LEXINGTON  –  The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced today that it will invest up to $2.5 million in an endowed fund to foster an “informed, engaged” Lexington area over the next seven years through the Blue Grass Community Foundation.

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 Lexington area and other Knight communities. Grant seekers in the Lexington area will apply for funding through the Blue Grass Community Foundation. A new community foundation director in Knight’s Miami headquarters will work with an advisory committee in Lexington to guide the community foundations on how to use the funds. Knight’s overall contribution during this initiative will be up to $2.5 million, pooled in a permanent endowment fund. Grants made from the gains of this fund are intended to serve the Lexington community.

 “There’s been so much interest locally in this initiative ever since it was announced nationally back in January,” said Lisa Adkins, chief executive officer of the Blue Grass Community Foundation. “We are now accepting applications from not-for-profit organizations in our area for creative projects that advance Lexington as an informed, engaged community.”

Nonprofits seeking Knight funding should contact Kassie Branham at the Blue Grass Community Foundation.

“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 Blue Grass Community Foundation
Blue Grass Community Foundation, established in 1967, is located in Lexington, Kentucky, the heart of the Bluegrass. The Community Foundation enhances the quality of life in the region through philanthropy and civic engagement.  It believes in the power and passion of individual philanthropy to lead to a stronger, better community for all.  For more information call 859.225.3343 or visit www.bgcf.org.

Contact: Marc Fest, Vice President of Communications, Knight Foundation,
305-908-2677; [email protected]