Immediate Needs Fund

A competitive grant program providing rapid, targeted support to TNC member newsrooms navigating urgent operational and community challenges.

Funding Source: Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation ($750,000 over three years for TNC regranting programs)

Geographic Scope: United States; TNC members only

Eligible Uses:

• Covering urgent, emergent or unexpected financial needs
• Lost revenues due to economic or political environment
• Emerging community information needs
• Unexpected costs
• Essential back-office support
• Hiring contract grant writers
• Filling salary gaps
• Building basic systems and infrastructure
• Launching websites
• Temporary administrative help
• Multilingual community workshops and engagement

Eligibility:

• Must be a Tiny News Collective member
• Early-stage, small newsrooms (often one to two person operations)
• Organizations led by BIPOC or immigrant founders welcome
• Organizations serving underserved communities

Impact (2025 Results):

• Nearly 80% of recipients reported that a negative outcome would have occurred without the funding
• 88% reported that the funding stabilized or resolved their immediate crisis
• 78% agreed the timeline between application and disbursement was appropriate to the urgency of their need
• Helped prevent founders from going into personal debt

Important Clarification: This is a competitive, cycle-based program, not an emergency fund. It differs from:

• Emergency grants (revolving, non-competitive)
• Start-up or seed funding grants for typical business expenses

Recent Grantees (Round 2, 2026): 20 newsrooms including Autonomy News, Bottom Up Media, Chisholm Free Press, Crosswinds News, Esta es la Cosa, Kaheāwai Media, Miami Affordable Magazine, News Relay Network, Newsberg, Planeta Venus, Prior Lake News Compass, Queer and Trans Wealth, TMBP Media, The Carrborean, The Edge, The Parlor Magazine, The Platia, The SHOUT, The Southlander, Winston Salem Sentinel

Tiny News Collective member newsrooms only.

Application Process

Application Type: Competitive, cycle-based

Review Process:

1. Applications submitted through TNC application form during open windows
2. External panel of media professionals serves as grant reviewers
3. Applications scored based on evaluation rubric
4. Selection criteria include:
   • Urgency of the request
   • Connection of request to meeting community or organizational need

Support Available:

• Grant application guides provided to help members develop stronger proposals
• One-on-one coaching with applicants to strengthen applications
• Grant writing support emphasized as important capacity-building

Reviewer Panel: Includes external media professionals (e.g., Wisconsin Watch, Penn State University, Lenfest Institute representatives) to ensure objective review without TNC team conflicts of interest

Timeline: Applications reviewed in cycles; specific deadlines announced in TNC newsletter

Note: Eligibility requires TNC membership. Prospective members should apply to join TNC first through the main membership application process.