Today, the Lenfest Institute announced the launch of the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative; a $2 million grant program that will provide funds to nonprofits and for-profit local news organizations in the Philadelphia region.

This Initiative is the latest step in the Lenfest Institute's investment in Philadelphia's local news organizations. 

The overarching goal is to support sustainable local journalism and create a connected, equitable, and transparent Philadelphia through the connections between community members, news organizations, and information resources.

Consisting of up to 16 grants, the Initiative will award each to local news organizations with revenue budgets ranging between $500,000 to $5 million, considering those outside the range on a case-by-case basis.

The grants themselves are 8 two-year grants of up to $100,000, and 8 two-year grants of up to $150,000.

Aside from financial resources, the Initiative will provide business resources to improve each organization's sustainability, including digital transformation, creating new ways to generate revenue, engagement plans for customers and communities, or expanding vital staffing.

Additionally, the Lenfest Institute will take an active role in engaging with grantees, sharing expertise from their local and national partners with them, exchanging the same with the broader journalistic community.

Nonprofit media partners of the Lenfest Institute are eligible to apply for core operating support to help them in their mission and cover overhead expenses, like rent, salaries, equipment, and other day-to-day costs.

Other programs of a similar nature they have undertaken recently include the Lenfest Next Generation Fund, the Philadelphia Media Founders Exchange, and the Lenfest Constellation News Leadership Initiative.

Applications are currently open on the Lenfest Institute website, the deadline being September 15 at 11:59 p.m.