For immediate release:  September 26, 2006

Three Foundations Announce Successful Challenge Fund For Journalism – and Launch New Cycle of Fundraising

Sixteen journalism organizations raise $1.24 million in response to challenge; 15 more convene to begin fundraising efforts.

 

NEW YORK – The Ford Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation today announced the results of the second Challenge Fund for Journalism (CFJ) to help journalism organizations broaden their base of financial support through challenge grants, fundraising training and organizational development coaching.

 

Sixteen CFJ grantees successfully raised $1.24 million to match $674,000 in grant awards. And many have made significant organizational advancements, says Eric Newton, director of Knight Foundation’s Journalism Initiatives. One grantee received its first $20,000 donation from an individual, another hired its first executive director and five organizations were able to engage all their board members in planning and fundraising. “This is a classic example of teaching folks to fish rather than just handing out the fish,’’ Newton said.

 

“It is an honor to be part of this innovative collaboration of funding partners,” said Bob Ross, CEO of Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. “As traditional journalism resources shrink, these grantees have proven that they can tap new sources of revenue that will sustain their bottom line far into the future.”

 

Now, 15 more journalism organizations have been awarded $584,500 in challenge grants, and will have one year to match or double their specific awards. The new grantees will meet in New York Sept. 28th and 29th to kick off this latest round of the Challenge Fund for Journalism.  For more information, please contact Susan Misra at smisra@tccgrp.com.

 

The Challenge Fund for Journalism helps journalism organizations strengthen their leadership, organizational infrastructure and financial resources so they can continue their programs well into the future.

 

In addition to the challenge grants, which require a 1:1 or 1:2 match, the initiative provides networking opportunities, organizational development and fundraising trainings, and customized coaching.

 

The 16 organizations which completed the challenge are:

 

Second Challenge Fund for Journalism Grantees

Awarded

Raised

Total

Asian American Journalists Association

$100,000

$238,212

$338,212

Association of Capital Reporters and Editors

$7,500

$31,595

$39,095

Association of Women in Sports Media

$8,500

$16,440

$24,940

Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism

$38,000

$48,293

$86,293

Carole Kneeland Project

     for Responsible Television Journalism

$20,000

$28,311

$50,311

Education Writers Association

$45,000

$52,725

$97,725

Fund for Investigative Journalism

$25,000

$26,121

$51,121

Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

$100,000

$152,228

$252,228

Military Reports and Editors

$7,500

$11,200

$18,700

National Association of Hispanic Journalists

$100,000

$214,779

$314,779

Native American Journalists Association

$25,000

$24,278

$49,278

National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

$100,000

$284,101

$384,101

Organization of News Ombudsmen

$7,500

$7,812

$15,312

Religion Newswriters Association

$45,000

$52,392

$97,392

South Asian Journalists Association

$15,000

$17,229

$32,229

Washington Center for Politics and Journalism

$30,000

$38,960

$68,960

Total

$674,000

  $1,244,676

 1,918,676

 

The latest round of grantees will try to match their grant awards. They are:

 

Third Challenge Fund for Journalism Grantees

Awarded

Goal

Total

Associated Press Managing Editors

$73,000

$146,000

$219,000

Association for Education in Journalism and Communication

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

Association of American Editorial Cartoonist

$15,000

$15,000

$30,000

Center for Investigative Reporting

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

Investigative Reporters and Editors

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

Journalism & Women Symposium

$20,000

$20,000

$40,000

National Association of Black Journalists

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

National Association of Minority Media Executives

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

National Conference of Editorial Writers

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

National Press Foundation

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

Online News Association

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

Society of American Business Editors and Writers

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

Society of Environmental Journalists

$51,500

$103,000

$154,500

Society of Professional Journalists

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse

$25,000

$25,000

$50,000

Total

$584,500

$959,000

$1,543,500

 

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (http://www.knightfdn.org) promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since its creation in 1950, the foundation has invested nearly $300 million to advance journalism quality and freedom of expression. 

 

The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation (http://www.journalismfoundation.org) was founded in 1982 by Edith Kinney Gaylord to support local and national efforts to improve the quality of journalism practices among various media. The Foundation provides funding for projects that promote excellence and instill high ethical standards in journalism.

 

The Ford Foundation (http://www.fordfound.org) is an independent, nonprofit grant making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation, and advancing human achievement.

 

The New York office of TCC Group (http://www.tccgrp.com), a 26 year-old management consulting firm that works with funders and nonprofit organizations, manages The Challenge Fund for Journalism and provides technical assistance to the grantees.

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