John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: Community Grants Program

The first step is to complete the foundation's online inquiry. There are no deadlines to submit an inquiry. Please do not submit an application until you have been invited to do so by the Grants Administrator or a Program Officer. Application form required.

The Communities Program funds projects that provide direct and measurable benefits to residents in our communities, and are at the highest levels of quality and innovation. Letters of Inquiry must respond to specific opportunities identified within a community and should be developed only after extended conversations with foundation staff. The Communities Program aims to improve the quality of life in 26 U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. In every community, Knight Foundation's program directors look to local advisory committees to provide critical insight and help identify big ideas and transformational opportunities. Funding is provided for the following purposes: (1) Well-being of Children and Families: To provide all children and youth with opportunities for positive growth and development and to give all parents resources they need to strengthen their families. (2) Economic Development To help all adults gain access to jobs and to build alliances among government, business and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunities for residents; (3) Housing and Community Development: To provide all residents with access to affordable and decent housing in safe, drug-free neighborhoods; and to provide a continuum that includes everything from services for the homeless to affordable opportunities for home ownership; (4) Education: To help all residents gain the knowledge and skills necessary to reach economic self-sufficiency, remain active learners; to be good parents and effective citizens in a democracy; and to provide an environment in which talented individuals refine and develop their abilities; (5) Civic Engagement and Positive Human Relations: To encourage and enable all residents to participate effectively in the democratic process, form ties to local institutions and strengthen relationships with one another; (6) Vitality of Cultural Life: To provide all residents access to a wide variety of artistic and cultural pursuits, to nourish creativity in children, youth and adults. The trustees prefer not to fund: requests for support of fundraising events; requests to cover operating deficits; charities operated by service clubs; activities that are normally the responsibility of government (the foundation will, in selective cases, join with units of government in supporting special projects); medical research; organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate and/or alleviate the effects of a specific disease; requests from hospitals (unless they are for community-wide capital campaigns with a stated goal and beginning and ending dates, or for specific projects that meet Foundation goals); activities to propagate a religious faith or restricted to one religion or denomination; support of political candidates; memorials; international programs and organizations, except U.S.-based organizations supporting a free press around the world; a second request for a capital campaign for which the Foundation previously approved a grant; or conferences, group travel, or honoraria for distinguished guests, except in initiatives of the Foundation in all three cases. The trustees emphasize that the above is a public list of preferences, not strict prohibitions.

History of Funds:

In 2007, the foundation provided more than $121 million in grant funding. 107 of the grants provided were community grants; information about these grants, including their amounts, is provided at http://www.knightfoundation.org/grants/grant_results.dot?program_area=Communities%20Program&year=2007.

Average Award:

Varies

Name: John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Department: Attn: Grant Request

Street: Wachovia Financial Ctr., Ste. 3300

200 S. Biscayne Blvd.

City: Miami

Zip: 33131-2349

Fax: 305-908-2698