someone who could underwrite all genuinely help. An introduction to an organization that should see the Underwriting Circle is one of the most valuable things you can offer.

FairByDesign — a public-interest media and learning platform translating AI governance, cybersecurity, and privacy into public understanding. To talk before deciding, use the stewardship form.