Published on Apr 30, 2024
Press Forward New Jersey, a collaborative partnership of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium and the Community Foundation of New Jersey, is excited to announce the receipt of a $250,000, two-year Catalyst Fund grant from Press Forward, a national coalition dedicated to strengthening communities by reinvigorating local news.
The award will be used for operational expenses to get the Press Forward New Jersey chapter up and running, and to enhance efforts to attract support from New Jersey funders for local news and information outlets. Part of the grant will be used for the recruitment and salary of Press Forward New Jersey’s first employee, a development associate, who will work closely with the Consortium and the Community Foundation to drive fundraising efforts in support of the local chapter’s work.
“We are grateful for this grant from Press Forward, which will help kickstart the development of, and fundraising for, Press Forward New Jersey,” said Chris Daggett, board chair and interim executive director of the Consortium. “New Jersey already has one of the most innovative news ecosystems in the United States and we are confident that Press Forward New Jersey, in partnership with the Consortium and the Community Foundation, will be able to raise the money needed to sustain and grow local news here for many years.”
“The time to strengthen local journalism in New Jersey is now,” said Hans Dekker, President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. “This generous grant from Press Forward enables our unique partnership to get started on this critical work, to boost civic engagement, and to bring together the right stakeholders to reinvigorate our media landscape. With such an ambitious mandate, we’re grateful to partners like Press Forward who are committed to our long-term success in revitalizing local journalism.”
“The challenge of rebuilding America’s local news landscape is vast, and will depend on strengthening local efforts alongside new investment by national funders, smart public policies and a variety of other revenue approaches. We’re delighted to have Press Forward New Jersey as a partner in this effort,” said Dale R. Anglin, director, Press Forward.
The Press Forward New Jersey Development Associate job description can be found here. The associate will be expected to assist in the development and implementation of fundraising strategies and campaigns; research potential donors and funding opportunities; and prepare grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and donor communications, among other duties. The application deadline is Fri, May 31, 2024.
To keep in touch with Press Forward New Jersey, click here to sign up for its email list.
About the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium: The Consortium is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds initiatives to benefit the State’s civic life and meet the evolving information needs of New Jersey’s communities. A first-in-the-nation project, the Consortium builds on the foundation laid by public media in the United States, and reimagines how public funding can be used to address the growing problem of news deserts, misinformation, and support more informed communities.
About the Community Foundation of New Jersey: The Community Foundation of New Jersey creates and scales custom solutions for purpose-driven individuals, families, and businesses. The Community Foundation’s team of specialists understand the unique contours of communities and manage the scope of the Community Foundation’s investment and grantmaking capabilities with precision. With $790 million in assets, the Community Foundation grants tens of millions of dollars each year through its more than 1,160 funds. In 2023, the Community Foundation granted more than $150 million to nonprofits in New Jersey and beyond.
About Press Forward: 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 scale the infrastructure the sector needs to thrive. For more, visit pressforward.news.
For more information about the Consortium, please visit our website at njcivicinfo.org.