[MacArthur Foundation](https://www.macfound.org)

June 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)

No set maximum; recent cycles awarded $140M+ across 120 grants since 2023, supporting both large and small projects.

Supports revitalization and expansion of local journalism to strengthen civic engagement and democracy in the United States.

Not accepting unsolicited proposals; contact the Foundation to share new ideas.

--- ## Description The MacArthur Foundation's Local News initiative is designed to foster strong local news ecosystems that bolster civic engagement and community cohesion across the United States. Recognizing the accelerating decline of local news and its impact on democracy, the program supports trusted local newsrooms, accelerates solutions, closes inequalities, and advances policies for better access to news and information. Through the Press Forward collaborative, the Foundation works with a national coalition of funders to address economic, structural, technological, and cultural challenges facing local journalism, aiming for a renaissance in the field. The program's strategy centers on four pillars: - **Equity:** Ensuring historically underserved communities benefit from accurate, trusted news that reflects their lived experience. - **Engagement:** Strengthening the ties between local media organizations and their communities. - **Infrastructure:** Supporting essential tools, training, capacity, and services for emerging local news ecosystems. - **Visibility:** Advancing policies and public understanding to create an enabling environment for local news. MacArthur's approach includes direct grantmaking, impact investments, convenings, research, and leadership in philanthropic support for local news. --- ## Due Dates - June 2026 (anticipated/projected full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - There is no fixed maximum award size. - The Foundation has invested over $140 million in local news since 2023, supporting 120+ grants and 80+ organizations. - Funding supports a range of project sizes, from capacity-building for small organizations to major ecosystem initiatives. --- ## Eligibility - Primary focus is on organizations (not individuals). - Prioritizes: - Newsrooms, trusted messengers, funding intermediaries, and journalism support organizations (JSOs) serving communities with high numbers of news deserts, low civic health scores, and historically underserved populations (e.g., American South, Borderland communities, Appalachia, rural areas). - Organizations with innovative delivery models, strong backbone support, and demonstrated community impact. - Chicago-area organizations, reflecting MacArthur’s hometown commitment. - The Foundation is not accepting unsolicited proposals at this time. Interested organizations may share new ideas or perspectives via the Foundation’s contact form. --- ## Application Process - Unsolicited proposals are not currently accepted. - Interested parties should [contact the Foundation](https://form.asana.com/?k=N7Pjht07KUTcN8HNuZRkNg&d=8892527160613) to share new ideas or perspectives. - Selected applicants may be invited to submit a full proposal. - For more details, review the [grant guidelines](https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/local-news/grant-guidelines). --- ## Additional Information - The program is part of the Press Forward coalition, which includes pooled funding, local chapters, and aligned grantmaking. - MacArthur emphasizes evaluation and learning, with ongoing strategy refinement based on feedback and research. - The initiative aims to foster sustainable funding models, increase trust, and promote representative local news. --- ## External Links - [Local News Program Overview](https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/local-news/) - [Strategy Details](https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/local-news/strategy) - [Grant Guidelines](https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/local-news/grant-guidelines) - [Press Forward Collaborative](https://www.pressforward.news/) - [MacArthur Foundation Grantseekers Info](https://www.macfound.org/grants/info-for-grantseekers) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Contact Email | 4answers@macfound.org | | Phone | +1 312-726-8000 | | Contact Form | [Contact the MacArthur Foundation](https://www.macfound.org/about/contact-us) | | Share Ideas | [Share your idea](https://form.asana.com/?k=N7Pjht07KUTcN8HNuZRkNg&d=8892527160613) | ---

Local News

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