JOHN S AND JAMES L KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$147.7M+23% YoY
Grants
513
Median Grant
$85K
Organizations Funded
547
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Foundation Overview
Mission
Knight Foundation fosters informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$300M commitment journalism and democracy, $50M technology democracy research 11 universities, $36.5M public media emergency funding collaborative, $20M local journalism partnership with Lenfest Institute, $6M local news infrastructure, 26 Knight communities focus, journalism arts community development
How to Apply
Two-stage process: online letter of inquiry through Fluxx portal, then invitation to full proposal. Foundation issues open challenges or calls for proposals focused on specific priorities. Currently invite-only through Spring 2025. Awards range $5K-$4.5M.
Does Not Fund
US-based organizations only, international programs not eligible, seldom funds second capital campaigns, no conferences/group travel/honoraria with few exceptions, no fundraising events, no operating deficits, no service club charities, no activities normally responsibility of government, no medical research, no propaganda/election influence/voter registration
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$147.7M
Grants
513
Median
$85K
States
34
$120.1M
Grants
416
Median
$125K
States
34
$102.3M
Grants
411
Median
$100K
States
34
Grant Size Distribution
$85K
Typical Grant (Median)
$3K
Smallest
$18K
25th Pctile
$375K
75th Pctile
$5.0M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $18K and $375K.
Largest Recent Grants
$5.0M
2024
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NY · TO SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO ENSURE STATE-BASED, PUBLIC-SERVICE JOURNALISM IS AVAILABLE IN 50 STATES WHILE AP DEVISES A NEW LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS STRATEGY TO BETTER POSITION IT FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
$4.0M
2024
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
DC · TO SUSTAIN THE INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL CONVENE, SUPPORT AND PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, ACTIONABLE, NONPARTISAN INSIGHTS TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT DESIGN, OPERATE, STUDY AND GOVERN THE DIGITAL INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT.
$3.0M
2024
GROUNDTRUTH PROJECT INC
MA · TO RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN AND PLACE REPORTERS FROM A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS INTO LOCAL NEWSROOMS, AND BUILD DURABLE LOCAL REVENUE STREAMS ATOP THOSE POSITIONS TO ASSURE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM.
$2.9M
2024
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION
FL · SUPPORT THE GROWTH, ADAPTATION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF NEWSMATCH IN THE PRESS FORWARD ERA, TO INCREASE THE COMPETENCY OF NON-PROFIT PUBLISHERS SEEKING EARNED READER REVENUE.
$2.8M
2024
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION
FL · TO FOSTER HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY AIDING LOCAL NEWS PUBLISHERS IN THE PRODUCTION OF FACT-BASED STATE AND LOCAL ELECTION REPORTING, WITH A FOCUS ON SWING STATES IN WHICH THIS COVERAGE WILL BE PARTICULARLY RELEVANT AND USEFUL.
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.