COLUMBIA – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced today that it will invest up to $2.5 million to foster an “informed, engaged” Columbia over the next seven years through Central Carolina Community Foundation.
The effort is part of Knight Foundation’s $70 million Community Foundations Initiative, which will help deepen Knight Foundation’s focus on ensuring that communities have the information they need to make decisions about their lives.
“Information is an essential community need and community foundations were established to meet core needs,” said Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation’s president and CEO. “They also only exist and thrive because of community engagement and contributions. That makes them ideal partners to help us understand and advance local community engagement, focused on ensuring that these communities have the information they need to manage their affairs in our democracy.”
The new approach will modify how Knight Foundation works in
“Informed citizens create a stronger, more vibrant community in which to live,” said JoAnn M. Turnquist, president and CEO of the Central Carolina Community Foundation. “Since 1993, Knight Foundation’s generous support of our community has improved the lives of many of our citizens. Their new investment will allow the Foundation to identify strategic opportunities for community investments and bring that knowledge to the broader community for their input and participation.”
Nonprofits seeking Knight funding should contact Veronica Pinkett-Barber, veronica@yourfoundation.org, at Central Carolina Community Foundation and ask about Knight Foundation’s donor-advised fund.
“Our goal is to better coordinate and focus our initiatives in the communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers, and use our resources in the most effective way possible,” said Trabian Shorters, Knight Foundation’s vice president for communities.
Community foundations make contributions to local groups from funds established by individuals, families, businesses and others to address needs in specific geographic areas. These organizations offer a national funder like Knight the benefit of their grassroots grasp of issues. The grants will help community foundations enlarge their donor-advised funds supporting the work of local nonprofits.
The initial Knight fund was established at the Community Foundation in 1993. From 2000 to 2007, Knight contributed a total of $69 million to create donor-advised funds at 25 community foundations. At $70 million, this new initiative doubles Knight’s current investment in community foundations.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote informed, engaged communities and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
About
Central Carolina Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. For more information about the Foundation, visit yourfoundation.org or call 803.254.5601.
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