Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc, also known as LION Publishers, is a public charity based in Wilmington, Delaware. Formed in 2012, it supports independent news publishers by helping them build more sustainable businesses, with services and programs focused primarily on the business side of news entrepreneurship.
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc at a glance
In short: Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $74K), top state Pennsylvania. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,256,000
- -68.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -91.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $73,882
- +253.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $8,084,528
- -9.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (8 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 Growth Grant application deadline was September 26, 2025; that cycle has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2025 Growth Grant application deadline was September 26, 2025; that cycle has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4023 Kennett Pike Ste 50019, Wilmington, DE 19807
Phone: (267) 670-0357
Website: https://lionpublishers.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tiny News Collective ($500K). Together the top 10 received $950K.
Grant Size Distribution
476 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 453 grants of 476 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
LION says it serves members in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, with the largest reported shares going to Pennsylvania (44%), California (8%), Texas (8%), Arizona (8%), and Missouri (8%). Listed recipients also include organizations in Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., Illinois, and Alaska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 17 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $95K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 35% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $389K (2021) to $3.9M (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny News Collective Philadelphia, PA | — | $500,000 |
| 9 Millones LLC San Juan, PR | — | $50,000 |
| Advocate Foundation Inc dba Dallas Dallas, TX | — | $50,000 |
| American Witness Washington, DC | — | $50,000 |
| Amestoy Communications LLC Kerrville, TX | — | $50,000 |
| Arizona Local Post Tucson, AZ | — | $50,000 |
| Borderless Magazine NFP Chicago, IL | — | $50,000 |
| Community Capital Fund Kansas City, MO | — | $50,000 |
| Independent Arts & Media San Francisco, CA | — | $50,000 |
| India Currents Foundation San Jose, CA | — | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,084,528 | $4,606,476 | $5,531,884 | $1,256,000 | 17 | $204,399 |
| 2024 | $8,882,633 | $11,783,651 | $7,029,062 | $3,932,900 | 188 | $44,619 |
| 2023 | $4,683,866 | $6,882,509 | $6,433,871 | $3,319,667 | 168 | $44,991 |
| 2022 | $3,009,532 | $3,946,331 | $4,203,044 | $1,243,109 | 87 | $16,703 |
| 2021 | $3,061,494 | $2,274,435 | $2,125,666 | $388,984 | 16 | $656 |
| 2020 | $2,922,606 | $3,137,662 | $834,941 | — | — | $1,458 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
LION’s mission is to strengthen the local news industry by helping independent news publishers build more sustainable businesses. Its website describes an emphasis on helping publishers develop businesses that can pay living wages, recruit and retain talent, and grow their reach, revenue, and impact.
The 2025 grants included support for a range of local and independent media organizations. For example, an individual recipient NFP describes its work as providing free local and state news in English and Spanish while reimagining local immigration journalism. The Mat-Su Sentinel says it provides objective, nonpartisan information to support local understanding and civic engagement. An individual recipient describes its mission as informing public discourse and civic participation through local, independent journalism. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, LION reported 17 grants totaling $1,256,000. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed grant was $500,000 to Tiny News Collective in Philadelphia. Other listed grants of $50,000 included awards to 9 Millones LLC, Advocate Foundation Inc. dba Dallas, American Witness, Amestoy Communications LLC, two individual recipients NFP, Community Capital Fund, Independent Arts & Media, India Currents Foundation, LOOKOUT Publications, and MatSu Sentinel.
Separately, LION’s 2025 filing describes a members-only Growth Grant program. It reports distributing $750,000 of a planned $1.5 million to 15 publishers for operational funds, after reviewing more than 220 applications from members in 48 states. LION’s August 2025 announcement described a $100,000 grant for each of 15 members, paid in two installments of $50,000 in 2026 and 2027. The application window for that cycle closed September 26, 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Chris Krewson, Executive Director; Lisa Hunter, Director of Finance & Operations; Michelle Hunter, Director of Development; Chloe Kizer, Director of Data and Evaluation; Sarah Gustavus Lim, Membership Director; Rockway Andrew, AD of Sustainability Audits; Eden Fineday, Director; Gunita Singh, Treasurer & Past Chair; Richard Young, Director; and Cierra Brown Hinton, Chair.
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc is led by Chris Krewson, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 9 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chris Krewson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$123K (2020) → $222K (2025)
Cierra Brown Hinton
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Li
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Lisa Hunter
Director of Finance & Operations
Director of Finance & Operations → Director of Finance & Operati, 2023
Director of Finance & Operati → Director of Finance & Operations, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$128K (2022) → $168K (2025)
Ariel Zirulnick
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
$13K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Chloe Kizer
Director of Data & Evaluation
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$127K (2024) → $151K (2025)
Sarah Gustavus Lim
Membership Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024) → $145K (2025)
Eden Fineday
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$4K (2025)
Michelle Hunter
Director of Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$152K (2025)
Richard Young
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Rebekah Monson
Director
Director → V.chair & Chair, 2022
V.chair & Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamaal Glenn
Director
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mazin Sidahmed
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vania Andre
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gunita Singh
Treasurer & Past Chair
Director & Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Treasurer & Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Rockway Andrew
Ad of Sustainability Audits
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $125K (2025)
Dan Hu
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil Chase
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Alvaro Gurdian (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Elaine Diaz Rodriguez (2024) — Ad of Coaching
- Former: Jiquanda Johnson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Anika Anand (2021–2023) — Deputy Director
- Former: Lisa Heyamoto (2023) — Associate Director of Member Edu
- Former: Stephanie Snyder (2023) — Associate Director of Membership
- Former: Jay Allred (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rosemary Hoban (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Tracie Powell (2020–2022) — Chair & Director
- Former: Shannon Shaw Duty (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Charlotte-Ann Lucas (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Dylan Smith (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kelly Gilfillan (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Doug Hardy (2020) — Director
- Former: Glenn Burkins (2020) — Director
- Former: Jan Schaffer (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Scott Brodbeck (2020) — Director
- Former: Teresa Wippel (2020) — Director
- Former: Uriah Kiser (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $222K, to Chris Krewson (Executive Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc
How much does Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc give each year?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.9M across 188 grants.
What is Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's typical grant size?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $73,882, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc that year got $50K on average.
Where does Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc give grants?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's top state is Pennsylvania, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (8%) and Texas (8%).
Who are Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's largest grantees?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Tiny News Collective ($500,000), 9 Millones LLC ($50,000) and Advocate Foundation Inc dba Dallas ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What does Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc fund?
LION’s mission is to strengthen the local news industry by helping independent news publishers build more sustainable businesses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lionpublishers.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's EIN?
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0781654. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/local-independent-online-news-publishers-inc-morg_b01ffba2884f4b9096a425d4911ac3a8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460781654_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/local-independent-online-news-publishers-inc-morg_b01ffba2884f4b9096a425d4911ac3a8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?