TALLAHASSEE – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced today that it will invest up to $2.5 million to foster an “informed, engaged” Tallahassee over the next seven years through the Community Foundation of North Florida.

The effort is part of Knight Foundation’s $70 million Community Foundation 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 the Tallahassee region and other Knight communities. Grant seekers in Tallahassee will apply for funding through the Community Foundation of North Florida. A new community foundation director in Knight’s Miami headquarters will work with an advisory committee in Tallahassee to guide the community foundations on how to use the funds. 

“Knight’s commitment to additional resources in our community comes at a time when resources for local nonprofit organizations are in such short supply,” said Joy Watkins, president of the Community Foundation of North Florida.  “These new funds and a re-directed focus on informed, engaged community truly will be transformational for our community. We will work  diligently to support Knight’s efforts in our area.”  

Nonprofits seeking Knight funding should contact Joy Watkins, president at the Community Foundation of North Florida 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. 

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 the Community Foundation of North Florida
The Community Foundation of North Florida is a nonprofit vehicle for charitable giving serving the 10-County Big Bend area by facilitating and promoting charitable giving and strengthening nonprofit organizations. The Foundation helps people give in perpetuity to their favorite charities and helps nonprofit organizations with grants, education and endowment building expertise.  For more information, please contact Joy Watkins, President, at [email protected] or 850-222-2899 ext. 104. 

Contact: Marc Fest, 305-908-2677; [email protected]