Celebrate The Philadelphia Inquirer’s 190th Anniversary

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is proud to honor The Inquirer’s extraordinary history and to invest in and celebrate its bright future.

H. F “Gerry” Lenfest believed that a strong, free, and independent local press is fundamental to our democracy. In 2016, as owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com, Gerry donated our region’s leading local news organization to the nonprofit Lenfest Institute. Gerry placed Philadelphia at the epicenter of a national effort to protect and transform local news in the digital age. Under the ownership of an endowed public charity, The Inquirer is now operated solely in the public interest of the citizens of the Philadelphia region, rather than that of corporate interests or shareholders seeking only to maximize profit.

The Institute has supported The Inquirer’s high-impact investigative journalism, invested in innovative digital news products, and created programs to build greater newsroom diversity to best represent the communities we serve. Together, we’re working to build stronger local journalism for all Philadelphians. Because, as Gerry Lenfest said, “Where better than Philadelphia to invent the future of a free press?”

We invite you to make a gift to celebrate the Inquirer’s milestone and sustain independent local journalism. Local journalism is building a new and dynamic future — and you can be part of it.  Thank you for taking a stand to affirm the critical role that a free press plays in American democracy.