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John S And James L Knight Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$130.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $4.5M
Decision Time
4mo

John S And James L Knight Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $130 million (approximately)
  • Total Assets: $2.6 billion
  • Decision Time: 3-6 months (standard); as quick as weeks for priority initiatives
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $4,500,000+ (varies by program and community)
  • Geographic Focus: 26 U.S. Knight Communities plus national journalism/democracy initiatives
  • Total Grants (2023): 315 grants totaling $195 million

Contact Details

Website: https://knightfoundation.org
Location: Miami, FL
Main Phone: Available through website
Application Portal: Online through knightfoundation.org/apply (currently invite-only through Spring 2025)

For community-specific funding, applicants should contact their local Community Foundation partner in one of the 26 Knight Communities.

Overview

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation was established to support democracy through excellence in journalism, engagement in communities, the arts, and free expression. Founded on the legacy of the Knight brothers who published newspapers in 26 American cities, the foundation began grantmaking in its current form after relocating from Akron, Ohio to Miami in 1990. With total assets of $2.6 billion and annual giving of approximately $130 million, Knight made 315 grants totaling $195 million in 2023. In January 2024, Maribel Pérez Wadsworth became the foundation's seventh president and first woman leader, bringing extensive journalism experience from USA Today and Gannett Media. Under her leadership, the foundation has emphasized "philanthropy moving at the speed of news," launching initiatives like the Pew-Knight Initiative to empower information literacy and expanding support for local journalism with a $300 million, five-year commitment announced in 2019. In 2024, Knight invested $40.7 million in local arts groups and committed $20 million to Report for America to support rural and underserved community journalists.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Journalism and Media Innovation

  • Local News Sustainability: Multi-million dollar grants (e.g., $25 million to American Journalism Project, $20 million to Report for America in 2024)
  • Media Literacy and Information Quality: Partnership grants (e.g., Pew-Knight Initiative)
  • Knight First Amendment Institute: Major institutional support
  • Application method: Primarily invitation-only; some open calls for specific initiatives

Arts and Culture in Communities

  • Knight Arts Challenge: Grants typically $5,000-$100,000 for community-specific programs
  • Cultural Institution Support: Varies by community; $40.7 million invested across communities in 2024
  • Application method: Competitive challenges in select Knight Communities with rolling or annual cycles

Community and National Initiatives

  • Civic Innovation and Engagement: $10,000-$500,000+ depending on scope
  • Economic Opportunity: Major institutional grants (e.g., Knight Foundation School of Computing at FIU)
  • Climate Solutions: Strategic grants to organizations like Miami Waterkeeper, Everglades Foundation
  • Application method: Rolling basis through community foundations or by invitation

Research and Democracy

  • Technology's Impact on Democracy: Research grants, typically higher amounts
  • Media Studies: Partnership with academic institutions
  • Application method: Invitation-only or through specific RFPs

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus: The foundation primarily funds in 26 Knight Communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers:

  • 8 cities with resident program officers: Akron OH, Charlotte NC, Detroit MI, Macon GA, Miami FL, Philadelphia PA, San Jose CA, St. Paul MN
  • 18 cities with community foundation partnerships: Aberdeen SD, Biloxi MS, Boulder CO, Bradenton FL, Columbia SC, Columbus GA, Duluth MN, Fort Wayne IN, Gary IN, Grand Forks ND, Lexington KY, Long Beach CA, Milledgeville GA, Myrtle Beach SC, Palm Beach County FL, State College PA, Tallahassee FL, Wichita KS

Thematic Priorities:

  • Talent attraction and retention in Knight Communities
  • Economic opportunity expansion
  • Civic innovation and engagement culture
  • Climate resilience (particularly in Miami)
  • Excellence in journalism and free expression
  • Community-authentic arts programming
  • Technology innovation in media and democracy

What They Don't Fund

The Knight Foundation's Board of Trustees explicitly prefers not to fund:

  • Fundraising events
  • Operating deficits
  • Charities operated by service clubs
  • Activities that are normally the responsibility of government (with selective partnership exceptions)
  • Medical research or disease-specific organizations
  • Hospital requests (except for community-wide capital campaigns)
  • Conferences, group travel, or honoraria (except in foundation-led initiatives)
  • Indirect administrative fees exceeding 10% of grant amount
  • Non-U.S. based organizations (primarily funds U.S.-based entities)

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Maribel Pérez Wadsworth - President and CEO (January 2024-present)
The first woman and seventh president to lead Knight Foundation. Former president of Gannett Media and publisher of USA Today, where she oversaw 4,000 journalists across 250 local news organizations. She became the second woman and first person of color to serve as USA Today publisher in 2018. Wadsworth has challenged philanthropy to "move at the speed of news" and prioritizes rapid response to emerging community and journalism needs.

Christopher M. Austen - Board Chair (March 2024-present)
Managing partner of BPEA Private Equity and Knight trustee since 2014. Serves as Chair of the Investment Committee and member of the Audit Committee. Son of Dr. W. Gerald Austen, a previous board chair, bringing multigenerational commitment to the foundation's mission.

Notable Trustees:

  • Dean Baquet - Appointed 2024; veteran journalist with five decades of experience
  • The Board of Trustees has final vote authority on all foundation grants

Leadership Insights

Maribel Pérez Wadsworth on the foundation's approach: "It is time now for philanthropy to move at the speed of news." This reflects Knight's commitment to responsive, timely grantmaking that addresses urgent challenges in journalism and democracy.

The foundation under Wadsworth's leadership has emphasized rapid deployment when needed - evidenced by a grant approved in 22 hours to support journalists covering Hurricane Helene devastation in North Carolina, and a $1.5 million AP content grant conceived, developed and approved within months.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status (through Spring 2025): Knight Foundation is operating on an invite-only basis for new funding opportunities through Spring 2025. The foundation expects to reopen its Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process in Spring 2025.

Application Methods by Program Type:

  1. Community Foundation Partnerships (18 Knight Communities):

    • Contact your local Community Foundation partner first
    • Discuss project eligibility and fit with Knight priorities
    • Community Foundation will facilitate invitation to apply if appropriate
    • Applications submitted through online NonProfit Portal after registration

  2. Direct Application Cities (8 cities with resident program officers):

    • Check knightfoundation.org/apply for current opportunities
    • Some programs operate on rolling basis when open
    • Others have fixed deadline cycles

  3. Open Challenges and Calls for Proposals:

    • Knight Arts Challenge: Competitive application process announced periodically in select communities
    • Specialized initiatives: Specific RFPs issued throughout the year
    • Subscribe to newsletter at knightfoundation.org for notifications

  4. National/Journalism Initiatives:

    • Primarily invitation-only
    • Foundation identifies strategic partners aligned with major initiatives

Pre-Application Requirements:

  • Strong alignment with Knight's strategic priorities (talent, opportunity, civic innovation)
  • Connection to one of the 26 Knight Communities (for community/arts programs)
  • Clear demonstration of organizational capacity
  • For community foundation partners: initial consultation required before formal application

Decision Timeline

Standard Timeline: 3-6 months from application submission to final decision

Expedited Review: Knight Foundation has demonstrated capability for rapid approvals when strategic priorities demand:

  • Emergency grants: As fast as 22 hours (Hurricane Helene journalist support)
  • Strategic initiatives: 2-3 months for major commitments

Arts Challenge Timeline: Applicants contacted 6-8 weeks after contest closes with invitation to submit full proposal or decline notification

Notification Methods: Email notification to primary contact; formal grant agreements follow board approval

Board Approval: The Board of Trustees has final vote authority on all grants

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However:

  • 415 grants awarded in 2023 from competitive application pool
  • Arts challenges are highly competitive with hundreds of applicants per community
  • Invitation-only model suggests pre-screening significantly improves approval likelihood
  • National journalism/research grants are extremely competitive given limited slots

Reapplication Policy

The foundation remains "open to ideas and opportunities and will exercise flexibility when needed." No explicit waiting period for reapplication is stated. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to:

  • Refine proposals based on feedback if provided
  • Consider applying for different programs that may be better aligned
  • Strengthen alignment with Knight's evolving strategic priorities
  • For community grants: work with local Community Foundation to reposition project

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Knight Foundation emphasizes applicants must clearly explain "how this fits with Knight's strategies of talent, opportunity, and civic innovation." Successful applications demonstrate direct connection to at least one of these pillars in Knight Communities.

Measurable Outcomes and Implementation

The foundation asks: "How will you know you've succeeded? How will you measure your results?" Winning applications include:

  • Specific, quantifiable success metrics
  • Clear key activities with implementation timetable
  • Realistic timeline with achievable milestones
  • Evidence-based approach to measuring community impact

Organizational Capacity

Knight Foundation evaluates "whether the applicant has the know-how to get the project done." However, the foundation may support groups needing "a breakout push," particularly in arts where "the best 'edge' is to have a really great art idea." This suggests:

  • Established track record strengthens applications
  • Innovative ideas from emerging organizations can compete successfully
  • Demonstration of capacity through team credentials, partnerships, or past successes is essential

Community-Specific Context

For Knight Communities, successful projects:

  • Are authentic to the specific community's culture and needs
  • Connect people to place and to one another
  • Address locally-identified priorities rather than imported solutions
  • Build on existing community assets and networks

Recent Funded Projects as Models

Journalism Examples:

  • $25 million to American Journalism Project to expand local news
  • $20 million to Report for America for rural and underserved community journalists
  • Hurricane Helene rapid response grant for NC journalists

Arts Examples:

  • $2.2 million to help Miami artists innovate during COVID-19 and beyond
  • $40.7 million across communities in 2024 for local arts groups

Community Examples:

  • Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences at Florida International University
  • Miami Waterkeeper and Everglades Foundation for climate solutions
  • CodePath and MDC Tech for economic opportunity

Strategic Advice

  • Start with Community Foundation: In the 18 communities with CF partnerships, contacting the local foundation first is not optional - it's the required entry point
  • Think Big but Start Realistic: Grant range is wide ($5,000-$4.5M+); match request size to organizational capacity and project scope
  • Emphasize Democracy Connection: Even arts and community projects should articulate how they support informed, engaged communities critical to democracy
  • Be Thorough: Applications should be comprehensive with all necessary information for review
  • Subscribe and Monitor: Knight issues periodic open calls; staying connected through their newsletter ensures awareness of opportunities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Eligibility is Critical: Unless applying for national journalism/research initiatives, your organization must have clear ties to one of the 26 Knight Communities. Do not apply if you lack this connection.

  • Invitation-Only Through Spring 2025: Current application process is closed to unsolicited proposals through Spring 2025. Use this time to build relationships with local Community Foundation partners and monitor for Spring 2025 reopening.

  • Three Strategic Pillars Rule: Frame your proposal around talent, opportunity, and/or civic innovation. Applications that don't clearly connect to these strategies are unlikely to succeed regardless of project quality.

  • Democracy is the North Star: All Knight funding ultimately serves "a more effective democracy." Arts, journalism, community, and research grants must articulate this connection - it's not optional.

  • Speed and Flexibility Matter: Knight has demonstrated ability to move quickly (22-hour approval for emergency grant) and values this in grantees. Highlight your organization's capacity for timely execution and adaptive implementation.

  • Range is Real: Don't self-limit based on organization size. Grants genuinely range from $5,000 to multi-million dollar commitments. Match your ask to project scope and demonstrated capacity.

  • Measurement is Non-Negotiable: Knight explicitly asks how you'll measure success. Generic "reach" metrics are insufficient - develop specific, meaningful indicators tied to community impact and democratic outcomes.

References

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