CMP/LMA Journalism Funding Lab (United States)

The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding, made possible with continuing support from Google News Initiative, has helped more than 100 news organizations across the U.S. raise more than $22 million to support local journalism since 2020.

The Colorado News Philanthropy Lab is made possible with support to LMA from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and contributors to CMP’s general fund, including Gates Family Foundation, The Colorado Health Foundation, Democracy Fund, and Bohemian Foundation. In May, LMA launched another state-focused cohort in Pennsylvania in partnership with the Pennsylvania News Media Association.

What newsrooms will do?

• Each newsroom in the cohort will work with LMA coaches and CMP staff to:
  • Set a fundraising goal, in consultation with the coaches, that is in line with that publisher’s market size.
  • Develop a list of fundraising prospects, and develop a pitch deck and campaign materials to promote their newsroom and their project.
  • Meet with funders and other lab participants in person at the CMP Summit on August 22.
  • Participate in the end-of-year #newsCOneeds fundraising campaign with support from CMP and the Colorado Gives Foundation.
  • Contribute best practices and lessons learned for case studies and an industry playbook published in 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• Community-based, locally controlled Colorado news organizations are invited to apply to join this state-centered cohort to learn how to develop local journalism projects that are responsive to community priorities and can be funded through philanthropy.
• Applicants must be producing original, local news for Colorado audiences at least weekly; priority will be given to newsrooms with philanthropic giving programs that are less than five years old.
• Local news partnerships or coalitions are also encouraged to apply, particularly if they have a joint initiative that they are seeking to fund via philanthropy.
• Preference will be given to Colorado news organizations that:
  • Have strong local leadership with deep ties to the community.
  • Are focused on high-quality local journalism.
  • Have leadership-level buy-in to participate in this lab and an organizational commitment to dedicate staff time and resources.
  • Value staff and leadership diversity.
  • Are relatively new to raising philanthropic support for local news (membership and/or grant programs of less than five years OR new staff members who could benefit from this training and cohort).

For more information, visit LMA.