Press Forward Chicago – Capacity Building Grant 2025 Now Open for Applications

Press Forward Chicago, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, in partnership with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and native journalism donors and practitioners, is now accepting purposes for its 2025 Capacity Building Grant. This one-time funding alternative will help native and hyperlocal media retailers throughout the Chicago area in rising their viewers, strengthening monetary sustainability, and revitalising native journalism.

About Press Forward Chicago

Administered by The Chicago Community Trust, Press Forward Chicago was established to catalyse revolutionary options to the challenges going through native information organisations. By funding various media retailers and investing within the long-term well being of the area’s information ecosystem, the initiative goals to strengthen civic participation, enhance entry to credible data, and elevate the voices of underrepresented communities.

This particular Request for Proposals (RFP) focuses on capability constructing — serving to native newsrooms develop their viewers and develop sustainable income methods.

Broader Funding Context

Press Forward Chicago aligns with The Chicago Community Trust’s broader strategic precedence of narrowing the racial and ethnic wealth hole. By supporting native journalism, the initiative seeks to raise group voices, strengthen entry to trusted data, and drive financial fairness by civic empowerment.

The Trust prioritises funding that:

• Expands group entry to data

• Supports Black and Latine-led information organisations

• Addresses the financial challenges of media sustainability in underinvested communities

• Fosters collaboration throughout media, nonprofits, and civic stakeholders

Why This Grant Matters

Despite Chicago’s vibrant media panorama, many community-focused information retailers battle to maintain up with the quickly evolving digital setting. This grant addresses the essential want for assets and instruments that allow native media to:

• Scale efficient enterprise methods

• Expand attain and group engagement

• Build lasting infrastructure for native reporting

• Test new, scalable income fashions

Grant Purpose & Priorities

The 2025 Capacity Building Grant will fund one or each of the next focus areas:

1. Audience Growth and Engagement

Support for efforts to extend attain throughout platforms, together with newsletters, digital campaigns, and group engagement methods.

2. Sustainability

Support for retailers experimenting with new enterprise fashions or refining current ones to construct long-term monetary well being.

Grant Amounts and Term

• Grant dimension: Between $25,000 and $75,000

• Grant sort: One-year, one-time funding

• Eligible entities: Media corporations or nonprofit newsrooms serving the Chicago area

Timeline

• Application deadline: 8 May 2025

• Site visits (as wanted): May–June 2025

• Funding choices: July 2025

• Public announcement: August–September 2025

How to Apply

Applications have to be submitted by GrantCentral — The Chicago Community Trust’s user-friendly on-line grant portal. For technical questions on GrantCentral, contact: grants@cct.org. ForGeneral enquiries, contact Tracy Baim – tbaim@cct.org

Visit the complete application tips and eligibility data on Press Forward Chicago intiative page.

Please go to the Opportunities for Youth web site for extra funding alternatives.

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