Newsletter

Lenfest News Philanthropy Network: Fundraising on journalism's human edge in the age of AI

July 30, 2026

As news fundraisers, we occupy a unique space in both the journalism and philanthropy sectors.

Briana Crane, vice president of individual giving for AP Fund for Journalism, said it best: “We aren’t just building fundraising programs. We are establishing a new category of philanthropy in the minds of people who don’t yet see it as one.”

After the 2026 Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit, hosted in partnership with Press Forward, she wrote about the unique challenges we face in journalism fundraising — making the community we’ve built together all the more valuable.

In today’s issue of the newsletter, we’re sharing reflections from Briana and other 2026 Summit attendees. But first, we’ve got details on a new workshop we’re hosting in August to help you fundraise around the human aspects of journalism in the age of AI. Keep scrolling to learn more and register for free.

Thanks for being a part of the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network. For any questions or feedback, please feel free to reply to this email.

AI isn’t a journalist! Its limits are a fundraising and engagement opportunity

Date: Wednesday, August 26

Time: 2 p.m. EDT/ 1 p.m. CDT / 12 p.m. MDT / 11 a.m. PDT

Presenter: Lynn Walsh, Trusting News

AI can summarize journalism, but it cannot do journalism.

In this conversation hosted by the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network, we’ll discuss how this technological limitation may actually be one of the strongest fundraising and engagement opportunities currently available to local news. People increasingly ask and debate how journalism will remain relevant in an AI-saturated information ecosystem. Could the answer be as simple as leaning into the human elements of reporting: building relationships, making ethical decisions, understanding communities, and producing original reporting?

This session will explore how newsrooms and journalists can use the AI disruption as an opportunity to:

deepen trust
strengthen community connections
build media literacy
articulate the unique value of journalism
raise money while increasing subscriptions and reach

Learn more and register

The biggest challenge in news fundraising isn’t fundraising

By Briana Crane, AP Fund for Journalism

When I recently asked a donor what inspired their support for independent news, they answered: “I feel like I owe you the same monthly payment I make for my other subscriptions.”

It’s a fair and revealing answer. It’s also practical, transactional, and lacks imagination.

I’ve heard versions of the same reply many times. People value independent news and even rely on it. But many still think about supporting it the way they think about paying for The New York Times or Netflix and not the same way they think about giving to a school, a food bank, or a hospital.

That conversation changed how I thought about the work ahead. We aren’t just building fundraising programs. We are establishing a new category of philanthropy in the minds of people who don’t yet see it as one.

Speaking Martian: bringing journalism philanthropy to Honduras

By Ruth Marie Canahuati

I tell my family and colleagues that the most important achievement of attending was discovering that I am not the only one who speaks Martian. That is exactly how I feel when I venture into journalism philanthropy in Honduras — as though I am communicating in an extraterrestrial language that few around me yet understand.

At the Summit, I landed on the Journalism Philanthropy planet, and I came home carrying a suitcase full of ideas. Honduras is a beautiful country — stunning landscapes and coral reefs, rich history, deep traditions, and warm-hearted people. And yet, it is also a country with profound social needs: poverty in all its dimensions, a fragile democracy, and a vulnerable media environment.

My long-term objective is to build bridges between NGOs, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and media outlets in Honduras. Before Philadelphia, I had the vision but lacked the roadmap. The sessions gave me a much clearer picture of the landscape — and more importantly, the confidence that this work is not only possible but urgently needed.

Building a donor management program from scratch

By Rusty Rae, Oregon Public Information Partnership

Three years ago, Oregon Public Information Partnership, a 501(c)(3), developed a community donation program for partner newspapers. Today, OPIP is a fiscal sponsor for eight small Oregon community newspapers.

Publishers of for-profit newspapers generally don’t have a nonprofit mindset. One of the areas they must learn, particularly with these small grassroots efforts, is the development of a donor management program. Regardless of business model, publishers tend to understand, intuitively, the importance of building relationships and reminding subscribers, readers, and community members the value of your newspaper.

If there is one idea that was reinforced repeatedly at the 2026 Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit, it is the importance of showing the impact your publication has within the community. It’s the secret sauce when it comes to philanthropic efforts like a community donation program.

Jobs

The Lenfest Institute is seeking a Central Texas Media Ecosystem Coordinator to support a two-year initiative designed to strengthen local news organizations serving communities across Central Texas. This role serves as a locally embedded extension of the Lenfest Expert Network, helping participating organizations stay connected, engaged, and informed throughout the program. The coordinator will serve as a liaison between Lenfest Institute team members and media outlets, provide local insight, support relationship-building across the Central Texas ecosystem, and assist with community-facing events and activities.
Mississippi Free Press is seeking a Revenue Coordinator to help grow and support revenue/marketing/PR and work closely with individual donors inside and outside the state. The revenue coordinator will help plan, implement, and support revenue generation, including supporting advertising and sponsorship efforts, building rich relationships with donors on all levels, supporting the MFP VIP Club membership program, envisioning and coordinating revenue-producing events, and more.
New Jersey PBS is seeking a Revenue Director to lead fundraising, development, and earned-revenue strategy. This role oversees membership, major gifts, corporate underwriting, foundation grants, and planned giving programs, and is responsible for growing a diversified revenue base that sustains the public media organization’s journalism, programming, and community engagement missions while reducing long-term dependency on state appropriations.
Next City is seeking a full-time Development Manager responsible for all administrative aspects of fundraising. This role will also support the organization and management of Next City’s day-to-day efforts to attract and retain individual small donors as we improve our membership program.
The Pulitzer Center is hiring a Chief Development Officer to lead all aspects of its revenue strategy, fundraising operations, and philanthropic growth during a moment of significant organizational momentum. The CDO will serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and senior executives, helping position the Pulitzer Center within a rapidly evolving media, democracy, and philanthropic landscape.