Triple your impact to local news

Press Forward Matching Challenge 2027

During Local News Day, gifts to newsrooms in
12 communities will be tripled, up to each newsroom’s match goal.

Press Forward x Matching Challenge

Join Press Forward for a virtual information session on the Matching Challenge: October 30 @ 1 p.m. ET. Register now.

Press Forward Matching Challenge 2027

Celebrating Local News Day

The Press Forward Matching Challenge is a new national campaign to raise money for local newsrooms in 12 communities, timed to Local News Day on April 8, 2027.

During the campaign, gifts to participating newsrooms will be tripled, matched by Press Forward and the local Press Forward chapter, up to a match goal set by each participating community.

Why it matters

Local newsrooms are how neighbors learn what’s happening at city hall, in their schools, and on their streets. Support from readers is one of the strongest foundations a newsroom can build, and this campaign makes gifts go three times as far.

This campaign builds on the model and success of INN’s NewsMatch, the largest fundraising campaign for nonprofit news, and offers capacity building training for newsrooms new to raising support.

The Matching Challenge also expands the model, opening applications to for and nonprofit news outlets.

Newsrooms: Applications to be a part of the challenge will be available Nov. 2, 2026.

Participating Communities

These are the Press Forward communities that are participating in this year’s Matching Challenge. Check their sites for details on the challenge in November. Press Forward Blue Grass Press Forward Central Valley Press Forward Colorado Press Forward Indiana Press Forward Iowa Press Forward Maine Press Forward Mississippi Press Forward Montana Press Forward New Jersey Press Forward San Antonio Press Forward Vermont Press Forward Washington

Information for newsrooms on how to apply to be a part of the Matching Challenge will be available Nov. 2, 2026.

These are the Press Forward communities that are participating in this year’s Matching Challenge. Check their sites for details on the challenge in November.

Applications open Nov. 2 through Press Forward local chapters.

We’re looking for newsrooms excited about:

  • Growing audiences
  • Building reader revenue
  • Participating in a coordinated giving campaign, all while
  • Producing original, local reporting connected to the community it serves.

Selected newsrooms will run a month-long community fundraising campaign from April 1 – 30, 2027. Each chapter sets eligibility requirements and a match cap for its newsrooms.

Participants receive:

  • A fundraising toolkit with a campaign plan and ready-to-use templates
  • Virtual training sessions co-hosted by Press Forward and your chapter
  • Optional access to the Mightycause fundraising platform

Now through March 2027, participating chapters are fundraising for local match pools. Contact local chapters directly to contribute, or reach out to Press Forward to be connected.

Then, from April 1 – 30, 2027, gifts to participating newsrooms will be tripled until each newsroom reaches its match goal.

Give directly to your local newsroom in early April to make sure your gift is tripled – and spread the word on Local News Day, April 8, 2027.  Every dollar you give goes straight to the newsrooms your community relies on.