Program

Get involved with the Lenfest Expert Network

November 6, 2025

A pro-bono service connecting local news organizations with experienced consultants who provide tailored expertise

November 6, 2025

The Lenfest Expert Network connects news organizations with experienced consultants who help strengthen sustainability, audience engagement, and digital transformation.

The program offers short-term, funded consulting engagements — typically lasting one to six months — that are free to participating newsrooms. Each engagement pairs a newsroom with an expert aligned to its goals, providing hands-on support, actionable deliverables, and practical strategies to build long-term capacity.

Apply for consulting support

The Lenfest Institute invites local news organizations in the Philadelphia region and across the United States to connect with our team through office hours to explore how the Lenfest Expert Network can support their goals.

During office hours, newsrooms can discuss challenges, identify areas for potential consultant support, and learn more about how the program works. These conversations help determine the best next steps and possible consultant matches based on each newsroom’s needs and readiness.

Sign up for office hours with our team Sign up for office hours with our team

Consultant opportunities

The Lenfest Institute partners with subject-matter experts to provide high-impact support to local newsrooms. Consultants are selected based on their professional experience, topic expertise, and demonstrated success supporting mission-driven organizations.

If you are interested in joining the Lenfest Expert Network as a consultant, email [email protected] with your bio, areas of specialization, and sample project experience.

Program eligibility

The Institute prioritizes news organizations that:

• Serve local or community audiences;
• Are working toward greater digital sustainability and audience growth;
• Have clear goals for the consulting engagement; and
• Demonstrate readiness to implement new strategies or systems.
  

The Institute cannot provide consulting or funding support to:

• Organizations or individuals based outside the United States;
• Entities engaged in lobbying, voter registration, or partisan political activity;
• Activities unrelated to the advancement of journalism sustainability and local news.