How are newsrooms selected to receive partner funds? And what can I do to showcase my organization's work?

How are newsrooms selected to receive partner funds?

The first step is to apply to participate in NewsMatch. Newsrooms are considered for partner funds based on the information they submit in their NewsMatch application. As part of the application, INN members share details about their issue areas, target audiences, leadership demographics, and stories of impact. This data helps NewsMatch identify which organizations align with that year’s partner funds.

Besides completing the application, there are no additional steps your organization needs to take to be considered for partner funds.

From there, selection happens in two ways:

• Direct selection by funders: The funder identifies the newsroom recipients and award amounts for their dedicated fund.
• Priority-based selection: The funder defines fund priorities (e.g., New England-based outlets, with additional support to rural-serving organizations). INN then generates a list of eligible newsrooms using those criteria and the funder approves the allocation.

It’s important to note that meeting the criteria for a partner fund does not guarantee additional matching funds. In many cases, the pool of eligible newsrooms is larger than the number of organizations a funder can support. Partner funds are not guaranteed to recipient newsrooms year-to-year.

What can I do to showcase my organization's work?

The most important step is to complete the NewsMatch application thoughtfully and thoroughly. The information you provide is the basis for determining eligibility for partner funds.

Beyond the application, funders or INN may also look at your newsroom’s reporting, mission statement, and stories of impact—especially what’s published on your website—when making funding decisions. To put your best foot forward, we recommend:

• Ensuring your website clearly communicates your newsroom’s mission and values.
• Highlighting the quality of your journalism with recent examples of impactful reporting.
• Sharing stories or testimonials that show how your work serves and strengthens your community.

By making your mission, impact, and quality of reporting easy to find and understand, you increase your chances of resonating with funders who want to support nonprofit news.