Knight Foundation Fund (Tallahassee) is a grant from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, administered through the Community Foundation of North Florida, that funds projects aligned with creativity, education, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement in Leon County, Florida.

Total available funding is approximately $190,000 with individual award amounts varying by project. The foundation evaluates proposals based on alignment with strategic focus areas, a clear theory of change with measurable outcomes, community relevance and impact, organizational capacity, and innovation potential. Knight does not fund political campaigns, lobbying, fundraising events, operating deficits, or medical research.

Eligible applicants are local nonprofit organizations serving the Tallahassee area. The current deadline is June 5, 2026.

How We Fund - Knight Foundation We are a national foundation with local roots. We invest through close collaboration with partners in the communities and fields we serve. Most of our grantmaking is tied to strategies with defined goals and outcomes.

Rather than maintaining an always-open application process, our funding typically emerges through relationships, research and ongoing work that help us identify where Knight’s resources can have the greatest impact. From time to time, we issue open calls for proposals to advance a specific strategic objective. When we do we post full details on our website, including eligibility, deadlines and selection criteria.

How do we evaluate proposals?

While criteria may vary, Knight generally looks for: • Alignment with our strategic focus areas and program priorities • A clear theory of change and measurable outcomes • Community relevance and impact, especially in Knight communities and fields • Organizational capacity to execute the proposed work effectively • Innovation, learning potential or field-building value Are there programs Knight doesn’t fund?

Some requests are prohibited by law.

As a 501(c)(3) private foundation, Knight cannot fund: • Support for or opposition to political candidates for public office, including contributions or other support that would constitute political campaign intervention • Grants earmarked for lobbying or political campaign activity, which can trigger private foundation excise tax rules In addition, Knight generally prefers not to fund: • Requests for support of fundraising events • Requests to cover operating deficits • Charities operated by service clubs • Medical research or organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate, or alleviate the effects of a specific disease • Requests from hospitals, unless for community-wide capital campaigns with defined start and end dates or for specific projects that meet foundation goals • Activities to propagate a religious faith or that are restricted to one religion or denomination • International programs and organizations • Conferences, group travel, and honoraria for distinguished guests, except in foundation initiatives • Scholarships for individuals Do you fund organizations outside the U.S.?

We primarily fund U.S.-based organizations. In limited cases, we support U.S. based organizations doing work that advances a free press globally. How can I apply for a grant?

Most grants are initiated by Knight through our strategies and partnerships. When we have an open call for proposals, we post it on our website and share it through our newsletter. Our Investment Focus Areas Knight Foundation works to ignite in every person the power to shape thriving communities.

We invest to strengthen people’s agency through a sustainable ecosystem of quality information and evidence; to foster community resilience by expanding economic mobility; and to cultivate connection by revitalizing cultural vibrancy, supporting free expression and building common ground. These strategic focus areas guide our program strategies and often intersect across and within our grants.

They are grounded in the values expressed in the First Amendment, which we believe are essential to vital, engaged communities. Strengthening information ecosystems by expanding access to reliable information, advancing sustainable business models for journalism, and investing in research and field-building efforts that inform policy and public debate.

We look for investments that boost agency and understanding— whether at the local level, across media systems, or within broader policy and societal contexts. Expanding local economic opportunity by supporting entrepreneurs, tapping into community economic potential, and advancing climate solutions that result in economic benefits for residents.

We look for projects that build community resilience, help residents gain stability, and give people more ways to shape the future of their neighborhoods. Advancing local arts and culture, bolstering civic institutions as hubs for free expression, and enhancing shared places that bring people together. We look for projects that cultivate connection and shared purpose, reflect local identity, and foster the exchange of ideas.

Press Forward is a coalition of funders committed to revitalizing local news across the country. Funding is invested through a series of open calls in the field, in alignment with Press Forward’s funding priorities. Knight Foundation invests in the 26 communities where John S.

and James L. Knight once owned and operated newspapers, continuing their legacy of civic engagement. A $5 million open call inviting individuals and organizations across Knight Foundation's 26 communities to submit new, creative ideas for projects that can spark change and leave a lasting local impact.

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