Maria Duran, a California Local News fellow and reporter for El Tecolote, takes notes in her journal for a story RV displacement in the Lake Merced neighborhood in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight Local

When Press Forward launched two years ago, we had an ambitious five-year goal: to mobilize $500 million to strengthen the local news that serves communities. Today, we’re proud to share that our network of funders has invested more than $400 million in just two years – an amount that will continue to grow. 

This milestone is more than a number. It speaks to how deeply people care about sustaining reliable, independent local news —from Alaska to South Florida, and every community in between. It’s proof too that funders and donors understand what’s at stake: that strong local news is a trusted touchstone for communities.  

Undoubtedly, the challenges facing local news are very real and evolving – put in stark relief by this summer’s Congressional vote to stop funding for public media. However, the progress is real too, and we wanted to bring that to the forefront today by publishing our 2025 mid-year impact report, which highlights our recent accomplishments, and an external analysis from Impact Architects on the priorities, growth, and grantmaking within our network. 

Download the Mid-Year Impact Report.
Download Press Forward: Two Years of Catalytic Support for Local News.

These reports serve a dual purpose: to illustrate how, where, and why funding is being invested, as well as the growth of the network that makes it possible.  

Here are a few highlights from both:  

• Public demand for reliable local news and information is strong: even with the proliferation of social media and an abundance of information, Americans still value local news very much. In fact, our national poll found 93% of Americans want independent local news in their communities, and 66% rely on local news to make everyday decisions. 

• Our funder network is community-rooted and increasing resources to sustain local news: Local leaders nationwide have stepped up to support local news by creating Press Forward chapters – with the newest of our 41 chapters in El Paso and Indiana. Our network has grown from 22 to 110+ funders – and more than 70% are place-based. Perhaps most importantly – more than two-thirds report they have increased their funding for local news as a result of joining Press Forward. Approximately 40% are new to the space, having supported local news and information for five years or less. 

• Hyperlocal and local newsrooms received the largest number of grants from Press Forward’s network: Nearly two-thirds of all grants from Press Forward’s network went to individual newsrooms, for a total of 769 newsrooms funded.  Nonprofit newsrooms received the bulk of that funding. While much of the funding was from national funders and Press Forward’s own Pooled Fund, many local chapters are already making grants directly to newsrooms, including in Appalachia, Arizona, Chicago, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and other states and regions.  
• More than half of the dollars invested in journalism support organizations (JSOs) went to funding intermediaries, which provide grants as well as technical support to local news organizations: JSOs provide critical infrastructure —including technical assistance, training, shared services, and even fractional staff — for a wide range of newsrooms nationwide. Press Forward’s national funding partners invested heavily in intermediaries such as American Journalism Project, Report for America, the Institute for Nonprofit News’ NewsMatch, and others that provide direct grants in addition to services. 
• Local chapters are advocating for local news and raising new resources: In cities and states across the U.S., our chapters are commissioning research on the local supply and demand for trusted news and information. About half have started grantmaking, while others are convening local leaders, providing capacity building and training for newsrooms, and more. 

• Press Forward funders share a common vision and approach to investing in local news: As a group, the network overwhelmingly prioritizes ensuring access for all to reliable local news and information, promoting civic engagement, and increasing representation of underrepresented voices and communities. They put far less emphasis on aligning their investments in local news with their other organizational priorities. 

Last week, we met with over 200 members of our network in Charlotte, and I’m thrilled to report that our resolve remains strong. We know that our participation in Press Forward is a long-term investment that will lead to stronger communities.  As we enter our third year, we’re looking forward to all that’s ahead.  

Dale Anglin is the executive director of Press Forward.