MacArthur Foundation invests $1.5 million in the American Journalism Project’s work to strengthen local news ecosystems
WASHINGTON — July 29, 2025 — The American Journalism Project today announced a $1.5 million investment from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to help ensure more communities across the United States have access to trusted, local news.
The investment comes through MacArthur’s Local News initiative, part of the Foundation’s Big Bets strategy to strengthen civic engagement by supporting critical public interest fields like journalism. The program focuses on building strong local news ecosystems by investing in trusted newsrooms, accelerating solutions, closing inequalities, and advancing policies that improve access to reliable information.
This new funding will support the growth of community-rooted journalism in places that have long lacked consistent access to accurate, culturally relevant local reporting. It will also help nonprofit news organizations expand their reach and impact by strengthening the infrastructure they need to thrive, including providing technology support, training and financial support.
“Local news is essential to the health of communities — it informs, builds connection, ensures transparency, and drives accountability,” said Silvia Rivera, director of the Local News Program at the MacArthur Foundation. “The American Journalism Project has been a leader in experimenting with strengthening information ecosystems across the country. They have played an essential leadership role in championing the urgent need to bring sustainable new resources to local news, and we are proud to partner with them on this critical effort.”
This investment builds on the MacArthur Foundation’s previous support for the American Journalism Project and reflects its continued commitment to journalism that reflects lived experience, deepens connections between newsrooms and communities, and strengthens public understanding of local news as a civic good.
“The MacArthur Foundation is setting a powerful example for how philanthropy can prioritize support for local news,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project. “At a time when communities urgently need trusted, local journalism, we’re proud to partner with a foundation that’s making a bold commitment to this field. This investment will strengthen the resiliency of our portfolio and help us reach even more communities with the news they deserve.”
Since its launch in 2019, the American Journalism Project has raised more than $225 million for its work to support and rebuild local news across the country, including over $68 million in local philanthropy to support new local news initiatives, and has supported a portfolio of 50 nonprofit news organizations in 36 states. The American Journalism Project’s model is delivering results. In 2024, the organizations in its portfolio grew by 22%, generating more than $128 million in revenue. Its first 22 partners have grown significantly, doubling in size and hiring more than 200 journalists through diversified revenue strategies.
About the American Journalism Project
The American Journalism Project is a venture philanthropy dedicated to local news. We believe civic journalism is an essential public good, and are reimagining its future by building a model to finance and sustain the local news our communities require. We invest in local nonprofit news organizations to build their revenue and business operations, partner with communities to launch new organizations, and mentor leaders as they grow and sustain their newsrooms. To learn more about the American Journalism Project, visit theajp.org.
Media contact: Roshni Neslage, Head of Communications, American Journalism Project, media@theajp.org, 954-526-1565