INN accelerates and shapes the expanding field of nonprofit news by providing education and business support services to nonprofit member news organizations and promoting the value and benefit of public-service and investigative journalism so that all people in every community have access to trusted news.
The largest recent grants show how Institute for Nonprofit News operates as a fiscal sponsor for nonprofit journalism infrastructure: $1,534,969 to Open Campus Media Inc in 2023 and $1,244,498 to Foundation for La Journalism in 2025. Across its portfolio, the foundation supports independent news organizations, newsroom networks, and journalist training through project-based funding, membership services, and collaborative reporting programs. That mix includes support for editorial collaborations, rural reporting, fundraising tools, legal defense, internships, and conference access. INN’s grantmaking is tied to the needs of nonprofit newsrooms rather than to a single beat. Recent awards include large support for entities that run or host journalism projects, along with smaller reporting and training grants embedded in partnerships such as Columbia Journalism School and the Pulitzer Center. The organization also funds intermediary structures: several of the largest recipients are fiscal sponsors, indicating that INN often channels money through organizations that manage multiple newsroom initiatives. Its stated mission centers on expanding trusted public-service and investigative journalism so communities have access to news, and the recent grants show that mission expressed through capacity building, collaboration, and newsroom development.
INN gives heavily to fiscal-sponsorship structures that support newsroom projects. It awarded $780,258 in 2025 to Gigafact, a fiscal sponsor, and $334,375 in 2025 to The Kansas City Defender, also as a fiscal sponsor. Those awards sit alongside project support for newsroom infrastructure rather than single-report stories. The foundation also backs collaborative and audience-serving journalism. It gave $269,196 in 2025 to Pass Blue, $258,314 to Feet in 2 Worlds, and $175,569 to Public Road Productions LLC. These recipients point to multilingual, community, and production-oriented work. In addition, INN supports election-information and civic reporting through programs such as newsroom collaborations and voter-guide related work, and it funds training and internships through partnerships with Columbia Journalism School and the Pulitzer Center.
The typical grant size is $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $14,500 at the median, and $34,309 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also shows a wide spread between those smaller awards and large fiscal-sponsorship grants, which run into the hundreds of thousands or above a million dollars. Granting appears recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Open Campus Media, Foundation for La Journalism, Gigafact, Feet in 2 Worlds, The Kansas City Defender, and Ark Valley Voice. INN operates as a nonprofit intermediary and fiscal sponsor, and it also runs or supports programs that accept unsolicited participation in some cases, including collaboration and internship initiatives.
$9.6M
$8.7M
$15.6M
$15.7M
Most grants fall between $8K and $34K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$34K
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Institute for Nonprofit News.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 796 | $30.6M | 99.5% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Grantmaking is national, with recipients concentrated in the United States. California recipients account for 19% of grants, and the top state by grant count is Minnesota. In the recent awards list, Washington, DC appears through Open Campus Media Inc and Open Campus Media; Sacramento, CA through Foundation for La Journalism and Foundation for Los Angeles Journalism; and New York through Dial Magazine Inc, Pass Blue, and Feet in 2 Worlds. Other cities showing up include Kansas City, MO; Redwood City, CA; and Brookline, MA. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with only two grants in Canada and one in RQ.
It primarily funds independent news organizations, newsroom networks and labs, and journalists or journalism fellows. The recent grants also show extensive use of fiscal sponsorship, with multiple large awards going to organizations labeled as fiscal sponsors, including Open Campus Media Inc, Foundation for La Journalism, and Gigafact.
The typical grant size is $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $14,500 at the median, and $34,309 at the 75th percentile. The recent awards range much higher for infrastructure or fiscal-sponsorship support, with several grants in the hundreds of thousands and one above $1.5 million.
Yes. One active program, the Amplify News Project, provides project management, organization, cash stipends, and editorial support for multi-newsroom collaborations. The recent grant list also includes awards to organizations such as Pass Blue and Feet in 2 Worlds, which fit that collaborative and project-based model.
Its giving is national, and 99.4% of grants go to U.S. recipients. California recipients make up 19% of grants, and the top state by grant count is Minnesota. Recent recipient cities include Washington, DC, Sacramento, New York, Kansas City, Redwood City, and Brookline.
Some programs accept unsolicited participation. The Amplify News Project, the Pulitzer Center dedicated fund for Columbia graduates, INN Days sponsorship opportunities, Reporters Shield, and the Columbia Journalism School internship and grants partnership all list unsolicited participation as true, while NewsMatch and the Rural News Network do not.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 2 |
| $44K |
0.3% |
| 3 | Puerto Rico | 2 | $40K | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Institute for Nonprofit News that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Newsrooms (eligibility and annual fee based on outlet size, lawsuit history, and number of stories published).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIGAFACT | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $780,258 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| FOUNDATION FOR LA JOURNALISM | SACRAMENTO, CA | $491,711 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| THE KANSAS CITY DEFENDER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $334,375 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| PASS BLUE | BROOKLYN, NY | $269,196 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| PUBLIC ROAD PRODUCTIONS LLC | SKOKIE, IL | $175,569 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| THE MIAMI FOUNDATION | MIAMI, FL | $139,050 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LUCE GRANT |
| NEWSHOUR PRODUCTIONS LLC | ARLINGTON, VA | $114,660 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| ARK VALLEY VOICE | SALIDA, CO | $70,454 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| ALTERNATIVE NEWSWEEKLY FND | WASHINGTON, DC | $66,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS, & ELECTION GUID |
| DIAL MAGAZINE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $65,173 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| SHASTA SCOUT | REDDINGS, CA | $64,484 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| THE OBJECTIVE | AMES, IA | $60,669 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| WINCHESTER NEWS GROUP | WINCHESTER, MA | $55,697 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| UNSETTLED | BROOKLYN, NY | $46,247 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| PUBLIC SQUARE AMPLIFIED | NEWARK, NJ | $44,381 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE INC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $42,839 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| VOICE OF MONTEREY BAY | MONTEREY, CA | $42,744 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| REST OF WORLD MEDIA INC | MENLO PARK, CA | $42,660 | 2026 | IINN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA INIT |
| RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, MO | $41,245 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| TEXAS TRIBUNE INC | AUSTIN, TX | $40,626 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS.& COLUMBIA INITA |
| INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS | BROOKLYN, NY | $40,291 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| CURATORS OF UNI OF MISSOURI | COLUMBIA, MO | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS |
| ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY | NORMAL, IL | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS |
| FLORIDA CTR FOR GVNT ACCOUNTA | SARASOTA, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS |
| SHASTA SCOUT | REDDINGS, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS, ELECTION & GRO |
| INDEPENDENT ARTS AND MEDIA | OAKLAND, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS |
| MUCKROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT- LABS |
| CARDINAL PRODUCATIONS | ROANOKE, VA | $38,500 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
| DEEP SOUTH TODAY DBA VERITE N | RIDGELAND, MD | $38,360 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| MAINE CTR FOR INTEREST REPORT | HALLOWELL, ME | $37,550 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT INC | HONOLULU, HI | $35,360 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| GREY MATTERS PROJECT | SAVANNAH, GA | $35,360 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| OPEN CAMPUS MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,322 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| TIDES CENTER | LOS ANGEES, CA | $34,250 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
| THE CONNECTICUT MIRROR | HARTFORD, CT | $32,360 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| PUBLIC ROAD PRODUCTIONS LLC | SKOKIE, IL | $32,033 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA PROJ |
| MISSION LOCAL SF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $32,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| CITY REPORT INC DBA THE CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $31,561 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| SCIENCE FRIDAY INITIATIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $31,475 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA INIT |
| SAHAN JOURNAL | ST PAUL, MN | $31,241 | 2026 | IINN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA INIT |
| CITY LIMITS NEWS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,800 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| CAPITAL B NEWS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,750 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
| BORDERLESS MAGAZINE NFP | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & CHICAGO CLIMAT |
| LOOKOUT PUBLICATION NFP | PHOENIX, AZ | $30,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & INDEX AWARD |
| ENLACE LATINO NC INC | RALEIGH, NC | $29,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - ELECTION GUIDE& EMERG |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FND | STILLWATER, OK | $29,000 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
| UNIVERSITY RADIO FND INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $27,794 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA |
| HUDSON VALLEY PILOT | RHINEBACK, NY | $26,671 | 2026 | ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR |
| BENITOLINK INC | HOLLISTER, CA | $26,500 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
| MISSISSIPPI JOURNALISM & EDUC | JACKSON, MS | $26,500 | 2026 | INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE |
GIGAFACT
$780,258ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
FOUNDATION FOR LA JOURNALISM
$491,711ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
THE KANSAS CITY DEFENDER
$334,375ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
PASS BLUE
$269,196ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
PUBLIC ROAD PRODUCTIONS LLC
$175,569ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
INN SUPPORT - LUCE GRANT
ARK VALLEY VOICE
$70,454ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
DIAL MAGAZINE INC
$65,173ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
SHASTA SCOUT
$64,484ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
THE OBJECTIVE
$60,669ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
WINCHESTER NEWS GROUP
$55,697ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
UNSETTLED
$46,247ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
PUBLIC SQUARE AMPLIFIED
$44,381ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE INC
$42,839INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA
VOICE OF MONTEREY BAY
$42,744ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
REST OF WORLD MEDIA INC
$42,660IINN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA INIT
CURATORS OF UNI OF MISSOURI
$40,000INN SUPPORT - LABS
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
$40,000INN SUPPORT - LABS
FLORIDA CTR FOR GVNT ACCOUNTA
$40,000INN SUPPORT - LABS
SHASTA SCOUT
$40,000INN SUPPORT - LABS, ELECTION & GRO
CARDINAL PRODUCATIONS
$38,500INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE
DEEP SOUTH TODAY DBA VERITE N
$38,360INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA
THE CONNECTICUT MIRROR
$32,360INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA COLLA
PUBLIC ROAD PRODUCTIONS LLC
$32,033INN SUPPORT - LABS & COLUMBIA PROJ
HUDSON VALLEY PILOT
$26,671ORGANIZATION IS A FISCAL SPONSOR
BENITOLINK INC
$26,500INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE
MISSISSIPPI JOURNALISM & EDUC
$26,500INN SUPPORT - LABS & ELECTION GUIDE
