This training will help development staff hone their process and craft their messaging to make compelling cases for philanthropic support of newsrooms. Designed for people with some grants experience, this course is suited for those who completed The Lenfest News Philanthropy Network’s introductory grant writing program or development professionals from other industries who are new to journalism fundraising.  

In this four-week course you will learn practical tips and study real-world examples from news organizations and foundations, both large and small. Led by Terry Quinn, chief development officer of The Texas Tribune, the course draws heavily on methods developed over the Tribune’s 11-year history. Terry will be joined by guests from other newsrooms and foundations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Lenfest Institute. This course is produced by RevLab at The Texas Tribune.

Through candid discussions and case studies, the course will prepare participants to cultivate foundation support and craft effective, convincing grant applications. The program will also illuminate what foundations are looking for in your proposal, especially articulating impact.

During the course, we will cover:

• Prospecting and cultivating potential institutional funders, including those that may not historically have supported news organizations
• Crafting a narrative that makes the case for supporting journalism
• Developing trusting, open relationships and processes between your organization’s editorial and business arms that help you unlock philanthropic support
• Executing on stewardship as well as impact reporting

The course met once a week for hour-long sessions from Wednesday April 7, 2021 to Wednesday May 5, 2021.

RevLab is a grant-funded resource center that helps publishers expand revenue-generating capabilities. RevLab is based within The Texas Tribune and funded in part by the Facebook Journalism Project. 

You can access recordings, slides, and other resources from the course here.

Please email Lenfest Institute Communication & Editorial Director Joseph Lichterman with any questions.