Join our donor community

Our supporters believe that independent local journalism is vital to our communities and our democracy.

Donors to The Lenfest Institute for Journalism believe that independent local journalism is critical to Philadelphia and cities across the United States.

The Institute’s work is entirely supported by private philanthropy. Supporters help ensure local journalism is sustainable and can meet the needs of local communities across the country through investments in impactful investigative and public service news coverage, cutting-edge technology for news operations, improved digital products for readers, and greater diversity in both newsrooms and their audiences — all key building blocks for sustainable local journalism.

The Lenfest Council for Journalism and Democracy

Individual donors who support the Institute with an annual gift of $2,500 or more are part of our  Lenfest Council for Journalism and Democracy, a philanthropic society that includes a host of benefits that deepen your ’ engagement in and understanding of the transformation of the news that is happening at this historic moment.

Our work at the Institute is focused squarely at the intersection of journalism and democracy. Both are under assault and need our help. We invite you to become a part of our community. For more information about joining the Lenfest Council, please contact Rebecca Forman at [email protected].

“Where better than Philadelphia to invent the future of a free press?”

– H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest

The Lenfest Council for Journalism and Democracy helps to fund the Lenfest Institute’s work to ensure local journalism thrives in Philadelphia and beyond. Local journalism isn’t just a business, it’s a mission. Newspapers and local journalism organizations should be thriving philanthropies operated for their communities, supported by the generosity of the community, much like the other civic institutions we treasure. 

The Lenfest Institute aims to support a sustainable local journalism ecosystem that can catalyze a more transparent, connected, and equitable Philadelphia by linking residents to their neighbors, to news organizations, and to other information resources that allow them to flourish. In addition to serving as the non-controlling, nonprofit owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Institute supports dozens of news organizations across the city through grantmaking and training.

The Lenfest Institute also supports organizations across the United States to help them build sustainable business models and serve their communities with reliable journalism. The Institute is home to four communities of practice, which bring together journalism professionals to develop expertise, share best practices, and solve community challenges.

We invite you to make a gift to sustain independent local journalism by joining the Lenfest Council for Journalism and Democracy.

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.

If you’d like to learn more about the Lenfest Council, you can reach us via email at [email protected] or via phone at (215) 854–5600.