Knight Foundation will match gifts to MarylandReporter.com

MarylandReporter.com is one of 57 nonprofit news organizations from around the country that will receive matching grants for any donations received over the next month until Jan. 19.

donate-160x280-textAny donation of any size up to $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Knight Foundation, a major funder of nonprofit journalism. A $5 donation is worth $10, a $50 gift is worth $100, and $500 contribution is worth $1,000. Donations are tax deductible because MarylandReporter.com is a IRS designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Dubbed Knight News Match, the $1.5 million program was “inspired by the surge in giving to nonprofit news organizations around the country,” said Jennifer Preston, vice president for journalism at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, whose original funding came from the profits of the newspaper business.

“The cap is now set at $25,000 in matching funds per organization,” Preston said in a surprise email to the grantees Thursday morning. “Our hope is that you will be able to be able to use this fund to raise awareness about the important value of the journalism you are delivering and to expand your small donor base at a time when people are recognizing the value of quality journalism, amid concerns in fake news and an overall decline in trust in journalism.”

The timing of the unexpected matching rant is a bit awkward for MarylandReporter.com, since we just completed our major annual fundraiser Nov. 29 which raised close to $30,000.

If you’re among the 150 people who contributed to this year’s annual fundraiser, we’re grateful. But if you haven’t contributed or can spare any more before Jan. 19, please send a check to the address below or use the donate button to the right.

Thank you.

Len Lazarick, Editor and Publisher

MarylandReporter.com

6392 Shadowshape Place

Columbia, MD 21045

About The Author

Len Lazarick

len@marylandreporter.com

Len Lazarick was the founding editor and publisher of MarylandReporter.com and is currently the president of its nonprofit corporation and chairman of its board He was formerly the State House bureau chief of the daily Baltimore Examiner from its start in April 2006 to its demise in February 2009. He was a copy editor on the national desk of the Washington Post for eight years before that, and has spent decades covering Maryland politics and government.