Dear reader,

Investigative reporting is hard, but the reward can be worth it.

Over the last few years we’ve uncovered allegations of corruption, bribery and fraud, shed light on opaque royal finances, revealed far-right networks and reported accusations of serial sexual misconduct. And none of this would have been possible without support from our readers.

Our reporting has revealed how AI is used in war, how wealthy tax evaders hide their fortunes offshore and how dictatorships use weapons of mass surveillance.

The hardest-to-reach, most-important stories take weeks, months – often years – to come to light.

That’s because investigative journalism requires dedicated reporters to stick with a story, often hitting repeated dead ends that would have led others to give up. It needs skilled editors, sharp lawyers, and above all the courage to publish stories when powerful forces do their best to stop us.

That can mean going to battle with governments, corporations or wealthy individuals who hire teams of private investigators and media lawyers to kill a story. That is why we require your help.

The Guardian is owned by an independent trust and funded by its readers.
It means we are uniquely placed to undertake fearless investigative reporting.

If you appreciate what we do – and would like us to do more of it – please consider supporting our work today. It only takes 37 seconds to sign up (we timed it), but your help can make a difference for years.