June 17, 2026
Building on a $345,000 inaugural round, the initiative will again invest in community-rooted news and information providers across eight South Jersey counties.
June 17, 2026 – Press Forward New Jersey (PFNJ), housed at the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium (NJCIC) and in partnership with the Community Foundation of South Jersey, today announced the launch of its second South Jersey funding opportunity aimed at strengthening local news and information ecosystems in communities facing significant information gaps.
Building on the success of its inaugural South Jersey funding round, which awarded $345,000 to 7 organizations across the region, the initiative will once again invest in community-rooted news and information providers serving Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, Cumberland, Salem, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties.
Many communities throughout South Jersey continue to experience limited access to local news and civic information. These information gaps can reduce civic participation, limit access to critical resources, and make communities more vulnerable to misinformation.
“Last year’s investments demonstrated the tremendous demand for local news and information across South Jersey and the innovative ways community organizations are meeting those needs. We’re excited to launch a second round of funding that will help organizations expand their reach, strengthen their sustainability, and ensure more residents have access to trusted information about the communities where they live.”
— Lisa A. Sahulka, Executive Director of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium
Through this initiative, Press Forward New Jersey seeks proposals from organizations working to strengthen local news and information in underserved communities. Funding may support newsroom development, staffing, infrastructure improvements, revenue generation strategies, technology investments, and other efforts that help residents access reliable, fact-based information.
The initiative is administered in partnership with the Community Foundation of South Jersey and is made possible through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Most grants will range from $15,000 to $50,000.
Organizations that:
Applications and additional information are available at njcivicinfo.org/grantmaking.
Press Forward New Jersey, local chapter of the national Press Forward movement, is a collaboration of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium and the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) to encourage the New Jersey philanthropic community to support local news and civic engagement, ensuring that every community in New Jersey has access to critical information and a vibrant media ecosystem.
Press Forward is a national movement to strengthen our democracy by revitalizing local news and information. A coalition of funders is investing more than $500 million over five years to strengthen local newsrooms, close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage, advance public policy that expands access to local news, and to scale the infrastructure the sector needs to thrive. For more, visit pressforward.news.
The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium is an independent nonprofit organization established by the State of New Jersey in 2018 to strengthen local journalism and civic information across the state. Through grants, research, training programs, back-office support, and collaboration with media organizations and community partners, the Consortium works to ensure New Jersey residents have access to reliable information that helps increase civic participation and enhance community life.
Madison McCool
Communications Manager
madi@njcivicinfo.org
Download a PDF copy of the full press release for your records or to share with colleagues.
Download PDFEligible South Jersey organizations can apply through the Consortium's online grant portal. Applications close July 10, 2026.
Apply NowPress Forward New Jersey is a first-in-the-nation publicly-funded initiative to grow access to local news and information across the state.