American Journalism Project Civic News Organization Grants

American Journalism Project Civic News Organization Grants

Funder: American Journalism Project (AJP)
Status: Active, ongoing program
Contact: hello@theajp.org | 917-312-2781
Website: theajp.org

Mission

The American Journalism Project is a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to supporting mission-driven nonprofit local news organizations and dynamic entrepreneurs. AJP provides transformational multi-year grants and venture support to build a sustainable ecosystem for civic journalism across the United States.

Geographic Scope

• National: Serves nonprofit news organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico
• Currently supports 22+ nonprofit news organizations in 20+ states

Focus Areas

• Nonprofit, nonpartisan independent local news organizations
• Civic journalism serving local communities
• Organizations addressing information gaps left by commercial newspaper decline
• Public media organizations producing original local journalism
• News organizations led by or serving communities of color
• Organizations demonstrating:
- Strong, entrepreneurial leadership - Community buy-in and engagement - Commitment to sustainable business models - Original reporting and investigative journalism - Innovative revenue strategies - Multimedia and digital strategies - Service to traditionally underserved communities

Types of Support

• Multiyear grants to support organizational growth and sustainability
• Business and operational capacity building (revenue, technology, fundraising)
• Strategic advisory support over 24-36 months
• Movement-building to increase philanthropy for local news
• Technology, legal, and business services partnerships

Eligibility

• Nonprofit news organizations
• Independent and nonpartisan
• Serving local/regional communities
• Producing original civic journalism
• Demonstrating strong leadership and community commitment
• Focus on sustainability and growth potential

Funding Sources

• John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (lead funder)
• Arnold Ventures
• Emerson Collective
• Craig Newmark Philanthropies
• Democracy Fund
• Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Lumina Foundation
• Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• News Corp
• Kaplen Brothers Fund
• Facebook Journalism Project
• Individual donors (Christopher Buck, Dr. Hara Schwartz, John and Erin Thornton)

Known Grantees (as of announcements through 2021)

2019 Initial Grants (11 organizations):
• Berkeleyside (East Bay, CA)
• Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (San Juan, PR)
• City Bureau (Chicago, IL)
• The Connecticut Mirror (Hartford, CT)
• inewsource (San Diego, CA)
• Mississippi Today (Ridgeland, MS)
• MLK50: Justice Through Journalism (Memphis, TN)
• NOISE (Omaha, NE)
• Underscore (Portland, OR)
• WyoFile (Lander, WY)
• VTDigger (Montpelier, VT)

2021 Additional Grantees:

The Nevada Independent (Nevada)

Outlier Media (Detroit, MI)

Louisville Public Media (Louisville, KY)

WFAE (Charlotte, NC)

El Paso Matters (El Paso, TX)

Mountain State Spotlight (Charleston, WV)

Wisconsin Watch (Wisconsin)

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (Milwaukee, WI)

Montana Free Press (Montana)

The Oaklandside (Oakland, CA)

Leadership

• CEO: Sarabeth Berman
• Co-founders: Elizabeth Green (CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Chalkbeat, Board Chair), John Thornton (Founder of The Texas Tribune)
• Founded: 2018

Additional Partnerships

• Racial Equity in Journalism Fund: Collaborative with Borealis Philanthropy
• Microsoft Journalism Initiative: Technology, legal, and business services for local news collaboratives
• Arthur Vining Davis Foundations: Designated funding for public media research and learning

Organization Details

• Address: 6218 Georgia Avenue NW, Suite 1-#599, Washington, DC 20011-5125
• EIN: 83-1772542
• Type: Nonpartisan venture philanthropy