This was our only option:

Let me cut to the chase, friend. Daily Kos missed its fundraising goal in July. And in June. And May, too. In fact, we've missed our goals five months in a row. We've come very close most months, but this is a trend that we need to break. In recent years, ad revenue has declined sharply. We need to make up the shortfall in order to keep producing the content that you know and trust. To do that, we had to increase our monthly fundraising goals at the start of the year. Grassroots donations—averaging just $9.44—now account for more than 60 percent of our total income. To hit our goals and continue producing the stories and actions that make Daily Kos what it is, we need your help. [I know you're feeling the squeeze of fundraising asks from a million campaigns right now. If you can, please support Daily Kos with a donation of $9.44 today.]( [Please Donate]( Thank you again, Michael Langenmayr, Daily Kos   Bad news, Friend, [fundraising has fallen behind and we need to raise $69,181 before the end of the month. Can you please donate $9.44 right now to help us close the books on August?]( [Please Donate]( Daily Kos' fundraising goals were set very high this year because we didn't have any other option. Ad revenue to news outlets has declined sharply, leading to what some have called the ["media apocalypse."]( To offset this decline, we had to increase our fundraising goals at the start of the year. We've survived where other outlets have failed because of your support, friend. Donations from readers like you make up more than 60 percent of our total income. I'm not talking about big donations from millionaires or billionaires—we're sustained by gifts of just a few bucks at a time. Our average donation is just $9.44! That's why I'm asking you: [Please donate $9.44 right now so that Daily Kos can keep producing the content you like and trust. We can't hit this goal without you.]( [Please Donate]( Thank you, Michael Langenmayr, Daily Kos     If you wish to donate by mail instead, please send a check to Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Contributions to Daily Kos are not tax deductible. This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Don't want to receive these emails anymore? [Unsubscribe]( Daily Kos, Daily Kos 344 20th Street Oakland, CA 94612