It is difficult to feel pessimistic in the presence of FIRST THINGS folk…

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Dear
Reader,
You may remember that I launched the 2023 FIRST THINGS Spring Campaign by “taking my editor’s hat off.” My point was that editing FIRST THINGS magazine and writing my monthly Public Square column demand a particular voice and mode.

As I wrote last month, I welcome these opportunities to write more informally, more directly, to you, as one would to a friend. Moreover, I welcome the useful corrective that these opportunities bring to the pessimism and cynicism that pervades our public discourse. It is difficult to feel pessimistic in the presence of FIRST THINGS folk.

And such generous ones, to boot! I am pleased to report that our Spring Campaign raised more than $600,000 from nine hundred readers, decisively surpassing our goal ($500,000 from eight hundred readers) thanks to your support.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to you and your fellow readers for—to keep on theme—hoisting the FIRST THINGS flag high through your generous giving. I hope you’ll permit me a few lines to celebrate what your support is accomplishing and will accomplish here at FIRST THINGS.

In this campaign, we declared FIRST THINGS the standard-bearer for religious orthodoxy. On Monday, I sat down with Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to discuss “Magnanimity in a Polarized World.” Butker has proven an exemplary standard-bearer, leveraging his platform as a professional athlete to proclaim his faith in a bold, thoughtful, and prudent way. Doubtless some of the five hundred registered guests had never heard of FIRST THINGS; now they have.

Thanks to your generous support, we have initiated a significant digital marketing campaign to bear the standard of orthodoxy to new audiences. As part of this effort, we will consider what improvements can be made to your experience as readers and evaluate the merits of a website overhaul.

Of course, your support also fuels the beating heart of FIRST THINGS: our monthly print magazine. We are currently outlining a bold and exciting fall lineup of authors and topics, the fruit of which we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months.

Let me close by putting my editor’s hat on for a moment. As a partner in the FIRST THINGS project, you recognize all that is required to publish America’s most influential journal of religion and public life and execute our suite of programs. Time and again, you have answered the call by giving generously.

Yet I would be remiss to neglect another source of your support: one that will not appear on the FIRST THINGS ledger at year's end but is no less valuable. Nine hundred FIRST THINGS readers made a gift in support of our 2023 Spring Campaign. Nine hundred! Whether your gift was large or small, your support provides inestimable encouragement to all of us here at FIRST THINGS.

Thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we bear the standard for religious orthodoxy together.
Yours,
R. R. Reno
Editor

P.S. If you did not have a chance to contribute to our 2023 Spring Campaign, consider making a tax-deductible gift to FIRST THINGS today ([link removed]) . Our magazine, core programs, and audience-growing efforts are possible only through the support of readers like you.
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