Local News
MacArthur Foundation's Local News grant supports innovative, sustainable solutions to strengthen local journalism and information access in underserved U.S. communities.
Funder: MacArthur Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars; past investments total $140M+ across 120+ grants.
Summary: Supports revitalization and strengthening of local news ecosystems in the U.S. to foster civic engagement and close information gaps.
Key Information: Currently not accepting unsolicited proposals; contact the program team to share ideas.
Description
The Local News grant program, led by the MacArthur Foundation as part of the Press Forward initiative, aims to revitalize local journalism and strengthen news ecosystems across the United States. The program supports trusted local newsrooms, accelerates innovative solutions, addresses information access inequalities, and advances policies to improve public access to reliable news and information. Funding is directed toward projects and organizations that address the economic, structural, technological, and cultural challenges facing local journalism, with a focus on communities most affected by news deserts and information inequities. The initiative seeks to foster sustainable, innovative, and community-centered local news systems that enhance civic engagement and government accountability.
