From a layoff, rises a new kind of hyper-local news outlet.

Contribute by Friday, June 20, 2025, to support this innovative local newsroom and unlock some cool perks!

April 2025. Worries of a recession were on the rise. Egg prices in America hit an all-time high. And I was laid off from my leadership role at a journalism startup.

Faced with an uncertain economy and a blow to my income, I had to get serious about budgeting my expenses, namely, food. I live in Portland, Oregon, home to one of the best food scenes on the entire planet. I love enjoying the food grown, raised, and made here. But I needed to shop smarter and waste less.

I'm Bryan, a journalist by training. I've spent my career in local news — the last decade in Portland, Oregon. Faced with this personal challenge, I decided to use my skills to help my neighbors.

Stumptown Savings was born.

A photo of Bryan, in a green shirt and jeans, posing next to a white sign with the Stumptown Savings logo and a subscribe QR code. I'm standing in front of a chainlink fence with two dogs, my yard, and my green house in the background.

Helping Portlanders shop smarter is the vision. We all want to spend less time and money on groceries, and more on things we love. But many people — myself included — have financial constraints, ethical considerations, and a desire to reduce our impact on the planet. Trying to figure out how to balance all that is a full-time job. I know, because Stumptown Savings has quickly grown into a 40+ hour-a-week effort.

Portland needs this. Food prices in the West have risen 3.6% over the past year. The cost of living here has risen dramatically over the past decade. Wages have not kept pace. Many people here are struggling to make ends meet. And with Stumptown Savings, I'm providing a resource that helps people save time and money on grocery costs, while learning more about their local economy and building a community.

And it's working. Since launching Stumptown Savings in early April 2025, I've welcomed over 550 subscribers, been on local TV and radio, and helped readers save time and money on groceries. I've expanded into covering the local food economy more broadly — profiling farmers, breaking down how to shop seasonally, and more.

Portlanders are finding real value here. The weekly deals newsletter sees an average open rate of over 64% and click rates around 16% — numbers that show people aren't just subscribing, they're actively using Stumptown Savings to shop smarter, save time, and connect with local food. The thoughtful replies and human connections I’m making prove this is a resource Portland needs.

Why I Need Your Help

This incredible early momentum shows that Stumptown Savings is providing a vital service. But frankly, I wasn't planning on launching this business. While I'm pouring my heart, soul, and about $5,000 of my savings into this, turning Stumptown Savings into a sustainable, long-term resource for Portland requires more.

To truly dedicate the 40+ hours a week needed to research deals, write guides, build partnerships, and develop exciting new features for the Savers Club, Stumptown Savings needs a dedicated infusion of capital. This isn't just about keeping the lights on; it's about ensuring this resource can grow and serve even more Portlanders. I can't keep going without your help.

That's why I'm trying to raise $15,000 by Friday, June 20, 2025.

This funding will provide the critical runway needed to make Stumptown Savings my full-time focus, allowing me to invest properly in the tools, reporting, community building and growth needed to make this vision a reality and keep the core weekly deals newsletter free for everyone. This is the chance to help build a new kind of hyper-local news outlet that this community sorely needs.

Where Your Money Goes

Your contribution will directly fuel the growth and sustainability of Stumptown Savings. It will give me the runway to devote myself full-time to Stumptown Savings and invest in the foundation of what will hopefully be the rest of my career. As a journalist, I fully believe in transparency, so here's exactly how the $15,000 goal will be put to work:

~50% ($7,500) — Marketing & Audience Growth:

I have a decade of experience in the local news space, and one thing is true: If you want to grow an audience in 2025, you have to put money into marketing. The bulk of this money will be used to reach more Portlanders who need this resource, helping grow our community of smart shoppers, and growing the Savers Club, the membership program for Stumptown Savings.

~27% ($4,050) — The Cow Fund:

Yes, you read that right! Every Portlander deserves access to high-quality, locally grown and raised food. Buying a cow directly from a farmer gets you access to the highest quality beef at a price that competes with supermarkets. But it’s expensive, and most Portlanders — myself included — can’t take advantage of the opportunity because it takes space to freeze and store hundreds of pounds of beef. I have a plan to extend this opportunity to more Portlanders through Stumptown Savings. This seed money will be used towards our first bulk purchase of high-quality, local beef, enabling us to offer affordable shares exclusively to Savers Club members, thereby making top-tier local food more accessible. This is part of the community-building efforts I have for Stumptown Savings, connecting readers over our shared love of food and shopping locally.

~23% ($3,450) — Building a Business Foundation:

Investing in the essential digital tools (accounting, technical, and operations, etc.) to run a legitimate small business, and developing the infrastructure for initiatives like the Savers Club Discount Card, a planned resource where I'll team up with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts directly to Savers Club members.

The Perks of Supporting Stumptown Savings

Support Stumptown Savings and not only are you helping build a truly independent hyper-local news outlet, but you get some great perks in return! Choose the level that works for you:

$10+ — Gold Star Supporter: Every dollar helps! Get a huge thank you, and know you're helping Portlanders save.
$50+ — Smart Saver: This is the sweet spot! Give at this level to become a founding annual member of the Savers Club, Stumptown Savings′ membership program (a $50 a year value). You'll get:
- Exclusive Content: Seasonal produce guides, insider store tips, deeper savings strategies, and behind-the-scenes updates.
- Early Access & Discounts: First dibs and special pricing on future bulk buys (like the cow!) and curated discounts with local partner businesses.
- Support the Mission: Your membership directly supports the free weekly deals newsletter, keeping it accessible for everyone.
$150+ — Full Cart Contributor: Receive all the benefits of the Smart Saver tier, upgraded to a lifetime Savers Club membership, PLUS a handwritten Thank You note from me!
$500+ — Top Shelf Supporter: Enjoy all the Smart Saver and Full Cart Contributor benefits (including the lifetime membership and thank you note), PLUS a listing on the Stumptown Savings website forever as a Top Shelf Supporter, and a shoutout on my social media (LinkedIn and Bluesky).

The Vision: A Savvier Portland

Your support today helps build a stronger, more connected, and more affordable Portland tomorrow. With this funding, Stumptown Savings can become a sustainable, full-time hyperlocal news operation dedicated to serving this community.

Imagine:

Year 1: Growing to 10,000+ subscribers, launching the Savers Club discount program with local businesses, hosting community events, and becoming the go-to resource for shopping smart and local in Portland.
Year 2 & Beyond: Reaching 25,000+ Portlanders, achieving financial sustainability, expanding our coverage (maybe beyond groceries!), and deepening our impact — helping neighbors save money, support local producers and businesses, and build a thriving, informed community.

Help Build Stumptown Savings

I started Stumptown Savings to turn a personal challenge into a community solution. Now, I need your help to make it last. 20% of small businesses don't make it a year. News outlets suffer far worse fates. But you can help give me a fighting chance to build something that directly contributes to Portlanders' quality of life.

Please consider contributing to the $15,000 goal today. Every dollar makes a difference and helps me build a more resilient and resourceful Portland. The fundraiser ends Friday, June 20, 2025. Help me hit the goal!

Can't contribute right now? You can still help immensely by sharing this campaign and the Stumptown Savings newsletter with your friends, family, and fellow Portlanders who love good food and good deals!

Thank you for believing in Stumptown Savings. Let's shop smarter, together.

Bryan

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