Local news organizations and community groups are invited to apply for grant funding to enhance coverage of Philadelphia’s new administration and encourage civic engagement.
Donor Name: The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
State: Pennsylvania
County: Philadelphia County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/19/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
For Media Partners
Priorities
Preference will be given to projects that incorporate one or more of the following funding priorities:
- Solutions, service, data, engaged, and government accountability journalism
- Civic literacy products (policy guides, government explainers, etc.)
- Collaborative community engagement activities with Community Partners
- Translation services
- Projects focusing on one or more of the following issue areas:
- Public safety
- Education
- Economic opportunities
- Affordable housing
- Homelessness
- Sustainability
Types of Grants
Funds may be used to develop and/or implement a specific set of programmatic activities. Projects may include but are not limited to:
- Solutions journalism focused on key issues important to Philadelphia communities.
- Service journalism about how Philadelphia’s government works and ways citizens can engage in civic life.
- Data journalism that illustrates the scope and depth of key issues and tracks the progress of government action on those issues.
- Engaged journalism that builds strong relationships between newsrooms and communities and provides a platform for communities to share their stories about key issues and local government.
- Translation services or multi-lingual products, services, or activities
Additional Considerations
Funded projects must be fact-based and non-partisan. Funding cannot be used for opinion pieces.
- Content produced through the funded project must be made available to audiences free of charge (outside of paywalls).
- Content produced through the funded project must be made available for republishing on the aggregate project site.
- Content produced through the funded project must include project branding and acknowledgment when it appears on the outlet’s own channels.
- Content produced through the funded project must disclose support from project supporters.
Funding Information
Funding will range from $10,000 to $150,000, and the grant term will run from May 2024 through November 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Philadelphia-based media outlets of all kinds– community-based media, ethnic media, neighborhood specific media, legacy and traditional media, public media, producing print, digital, radio, and television content – are encouraged to apply for community-centered journalism projects related to civic life in Philadelphia.
For Community Partners
Priorities
Preference will be given to projects that incorporate one or more of the following funding priorities:
- Projects/events/activities focused on the following:
- Civic education/literacy: Local government structure
- Engaging residents in conversation/discussion on local government issues, policies, and solutions
- Community insight/evaluation of city government initiatives, efforts, and policies
- Civic resources and information
- Projects focusing on one or more of the following issue areas:
Types of Grants
Funds may be used to develop and/or implement a specific set of programmatic activities. Projects may include but are not limited to:
- Education on how the city government is structured to address these issues. This might involve explaining the roles of different branches of government (executive, legislative, etc.), relevant departments, and agencies responsible for tackling these priorities.
- Partner with local government agencies to share information about city plans, initiatives, and opportunities for residents to get involved. This could include presentations from city officials, Q&A sessions, or updates on ongoing projects.
- Create opportunities for residents to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas for improving the city.
- Foster connections among residents, media, and community organizations. Encourage collaboration and networking to strengthen community bonds and collective action.
- Translation services or multi-lingual products, services, or activities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations must be located within Philadelphia County and/or primarily serve Philadelphia residents.
- Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organization whose mission, programs, or services are designed to address the needs of underrepresented communities in Philadelphia defined by geography, identities, or issues.
For more information, visit The Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
