Why It Matters
The shift to nonprofit status represents a survival strategy for a regional newspaper struggling with the financial pressures that have decimated local news outlets across the United States. The Woodford Sun’s transition underscores both the economic fragility of print journalism in smaller markets and the willingness of some publishers to restructure rather than shutter.
What Happened
The Woodford Sun, a weekly newspaper based in Versailles, Kentucky, will transition to nonprofit status in September, making it the first legacy newspaper in Kentucky to do so. The Internal Revenue Service granted the publication nonprofit status earlier this year as “Woodford Sun Community Newspaper.”
Publisher Ben Chandler, a former Kentucky attorney general and U.S. congressman, assumed leadership of the publication in 2022 following the unexpected death of his brother Whit. The paper, which traces its roots to 1869 as The Woodford Weekly before becoming The Woodford Sun in 1872, has been part of the Chandler family since 1942, when Gov. Albert B. “Happy” Chandler purchased it.
The newspaper has operated at a loss for the past eight years, though deficits have been reduced over the last three years through increased advertising revenue. Chandler has personally contributed $60,000 to the publication and has drawn no salary. An eight-member advisory board was formed in February 2026 to oversee the nonprofit transition, with Chandler serving as chairman.
Under the new nonprofit structure, the publication will offer memberships to paid subscribers willing to make additional tax-deductible donations. The board is still determining the minimum membership fee. The website will retain its paywall and advertising model. “I do this as a labor of love,” Chandler said. “Going nonprofit will keep us going with an improved product. It will keep the paper alive.”
By the Numbers
2,300 — current newspaper subscriptions
1869 — year The Woodford Weekly was founded
1942 — year Gov. Chandler purchased the newspaper
$60,000 — personal funds Ben Chandler has contributed
8 — years the newspaper operated with annual deficits
12 to 14 — pages published per week
$50 — yearly subscription cost for Woodford County residents
Zoom Out
The Woodford Sun’s nonprofit conversion reflects a broader national trend in which local and regional newspapers have sought alternative business models as digital advertising and changing reader habits eroded traditional revenue streams. Over the past two decades, hundreds of newspapers have closed or reduced operations, leaving many communities with minimal local news coverage.
The nonprofit newspaper model has gained traction in other states as a way to sustain journalism in markets that cannot support traditional for-profit operations. These outlets typically rely on reader donations, grants, and advertising to offset publishing costs while maintaining editorial independence.
What’s Next
The Woodford Sun will formally implement its nonprofit status in September. The publication plans to use its new tax-advantaged structure to solicit reader donations and expand its membership base. Chandler stated: “We have donated the paper to the community, and will try to improve it and keep it alive with the community’s help.”
The newsroom currently operates with a staff of six full-time and four part-time employees, including editor Lucie Chandler, Ben’s daughter. The paper publishes 12 to 14 pages weekly and maintains a digital presence alongside print distribution.