Topics
Knight Foundation promotes the best ideas to advance journalism, the arts and the success of cities. Here are some of the topics we care about, organized as resources so that you can join us in working for positive change.
Local and Nonprofit News
Trust, media and democracy
Technology and Democracy
Freedom of Expression
Public Spaces
Engagement Through the Arts
Arts and Technology
Elections and Voting
Diverse Asset Managers
Libraries
Leadership and Talent
Successful Cities
Digital Storytelling
Help build the future of local news and make our democracy stronger
ACT LOCAL
It takes a village to build an informed community. Here are resources for individual and institutional funders, community leaders, journalists and social entrepreneurs to build a sustainable future for local news.
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How to get started as a local news funder
February 24, 2018
How to get started as a local news funderSupport Local
Join us in supporting organizations that are building the future of local news in the United States.
- American Journalism ProjectExternal Content / Website
- Frontline PBSExternal Content / Website
- Institute for Nonprofit newsExternal Content / Website
- Lenfest Institute for JournalismExternal Content / Website
- LION Publishers – Local Independent Online NewsExternal Content / Website
- News Literacy ProjectExternal Content / Website
- News Revenue HubExternal Content / Website
- NewsMatchExternal Content / Website
- ProPublicaExternal Content / Website
- Report for AmericaExternal Content / Website
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the PressExternal Content / Website
- Solutions Journalism NetworkExternal Content / Website
Local journalists are at the frontline of communities, investigating and delivering the news that matters most to residents. Their future and the survival of their profession is critically entwined with the health of our communities and our democracy. And they are disappearing.
Confronted with sinking revenues, local news organizations are shutting their doors and leaving many U.S. communities without a daily news outlet. At the same time, trust in news has hit all-time lows and polarization has peaked, in part because the shrinking of local news has led to a loss of trustworthy information created by people we know.
We have an opportunity to turn that around — together. For more than a decade, Knight has been a leading supporter of local and nonprofit news organizations, helping them to establish long-term sustainability in the digital age. In 2019, Knight Foundation made a commitment to invest in new, scalable initiatives with the potential to underpin a fresh future for local news as part of a $300 million, five-year commitment to strengthening journalism.
Our investment is just a start; building the news infrastructure that will support democracy in the 21st century needs a lasting commitment from institutional funders and individuals passionate about the role local news plays in our democracy. We are inviting you to be a part of this resurgence.
Think Local
More on the importance and value of local news from thought leaders across the country
Knight’s Journalism and Democracy Initiative FAQ
We fund organizations and projects that are building the infrastructure for sustainable, impactful journalism in the digital age. Our focus is on scalable organizations and projects that can deliver services on the local level across the United States. While some foundations support editorial projects around specific content areas and topics, Knight’s Journalism Program does not.
Knight typically invests $30 million a year in strengthening journalism, or $150 million over five years. This initiative increases the investment by another $150 million over the next five years. Close to $100 million of that increase has been committed.
We support some amazing organizations that are helping build local news. These include the Institute for Nonprofit News, LION Publishers, the News Revenue Hub, ONA Local and Emma Bowen Foundation. Read more about How to Build a Sustainable Local News Organization, or How Training Can Improve Local News, Make It More Inclusive. Contact any of these organizations directly if you think your idea may align.
You can email [email protected]. Also, subscribe to our newsletter and check the specific program areas that interest you for updates.
Knight is always open to funding requests that align with our stated strategy. Read more about what we fund.
If your project aligns, the first step in submitting a funding request is to use our grant portal Fluxx to submit an online letter of inquiry. Click “Submit a Funding Proposal” below to be routed to Fluxx. In Fluxx click “Submit a grant request” to complete the letter of inquiry where you will fill out a brief form summarizing your project and explaining why you are the one to carry it out.
If we are interested in a full proposal, we will contact you with a Fluxx username and password and a link to the proposal form.
Due to the high volume of requests, the review period might take longer than usual.