Our Mission
Holding Missouri Government Accountable
METG314 — Missourians for Ethical and Transparent Government — exists to investigate and document public corruption, unethical conduct, conflicts of interest, misuse of office, extortion, self-dealing, and failures of transparency in Missouri government. Our work spans every level of government: county commissions, municipal councils, school boards, special districts, port authorities, state agencies, and federal offices operating within Missouri.
Missouri's public officials take an oath of office. They are entrusted with the authority, resources, and decisions that affect every citizen's daily life — their property taxes, their roads, their schools, their drinking water. When those officials break faith with the public — when they award contracts to friends, hide public records, or exploit their office for personal gain — every Missourian is harmed.
METG314 does not accept corruption as an inevitability of government. We research, document, and publish — because transparency is not optional. It is the law. And where the law is broken, citizens have both the right and the responsibility to say so.
"Honest Government. Open Books. Missouri First."
Our Values
What We Stand For
Five principles guide every investigation, every request, and every publication we produce.
Nonpartisan
Government accountability is not a partisan issue. We investigate officials of all parties, affiliations, and ideologies. Our only loyalty is to the public and to the truth. METG314 does not endorse, oppose, or campaign for any candidate or political party.
Facts-Based
Every claim we make is grounded in public records, documented evidence, and verifiable sources. We do not publish rumors, unverified allegations, or speculation. When we say something happened, we have the records to prove it — and we make those records available for you to review yourself.
Transparent
We practice what we preach. Our methodology is open, our source documents are published, and our findings are explained in plain language. We identify our organization clearly, disclose our 501(c)(4) status, and are honest about the limits of what we know.
Accessible
Government accountability should not require a law degree. We write our reports for every Missourian — not just lawyers and journalists. We explain the laws that were broken, the processes that were abused, and what it means for you and your community. Our findings are always free to read.
Persistent
Sunshine Law requests get denied. Records disappear. Officials delay, obstruct, and stonewall. We don't give up. METG314 follows every investigation to its conclusion — appealing denials, filing complaints, and keeping the public informed at every step. Accountability is not a sprint. It is a commitment.
Methodology
How We Work
Every METG314 investigation follows a consistent, evidence-based process. Here's how we go from a community concern to a published finding.
What We Investigate
- Public corruption and bribery
- Conflicts of interest and self-dealing
- Misuse of public office and resources
- Extortion and abuse of authority
- Sunshine Law and open meetings violations
- Ethics disclosure failures
- Fraudulent or wasteful public spending
- Unlawful no-bid contracting
- Developer and special interest influence
Jurisdictions We Cover
METG314 covers government at every level operating in Missouri:
- All 114 Missouri counties + City of St. Louis
- Municipal governments and city councils
- School boards and educational districts
- Special districts (port authorities, fire districts, etc.)
- Missouri state agencies and officials
- Federal offices and representatives in Missouri
Tax Status
Our 501(c)(4) Status
What Is a 501(c)(4)?
A 501(c)(4) organization is a "social welfare organization" under the Internal Revenue Code. Unlike a 501(c)(3) charity, a 501(c)(4) is permitted to engage in issue advocacy and a limited amount of political activity, so long as the organization's primary purpose remains the promotion of social welfare — which, for METG314, means government accountability and civic transparency.
The 501(c)(4) structure is appropriate for METG314 because our work includes advocating for better government transparency laws, commenting on the conduct of elected officials, and publishing findings about government misconduct — activities that go beyond what a strictly charitable 501(c)(3) organization may do.
Well-known examples of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations include issue advocacy groups across the political spectrum, voter education organizations, and government watchdog nonprofits.
What This Means for Donors
We will update this page when our IRS determination is received. Questions about our tax status can be directed to reports@metg314.org.
Organization
Who We Are
METG314 is entirely volunteer-led. We have no paid staff, no political affiliation, and no outside financial backing from any party, PAC, or special interest.
100% Volunteer-Led
Every person who works on METG314 investigations, manages this website, files public records requests, or coordinates volunteers does so without pay. Our contributors include retired law enforcement, attorneys, journalists, teachers, accountants, and concerned citizens who believe in honest government.
County Captain Structure
Our organizational backbone is the County Captain model. Each county captain is a local volunteer responsible for monitoring their county's government entities, attending public meetings, identifying concerns, and coordinating local volunteers. County captains report to regional coordinators and our core leadership team.
Statewide Network
METG314 volunteers operate across all regions of Missouri. Our network includes researchers who analyze financial records, legal reviewers who assess compliance, writers who draft investigation reports, and community reporters who attend meetings and relay local concerns. Every role matters.
Financial Independence
METG314 accepts donations from individual Missouri citizens and civic-minded supporters. We do not accept contributions from political parties, political action committees, government agencies, or corporations with matters under our review. Our funding goes directly to operational costs — records requests, website hosting, and community outreach.
Interested in volunteering or serving as a county captain?
Get InvolvedLegal
Disclaimer
Nature of Our Reports
All investigation reports, findings, summaries, and publications produced by METG314 represent the analysis, findings, and opinions of METG314 volunteers based on publicly available information, public records, and lawfully obtained documents. Our publications are not legal conclusions, court findings, or official determinations by any government agency.
No Legal Advice
METG314 does not provide legal advice. Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, consult a licensed attorney in Missouri.
Accuracy and Updates
We make every reasonable effort to ensure our reports are accurate and based on verified evidence. We will correct material errors when identified and will update reports when significant new information becomes available. If you believe we have published an inaccuracy, please contact us at reports@metg314.org.
No Defamation
METG314 reports on the conduct of public officials in their official capacity. All published statements about individuals are either (a) statements of fact supported by documented evidence, or (b) clearly identified as opinion. Public officials have reduced defamation protections regarding their exercise of official duties under established First Amendment doctrine. We take this responsibility seriously and apply rigorous editorial standards to all publications.
Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 2026
Information We Collect
METG314 collects information only when you voluntarily provide it — for example, when you submit a tip, contact us, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation. We do not use tracking cookies, behavioral advertising, or cross-site tracking technologies. Basic analytics (such as page visit counts) may be collected through our hosting provider in an aggregated, non-identifiable form.
Tips and Confidential Reports
We treat all tip submissions with the highest level of confidentiality. We do not publish the identity of tipsters, share tip information with third parties, or disclose the source of any information in our investigations without explicit written consent. We strongly recommend using our secure tip form, which is designed to minimize identifiable metadata. Do not submit tips via standard email if anonymity is important to you.
Volunteer Information
If you sign up to volunteer, we collect your name, email address, county, and any skills or availability information you provide. This information is used solely to coordinate volunteer activities and is not sold, rented, or shared with any third party, political party, or organization.
Donation Information
Donations are processed through Givebutter, a third-party payment processor. METG314 does not store payment card information. Givebutter's privacy policy governs information you provide during the donation process. We may retain donor names and amounts for our own records in compliance with applicable law.
How We Use Your Information
We use information you provide only for the purpose for which you provided it — responding to your inquiry, coordinating volunteer activities, or processing your donation. We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with any third party except as required by law.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. Please do not transmit sensitive personal or financial information to us by unsecured email.
Contact
Questions about this privacy policy can be directed to reports@metg314.org. We will respond within a reasonable time.
Support Our Work
Investigations take time, resources, and persistence. Every donation helps fund records requests, technology, and outreach. 501(c)(4) status pending — donations are not tax-deductible.
Donate to METG314Get Involved
Whether you want to volunteer, submit a tip about local corruption, or serve as a county captain, we need citizens like you. No experience required — just a commitment to honest government.
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