Foundation Fellows Grants

The PNA Foundation Fellows Fund for the Future has set aside money for journalism grants for news organizations to fund to new initiatives or enhance current projects. Grant funds can be used for hiring correspondents for specific initiatives, purchasing equipment and providing staff training, as well as other project expenses. Grants may be used to fund part or all of a project, but they should not be used to offset the cost of day-to-day operations. Since 2019, PNA Foundation has proudly donated more than $54,500 across Pennsylvania to fund podcasts, internships and student fellowships, special freelance coverage, database training, diversity efforts, climate change reporting, technology enhancements and new audience-growth products.

In 1991, the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers’ Association Foundation established a Fellows Fund to advance press freedoms, improve journalism education, promote the public’s “right to know” and further the cause of literacy in Pennsylvania. The Fellows fund supported the overall mission of the foundation while earmarking dollars for specific programs that included student internships and educational excursions. In 2012, we reignited the spirit of giving through an expanded and multitiered Fellows program of support.

For more information on what Fellows’ monies support and how to become a Fellow, visit our Fellows page.

Application process:

1. Complete and sign the 2025 Fellows Grant Application.

2. Provide a summary of the project, not to exceed one page, and be specific about how the grant would help meet your organization’s strategic goals. To help the committee fully understand your project, please state the goals, the timeline of the project, and its projected cost. Provide an overview of the initiative and explain how the grant would help meet your organization’s strategic goals, and specifically what audience or journalism goal is being targeted. Because grants are not intended to supplant regular operating plan expenses, please explain how your project would advance strategic objectives to grow audience, improve engagement, or impact the depth and diversification of editorial content. Explain the need or financial constraints that led you to apply for this grant. If the grant request intends to fund an intern position, a training, supervision and coaching plan should be provided to the project intern. Please refer to the Department of Labor’s “primary beneficiary” guidelines for internships to determine whether an intern can be considered a trainee and not a full-time employee eligible for overtime pay and benefits.

3. In addition to providing your grant justification referenced above, recipients are to provide a one-page status report six months into the project and at its conclusion, as per the deadlines to be assigned by the PNA project administrator. In the summary, specifically mention, for example, audience growth successes and provide links to articles, databases or other work products associated with the project grant.

4. Submit your completed application and summary to foundation@pa-news.org by the biannual deadline of April 30 or Oct. 31. Organizations are eligible to submit one grant request per year.

Please note: If you are not selected to receive a grant for your application in the term that you applied, your application will automatically roll over into the next grant term for reconsideration. If denied for the second time in said reconsideration term, the application will become null and void. You may resubmit the same application or revised application after that time.

New to requesting grants? 

Check out these helpful tips. The Fellows Grant selection committee requires the explanation of goals, timelines and expenses, with the understanding that preliminary and final reports are required to prove how outcomes matched the goals as well as the effectiveness of the efforts. When submitting preliminary and final reports, grant recipients should answer the following questions about their program or project:

• How have the funds been used?
• How have the goals of the program or project been accomplished?
• Who was served?
• What was the impact? Mention specific audience improvements, for example.
• Submit any brochures, news articles or products created by the grant. Links to stories, podcasts, videos, testimonials, etc., are encouraged.
• If the grant funds have not been spent and the grant’s purpose is not achieved, explain and provide a timetable for completion.

Questions can be directed to Teresa Shaak or (717) 703-3003

*The Foundation Fellows Grant Committee reserves the right to award no grant, or to award a lesser amount than requested. Incomplete grant applications may be disqualified from consideration or additional information may be requested.

The PNA Foundation Fellows Fund for the Future exists to advance the mission of the Foundation, meeting critical needs and enhancing opportunities for industry professionals and students. Through the annual support of Sustaining Fellows, monies are designated for special programming and projects. The official registration and financial information of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.