Up to $20 Million in Funding for Innovative Solutions to Challenges in Local News
This funding opportunity provides up to $20 million to nonprofit organizations and collaborative newsrooms in the U.S. to develop innovative solutions that enhance local journalism's audience engagement, operational efficiency, workforce diversity, and revenue generation.
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.
Award Range
Not specified - $1,000,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility Eligible applicants include: U.S.-based journalism support organizations and intermediaries with a proven track record of deep service to local news organizations News organizations that are working or plan to work collaboratively with other news organizations as part of their grant. Individual newsrooms may apply as lead applicants for a collaborative project with multiple partners that aim to solve a common challenge for the broader field. Collaborations can be at a local, regional or statewide level. For-profit newsrooms or for-profit service providers can be a part of the group, however the lead applicant must be a non-profit organization. Newsroom collaborations, local/regional collaborations and/or a practitioner/university partnerships.
Geographic Eligibility
All