The Open Call on Infrastructure by Press Forward offers up to $20 million to support scalable and innovative solutions to challenges in local news. Grants between $500,000 and $1.5 million, awarded over three years, will address audience engagement, operational efficiency, workforce diversity, and revenue generation. The program seeks to strengthen the infrastructure of local journalism and foster sustainable, resilient news ecosystems.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit journalism support organizations and newsroom-led collaborations that benefit multiple organizations. Collaborative projects may involve for-profit partners, but the lead applicant must be a nonprofit. Proposals should demonstrate broad impact and focus on building infrastructure at local, regional, or national levels.
Applications follow a two-phase process, with the first deadline at 11:59 a.m. ET on January 15, 2025. Awards will be announced in late spring 2025. Press Forward encourages proposals that are scalable, replicable, and innovative, with the potential to address systemic challenges in local journalism.
Applicants can attend an information session on November 22, 2024, or Q&A sessions on December 17, 2024, and January 8, 2025. For more details, applicants should review the guidelines and ensure their projects align with the program’s goals.
