What We Fund

Funding of grants is based on priorities established for each of our three major programs.

Journalism Program

Press Freedom and Freedom of Information

We work to advance journalism excellence, free expression and freedom of information worldwide through high-impact projects.
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Digital Media and News in the Public Interest

We intend to advance the best values of journalism through rapidly developing digital media.
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News and Newsroom Diversity

We help newsrooms and citizens use emerging technologies to better cover and engage their entire community.
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Training and Education

We aim to speed the news community’s digital transformation by working with both current and future journalists.
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Communities Program

Our funding preferences (below) historically frame and focus Knight grant-making. In each Knight community, however, our program directors look for and fund unique opportunities with the greatest potential for transformational change. For more, go to the community home pages.

Well-being of Children and Families

To provide all children and youth with opportunities for positive growth and development and to give all parents resources they need to strengthen their families.
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Economic Development

To help all adults gain access to jobs. To build alliances among government, business and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunities for residents.
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Housing and Community Development

To provide all residents with access to affordable and decent housing in safe, drug-free neighborhoods. To provide a continuum that includes everything from services for the homeless to affordable opportunities for home ownership.
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Education

To help all residents gain the knowledge and skills necessary to reach economic self-sufficiency, remain active learners, be good parents and effective citizens in a democracy. To provide an environment in which talented individuals refine and develop their abilities.
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Civic Engagement and Positive Human Relations

To encourage and enable all residents to participate effectively in the democratic process, form ties to local institutions and strengthen relationships with one another.
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Vitality of Cultural Life

To provide all residents access to a wide variety of artistic and cultural pursuits. To nourish creativity in children, youth and adults.
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National and New Initiatives

Economic Development

We work to develop effective strategies to foster community prosperity and provide greater opportunities for disadvantaged neighborhoods and families. We encourage entrepreneurship and research, and we often collaborate with universities and other major institutions to develop new approaches to revitalizing their home communities.
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Social Innovation

We invest in bright ideas, individuals and organizations with the potential for achieving high-impact social change. We combine financial and intellectual capital; we help develop strategies for large-scale action with measurable, replicable results. We support bold ideas and work to nurture an environment where visionary social entrepreneurs can thrive.
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Citizenship and Civic Engagement

We aspire to enable all residents to participate in their communities and to assume the full rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. In partnership with national organizations and groups working at the grassroots level, Knight supports efforts to promote citizenship, civic education and active involvement in community life.
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Neighborhood Sustainability

We support broad, systemic approaches to creating more livable, sustainable neighborhoods for urban residents. We recognize that sustainability means a collection of ongoing services – not only affordable housing, but also education, health care, public safety, transportation, recreation, and the conservation of land and natural resources.
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