GANNETT FOUNDATION

7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22107-0001
Phone: 703-854-6000
Fax: 703-854-2167
E-mail: foundation@gannett.com

Website: http://www.gannettfoundation.org 

Type of foundation: Company-sponsored foundation

Types of grants: Capital campaigns, conferences/seminars, employee matching gifts, equipment, general/operating support, program.

Description: Gannett is the largest newspaper company in the U.S. and also owns almost two dozen local television stations. The company has a rapidly evolving Internet presence through its newspapers and television stations, and also through freestanding web sites such as www.momslikeme.com. Established in 1991, the Foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, media and journalism, education, conservation, health, disaster relief, youth development, human services, diversity, community development, minorities, women and economically disadvantaged people.

The Foundation has a special interest in funding media. Specifically, it supports programs designed to promote media education, technological advances in the industry and the study of journalism, with particular attention to the First Amendment and its responsibilities. Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to promote diversity in Gannett newsrooms and media coverage; encourage women, minorities, and students to enter the field of journalism; and promote innovative training approaches for mid-career journalists.

Sample grants:

• $25,000 to Radio Television Digital News Foundation, Fredericksburg, VA for its Broadcast Management program, training mid-career minorities for news director positions (2004).
• $25,000 to Foundation for American Communications, Pasadena, CA for tele-seminar for journalists, 'Cracks in Community Glue: Covering Local Nonprofits in a Tight Economy' (2008).
• $22,329 to American Press Institute, Reston, VA for development of DVD interview with Dr. Helen Fisher on men/women relationships in newsrooms, for distribution at ASNE convention (2003).
• $20,000 to Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Television Journalism, Austin, TX for renewed support for management and ethics training for TV news directors in Austin and St. Petersburg (2003).
• $20,000 to National Association of Black Journalists, Adelphi, MD for student print/broadcast/online convergence project at convention in Dallas (2003).
• $10,000 to Radio Television Digital News Foundation, Fredericksburg, VA for continued support for Broadcast News Management Fellows program (2006).
• $10,000 to Detroit Educational Television Foundation-WTVS Channel 56, Wixom, MI for broadcast and outreach of daily 'Ready to Learn' TV programming and Nightly Business Report (2003).
• Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped, Des Moines, IA to provide radio receivers to blind and print handicapped Iowans so they may receive Iowa news and other information (2004).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has made multiple gifts for public media in multiple states, supporting local broadcast media in their communities. The Foundation has made 50 grants for radio/television projects over the past seven years, totaling more than $518,928.

Eligibility: Giving on a national and international basis in areas of company operations, with emphasis on Arizona, Washington DC, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Virginia. No support for private foundations, regional or national organizations not addressing local needs, elementary or secondary schools (except for special initiatives not provided by regular school budgets), political action or legislative advocacy groups, medical or research organizations. No grants to individuals (except for employee-related scholarships), or for religious programs or initiatives, endowments or multi-year pledge campaigns. 

Deadline: February and August

How to apply: Interested applicants should review grant guidelines. The Community Action Grant application form can be downloaded here. Once completed, it should be mailed to the nearest company daily newspaper or broadcast station. Proposals should be no longer than five pages. No inquiries should be made by phone or e-mail for Community Action Grants.

Organizations interested in applying for media grants should submit a letter of inquiry via e-mail to the Foundation headquarters. It is also recommended that organizations call in advance to discuss their project. 

Giving range: The average gift for radio/television is approximately $10,000. The Foundation has made gifts as high as $950,000.

Assets: $17,276,075 (2008) 

Total giving: $12,058,024 (2008)

Annual Report not available online. View financials here.