Reader-supported
Now more than ever we rely on strong support from Geez readers. Sure, we continue to make waves with articles (our luxury cruise reporting caused controversy, not all good either), campaigns (Buy Nothing Christmas was on TV, radio and web) and awards (Utne’s top honors in 2009, Associated Church Press in 2011) . But it is new subscriptions, renewals and gifts that are the financial backbone of this magazine.

We’re at a critical point in the life of this magazine. We just past the seven-year mark. In magazine terms this is like adolescence, solid but still tenuous. We can no longer can we rely on the buzz of being “fresh” and “new.”

Still ad-free
We are an odd bird. While almost every other magazine is loaded with ads, we decided to buck the system and go ad-free. And we did it! It’s a strong word to our consumer-minded culture: it doesn’t have to be this way.

Other great mags that are also ad-free include Adubsters, of course, Yes! magazine and Orion. (Bitch needs to be mentioned too, even though they have ads. They call advertisers “sponsors,” which in their case seems fair.)

Unfortunately, Sojourners, a great Christian-based social justice mag is tainted by ads. And we won’t say much about Relevant and Christianity Today, except that it seems like business as usual.

Primarily print
We’re odd in another way too. It’s a good odd. A calming, soul-orienting odd. In the deluge of information coming at us from computers and hand-held electronics, we’ve made a conscious decision to remain as a primarily print magazine.

Let’s talk numbers: we shot up to 2,000 paid subscriptions after our first year. Then we fought to keep it close to that. But now, with everything else going digital, we’re down to around 1,300 subscribers. Is this a message that we too should virtualize (click, now you see us; click, now you don’t)? We’re not yet convinced.

Tangible please
Holo magazine in Toronto bucked a trend and will launch a print mag after being only online (they used Kickstarter for a boost). We agree with their creative director, Alexander Scholz, who said, “There is a yearning to move into a physical space, a more tangible world.”

Did we say reader-supported?
Think of Geez as soul food for misfit Christians, post-Christians and spiritually-minded social justice seekers. It’s a community hub. And it relies on community support. It is independent journalism and commentary liberated from the narrative of conservative Christianity. It attends to the best that religion has to offer — humility, compassion, love and justice.

Your subscription options

We aim to receive 500 new subs in 2013!
This is a very attainable goal. Each reader knows at least one other person who would welcome being exposed to the refreshing worldview of Geez magazine. It’s cultural resistance that’s simple, fun, self-empowering, community-connecting, spiritually grounding and full of hope (okay, that’s a little too much hype, but at least that’s our goal!).

1. Gift Subscriptions are only $35/year (in Canada and the U.S.), see the link here. Outside the U.S. and Canada? Then order here.

2. New Subscriptions are only $35/year (in Canada and the U.S.), see the link here. Outside the U.S. and Canada? Then order here.

One time contributions

A one-time contribution of $35, $50, $100 or more helps us pay the rent, buy printer toner, offer modest honoraria to freelance writers and artists, and pay for grapes and crackers when volunteers proofread the magazine and stuff it with insert cards. See the donation options here.

Geez Monthly Donor

With your help, we will almost have almost enough to cover the modest monthly pay for our part-time workers. Please consider as little as $8/month, or maybe $10, $15, $20 or more per month. You get a “free” subscription and no renewal notices. See the form here. (We need a signature to make it official.)

Or pick up the phone and we can make it more personal; call 204-772-9610.

If you’re sending a cheque, make it payable to “Geez magazine.” Mail it to Geez magazine, 400 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2M2.