Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative Grant

Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Special Asset Fund of TPF
Amount: US $100,000 - US $150,000
Last Updated: August 01, 2025

Summary

The Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative, launched by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, is a two-year, $2 million grant program aimed at supporting local news organizations in Philadelphia. It will provide core operating support and capacity-building funding to eligible for-profit and nonprofit entities with operating budgets between $500,000 and $5 million. The initiative aims to enhance sustainability through digital transformation and community engagement, awarding up to 16 grants, totaling $2 million.

Overview

About Quality news and information is essential to a healthy, just, vibrant democracy, and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism supports local journalism through its focus on diversified revenue models, digital product development, and equity and representation. Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is today launching the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative. This two-year, $2 million grant program will provide core operating support and capacity-building funding to nonprofit and for-profit local news organizations in the Philadelphia region. The Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative will award up to 16 grants to for-profit and nonprofit local news organizations with operating revenue budgets between $500,000 – $5 million. Organizations with revenue or operating budgets outside of this range will be considered case-by-case. The Initiative will award up to 16 grants: 8 two-year grants of up to $100,000 and 8 two-year grants of up to $150,000. The Lenfest Institute will actively engage with our Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative grantees to share expertise from our local and national partners as well as lessons learned from among this group with the broader community. The Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative will provide critical business resources to be used to assist with an organization’s primary sustainability functions such as digital transformation, implementation of new revenue activities, customer and community engagement plans, or expansion of mission-critical staffing. Our nonprofit media partners are also eligible to apply for core operating support to use in support of their mission and to cover overhead expenses such as rent, salaries, equipment, and other day-to-day costs provided that these investments are tied tangibly to measurable business and sustainability goals. Award Information The Initiative will award up to 16 grants: 8 two-year grants of up to $100,000 and 8 two-year grants of up to $150,000. The Lenfest Institute will actively engage with our Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative grantees to share expertise from our local and national partners as well as lessons learned from among this group with the broader community. The Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative will provide critical business resources to be used to assist with an organization’s primary sustainability functions such as digital transformation, implementation of new revenue activities, customer and community engagement plans, or expansion of mission-critical staffing. Our nonprofit media partners are also eligible to apply for core operating support to use in support of their mission and to cover overhead expenses such as rent, salaries, equipment, and other day-to-day costs provided that these investments are tied tangibly to measurable business and sustainability goals.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. For-profit and nonprofit local news organizations with operating revenue budgets between $500,000 – $5 million. Organizations with revenue or operating budgets outside of this range will be considered case-by-case.Grant program will provide core operating support and capacity-building funding to nonprofit and for-profit local news organizations in the Philadelphia region.