Community Impact –
Supporting thriving communities

Across the United States, communities are navigating rapid technological changes, economic uncertainty, social fragmentation and declining trust in institutions. These challenges, which reshape how people live, work and engage with one another, are national in scope, but their consequences and solutions are deeply local.

Knight Foundation pairs national vision with local presence. The Community Impact program serves as the foundation’s place-based investing arm, translating Knight’s mission into community-driven solutions across Knight’s 26 communities.

Our investments focus on strengthening the local conditions that enable people to shape their communities over time. Our work centers on three interconnected areas that align directly with our theory of change.

Economic Mobility and Resilience
We invest in local economic systems that help residents pursue jobs, adapt to change and build long-term stability. By partnering closely with anchor institutions––such as major employers, educational institutions, civic organizations and cultural anchors––we help align local economic engines with community priorities. These partnerships strengthen pathways to employment and entrepreneurship, support inclusive development and reinforce the conditions that underpin resilient local economies.

Trust in Government and Civic Institutions
We invest in efforts that help governments work better for the people they serve by improving service delivery, modernizing government systems and designing solutions around resident needs. We support initiatives that help people understand how government works and meaningfully influence public decision-making, while also strengthening institutional capacity to respond effectively. By advancing practical solutions we help rebuild confidence in civic institutions and support better public outcomes.

Opportunities to Exchange Ideas and Connect
Public spaces, including libraries, trails, parks and cultural institutions, serve as the social infrastructure where people encounter information, connect with neighbors and participate in civic and cultural life. We invest in both the physical spaces and the programs that activate them.

We support initiatives that bring people together across differences, foster shared experiences and encourage participation in community life. These investments create welcoming environments where people build relationships, develop trust and engage in the exchange of ideas that strengthens community connection and belonging. By supporting high-quality, accessible third spaces and the programming that animates them, we help ensure communities have consistent, inclusive spaces for dialogue, connection and civic participation.

We primarily invest in the 26 communities where the Knight brothers once owned and operated newspapers. Strong proposals are place-based, community-driven and aligned with Knight Foundation’s focus areas. We prioritize efforts that are rooted in local leadership, trust and lived experience; strengthen foundational civic systems rather than standalone projects; improve how people access opportunity, information and public services; demonstrate clear pathways to sustainability and public value; and have the potential to scale or inform practice across Knight communities.