Journalism Funding Partners Selected by Google as Third-Party Administrator for California Civic Media Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Posting: Monday, March 2, 2026
Sacramento, CA — Journalism Funding Partners (JFP) announced today that Google has selected the organization to serve as a third-party administrator for a combined public-private funding partnership with the State for the California Civic Media Program.
JFP will administer the private funds in coordination with The James B. McClatchy Foundation, which will manage the state funds through a unified application and award process for California newsrooms. Both sets of funds will be distributed based on the direction of the leader of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
“JFP was built for this project,” said JFP Board Chair Orage Quarles III. “Both funders and newsrooms trust JFP to be efficient and ethical. This kind of work is core to our mission.”
As a national grantmaking organization with a history of managing multimillion-dollar local journalism initiatives, JFP brings operational expertise and a newsroom-centered approach to complex funding partnerships. The organization’s model reduces administrative burden for news organizations, accelerates funding timelines and supports community-centered journalism.
JFP supports reporting that informs communities, strengthens accountability and reflects the lived experiences of the people newsrooms serve. The organization’s work prioritizes quality journalism that is locally rooted, responsive to community needs and designed to endure beyond a single funding cycle.
“Trusting JFP with developing a system that would ensure the execution of this project is an incredible honor,” said JFP Board Vice Chair Sheila Solomon.
By working with family and place-based foundations, JFP helps translate philanthropic intent into sustainable newsroom support. The organization serves as a bridge between funders who care deeply about their communities and journalists doing the work of providing trusted civic information.
The California Civic Media Program represents a significant public-private effort to sustain local news and expand civic information across the state. Through its role administering private funding, JFP will help streamline processes for applicants while maintaining transparency and accountability for partners and funders.
“We chose to partner with Journalism Funding Partners because of their proven track record and deep expertise in the local media landscape,” said Chrissy Towle, Director of Association and Local News Partnerships at Google. “We’ve successfully collaborated with their CEO, Rusty Coats, for 15 years, and he consistently delivers results. JFP's California roots make them the ideal organization to distribute this funding to newsrooms across the state.”
Built to support collaborative, multi-partner initiatives, JFP moves with agility and humility and stands prepared to help ensure private resources reach California newsrooms quickly and effectively. Its nationally dispersed Board of news industry leaders is solely focused on the mission of building connections between funders and newsrooms.
“An informed public is the foundation of a healthy democracy,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz. “By bringing together distinguished leaders from across the state who care deeply about supporting local journalism, expanding access to trusted information and improving newsroom sustainability, the Civic Media Program will help Californians stay connected to the issues that shape their lives and strengthen their communities.”
For more information about the California Civic Media Program, visit the program website. Program inquiries should be directed to CACivicMedia@gobiz.ca.gov..
About GO-Biz: The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.
About the James B. McClatchy Foundation: The James B. McClatchy Foundation, whose mission is to stand with the people of the Central Valley by investing in education and active civic participation in our democracy, is a California based philanthropy committed to advancing a multiracial democracy through investments in education, civic engagement, and community-powered journalism. With deep roots in the Central Valley, the Foundation supports efforts that help communities access reliable information, participate in civic life, and build lasting local civic infrastructure.
About JFP: The mission of Journalism Funding Partners is to strengthen the depth, diversity and sustainability of local news by building and shepherding relationships between funders and local news organizations. JFP is a recognized nonprofit that acts as fiscal sponsor, allowing foundations and individual funders to contribute directly to local news, regardless of the news organization’s business model.
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Media Contact: Rusty Coats, Executive Director | rusty@jfp-local.org | (813) 277-8959
