Supported by growing coalition of funders, NC Local News Lab Fund to open next round of grant applications | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    June 16, 2022     On July 6, the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation will open a new round of grant applications powered by expanded funding and partnerships.

    This upcoming round of grants will invest in NC Local News Lab Fund's existing network of trusted messengers and news organizations, new partners, and projects that meet emerging news and information needs in North Carolina's marginalized communities.

    Since 2017, the NC Local News Lab Fund has made more than $2.4 million in grants backed by a coalition of funders who believe that sustainable, resilient, inclusive news and information networks are essential to healthy communities and a healthy democracy.

    Following last year's largest-ever round of grants, new gifts from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Prentice Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina, and the Democracy Fund continue to grow the NC Local News Lab Fund's grantmaking to organizations ensuring that everyone in North Carolina can find, trust and use the local news and information they need. In May, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund made a $50,000 gift and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation made a gift of $100,000. Prentice Foundation renewed its support with a $10,000 grant in winter 2022.

    "Our goal is to fund trusted media resources that provide the latest and most accurate health and science information," said Russ Campbell, director of science communication at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. "Our support for the Local News Lab is to assist those organizations to connect and communicate to the communities of North Carolina."

    These foundations join other North Carolina funders: Dogwood Health Trust, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. This coalition has invested a total of more than $1.4 million since April 2020.

    The NC Local News Lab Fund continues to bring national support to this local funding collaborative. Longtime partners Democracy Fund made a two-year, $800,000 grant in late 2021.

    "Strong local journalism directly translates into more power for the people of North Carolina: to make choices about their lives, to hold power to account, and to participate in our democracy. We believe that the best decision makers on strengthening local news ecosystems are the people who live in them, and we are proud to support the North Carolina Local News Lab's statewide efforts," said Teresa Gorman, Program Manager at Democracy Fund.

    For those seeking grants from the NC Local News Lab Fund, this latest round of grant applications will open July 6 and close at noon on Aug. 29. The NC Local News Lab Fund will award general operating grants of between $15,000 to $75,000 to public charity nonprofit entities that serve North Carolina residents and their rapidly evolving information needs. General operating grants will provide organizations the flexibility they need to reinforce their capacity and respond to the current needs of their communities. For-profit organizations with appropriate fiscal sponsorship for a project with a charitable purpose are also eligible to apply.

    More information about criteria, application questions and other details about applying for a grant are available here in English and Spanish. Grant seekers are welcome to reach out to Lizzy Hazeltine, Fund Director, as they prepare to apply.

    The Fund welcomes funders interested in learning alongside them or joining our collaborative fund building strong statewide information networks.

    Prospective grant recipients and funding partners can find out more about the NC Local News Lab Fund in case studies, a list of current and past grant partners, and more on their updated, bilingual website and on Twitter.


   Contact: Amy Dominello Braun
   Senior Communications & Marketing Officer for the North Carolina Community Foundation
   Email: abraun@nccommunityfoundation.org
   Phone: 919-256-6922