Journalism Funding Partners Receives $220,000 Grant From Knight Foundation
Posting: Monday, July 21, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded Journalism Funding Partners (JFP) a $220,000 grant to strengthen the organization's capacity as it transitions from startup to established facilitator at the intersection of philanthropy and local journalism. This investment advances JFP's mission to channel more than $10 million annually in grants to local newsrooms across the country.
The Knight Foundation's support will allow JFP to solidify its foundation through strategic investments in both personnel and technology. JFP brought on a director of operations and finance in part to implement a comprehensive grant-management platform. These enhancements will enable JFP to expand its reach to family foundations and place-based funders who share a commitment to strengthening local journalism.
"In 2021, the Knight Foundation gave JFP an operational grant that proved to be transformational, helping JFP grow the amount of grants to local newsrooms by 10x in four years," said Rusty Coats, Executive Director of Journalism Funding Partners. "This grant will help solidify our infrastructure so JFP can continue that trajectory. It is a welcomed vote of confidence for our work."
Running from June 9, 2025, through April 21, 2027, the grant will transform JFP's operations from its current spreadsheet-based system to a sophisticated platform. This is a crucial step toward accommodating the growing network of funders eager to support local news.
The Knight Foundation's investment reflects a shared vision: that vibrant local journalism forms the cornerstone of an informed democracy. Through partnerships like this, both organizations work to ensure communities have access to the independent reporting they need to thrive.
The JFP Board of Directors is made up of 15 dedicated volunteers with extensive experience in journalism, education, law, nonprofits and philanthropy.
Since mid-2020, JFP has helped secure and is managing over $8 million in grants to support new and expanded local journalism coverage, with numerous new partnerships and programs in progress.
JFP currently engages in three core programs, serving as a bridge and a leader in the growing realm of philanthropy-supported journalism:
Enabling major gifts to local journalism – partnerships between funders and news organizations.
Fundraising guidance and training for journalism professionals.
Enabling broad community giving to local journalism.
JFP places an emphasis on supporting efforts to bring the diversity of local journalists to parity with the demographics of the communities they serve. JFP also prioritizes coverage-topics that have been particularly reduced by the wholesale declines in local news, including equity, economic mobility, education, health, housing, gun violence and the environment.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a national foundation that invests in journalism, communities, and the arts. Knight Foundation's mission is to foster informed and engaged communities, believing that a well-informed citizenry is essential for a healthy democracy. Visit online.
###
Media Contact: Rusty Coats, Executive Director | rusty@jfp-local.org | (813) 277-8959
