Welcome to the Huffington Post Investigative Fund's new Web site.

We are a new nonprofit online venture based in Washington, D.C. Our staff reporters and contributing writers aim to merge the classic watchdog function of the press with the best tools of new media. As financial pressures decimate the investigative reporting ranks at newspapers, magazines and TV stations, we are joining the movement to build new structures and ways of doing investigative journalism.

The I-Fund is an independent and nonpartisan operation funded by philanthropy. We are affiliated with the Huffington Post, which has lent its name, has provided partial financial support and has arranged to republish our work on its Web site. Other funders are the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy and the Markle Foundation. And, in the open-source spirit of the Web, everything we produce will be free for anyone to publish.

We're just getting started, but check out some of the early work from our staff and contributors:

Danielle Ivory obtained government records showing how the EPA has failed to tell the public that concentrations of a weed-killer in drinking water have exceeded federal safety standards in at least four states.

Ben Protess explained why taxpayers may get stuck with a much larger-than-expected bill to prop up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Lagan Sebert and Christine Spolar reported about a free health clinic in Appalachia that vividly highlighted the gaps in the U.S. system and showed that even the most sweeping reform will leave many behind.

Michael Bronner tracked down Iraqi Maj. Gen. Hussam Mohammed Amin, the former chief Iraqi weapons monitor who, despite his innocence and truth telling about WMD, was captured by U.S. forces, thrown into prison for more than two years and treated brutally.

Danielle Knight tallied in detail the millions of dollars spent on lobbying by the student loan industry fighting for its survival against a government reform plan.

We hope you will return often to follow our work, make suggestions and perhaps join us in creating a new model for investigative journalism.

Sincerely,

Nick Penniman
Executive Director

Lawrence Roberts
Executive Editor