Journalism funded by philanthropy is one of our four strategic pillars. LMA’s Lab for Journalism Funding, launched in September 2020 with support from Google, guided participating publishers through a six-month curriculum developed by a team from The Seattle Times led by Joaquin Alvarado. Through July 2021, the 16 publishers had combined to raise more than $3.5 million, an average of more than $200,000 per publisher. The success of these publishers is strong evidence that philanthropy can be one pillar for sustainably funding local journalism focused on civic good.

Here are recent articles about our own efforts and other industry initiatives to develop philanthropic funding for journalism.

Introducing NewsFuel: A smarter way to find journalism funding

For years, finding the right grant or funding opportunity for your newsroom has meant digging through scattered websites and outdated PDFs. We’ve rebuilt NewsFuel to fix that. NewsFuel is live at newsfuel.org — with updated technology and design to help you find grants, fellowships, professional trainings and other opportunities to fuel your newsroom’s mission. Whether you’re a startup looking for…

Liz White: Sustainable local journalism begins with transformation

The LMA coach and consultant discusses collaboration, diversified revenue and the importance of building upon a foundation of trusted local journalism. Local media organizations cannot build a sustainable future by standing still. That was one of the central messages LMA coach and consultant Liz White shared during a conversation with Keep It Local host Ryan…

LMA announces newsrooms in the 2026 national cohort of the Lab for Journalism Funding

Local Media Association is pleased to announce the 20 news organizations selected to participate in the 2026 national cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding. The lab will help these local news organizations develop and execute strategies to fund essential local journalism via philanthropy. The six-month intensive program runs from August through February 2026.…

Why legacy matters

“Legacy” media. We use the phrase as shorthand for “media that have failed to change with the times.” I get that. Lost, though, is another aspect of the meaning of “legacy”: what you are known for — your reputation earned over time for your work. A news organization’s legacy matters in three important ways, and…

LMA announces newsrooms in the 2026 state cohorts of the Lab for Journalism Funding

Local Media Association is pleased to announce the news organizations selected to participate in the 2026 state cohorts of the Lab for Journalism Funding, serving newsrooms across three states in New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Wyoming. This intensive, six-month program will bring the lab’s proven fundraising practices to 17 independent news organizations across these states. The…

LMA opens applications for 2026 national cohort of the Lab for Journalism Funding

(June 24, 2025) — All local media companies are invited to apply to join the 2026 national cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding to learn strategies to sustain their journalism with philanthropic support. Thanks to support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this program will bring the lab’s proven training…

Advice from journalism funders for newsrooms seeking philanthropic support

Newsrooms who hope to win philanthropic support must first learn about what matters to funders. That’s one takeaway from a roundtable conversation hosted by the Lab for Journalism Funding, where funders shared advice with news leaders seeking to support their journalism in part through philanthropy. The panel included current and former funders with experience in…

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.