Community Journalism Grants

Community Journalism Grants is sponsored by Michigan Press Association Foundation. These grants help provide vital resources for local newsrooms at community newspapers around Michigan. They are intended to support various newsroom projects, such as funding additional reporters, specific news projects, augmenting newsroom technology, or other needs to maintain quality community news coverage.

Community Journalism Grants – Michigan Press Association Community Journalism Grants A crisis in journalism threatens to become a crisis for our democracy. Community journalism and local news are at a critical crossroads. We need them more than ever for timely and accurate information.

With all the false information on everything from elections to the pandemic and community issues, citizens deserve a trusted source for information. But the last decade has seen cuts, layoffs, and closures to news organizations in communities across our state, straining the quality and quantity of original, independent journalism.

A robust press and an engaged, informed citizenry are the cornerstones of a healthy democracy and civil society. This MPA Foundation community journalism grant is one way to help support essential local news and make sure that it continues to happen. Provide a funding resource that helps support, strengthen, spark, and sustain quality community journalism in Michigan Press Association member newspapers across the Great Lakes State.

Strengthen local news and information, increasing the trust and value Michiganders place on community journalism. Sustain community journalism and the state’s newspapers and online publications in the long term by helping build capacity and raising broader support and awareness of the role and value of local news.

Community Journalism Grants' Information DEADLINE IS July 31st, 2026 Send Application forms to: Jim Tarrant • jim@michiganpress. org Download the 2026 Community Journalism Grants Information Brochure. Community Journalism Grants Download and submit your “Community Journalism Grants” Application.

Download the Community Journalism Grants Application Michigan Press Association Foundation Community Journalism Grants Informing Citizens. Strengthening Democracy. Community journalism is at a crossroads.

Trust in our institutions is dwindling Need and demand for credible, local information is rising Strong communities depend on strong local journalism. Read the Full Presentation Slide Deck in PDF Format.

MPAF Community Journalism Presentation Slide Deck PDF The grantee can use the resources to: Add additional reporters, whether hiring a freelance writer, an intern, and/or supporting an existing reporter’s completion of news that matters to the community Fuel a specific in-depth, investigative, or data news project. Your unique idea or project How will the grant help fill your news gap?

Will this project provide an opportunity to generate local philanthropy for improved news coverage? Other factors include having the following: How will this project content be distributed for maximum community impact? How will you assess the project’s success?

Who is eligible? Any MPA member and organization committed to providing objective, civically influential local journalism. That could include public radio and TV stations, newspapers, digital sites, commercial radio and TV stations, or wire services, providing direct journalism.

The member newspaper can be independent, nonprofit, or group. Advocacy journalism organizations are not eligible. We are aware that advocacy journalism organizations do great work.

However, our goal is to promote local community news reporting. Application deadline: The applications for consideration open on May 15, 2026 , and close on July 31, 2026 . Grant reviewers will assess applications August 15-30, 2026, with the award announced by September 15,2026 .

Send Application forms to: Jim Tarrant • jim@michiganpress. org Who picks projects? Applicants know the community, and it is up to the newspaper to decide what will be a catalyst to address what will benefit news coverage in the community.

It could be dedicated time for a reporter or freelancer to conduct an enterprise project, an intern to cover local government, and more. Local Support: Let us know if you have other sources/partners helping to fund this project. One of the program’s goals is to encourage creative thinking and bolster local support for journalism.

The foundation encourages news organizations to involve the community in supporting the grant initiatives. We hope the project may induce new community support through membership, subscriptions, events, or philanthropy. Grants must be for projects and programs that benefit residents and methods to improve local news coverage, educate the public, and be a better watchdog for the community.

</br > FINAL REPORT: Acceptance of a Community Journalism Grant; the recipient agrees to provide an impact story that explains the success of the project and how the funds aided in advancing the project. The recipient grants MPA Foundation permission to use the story and support materials in its promotion to donors and future grant applicants. The Final Report must be submitted within ninety (90) days of project completion.

DEADLINE IS July 31st, 2026 Send Application forms to: Jim Tarrant • jim@michiganpress. org