The Knight Foundation Fund was established at the Legacy Foundation in 2002 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Through its Communities Program, Knight uses Donor Advised Funds at local community foundations to make investments in the 26 communities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once owned newspapers. Gary, Indiana is one of the 26 communities, with Legacy Foundation as the designated community foundation partner.
Knight Foundation works to foster informed and engaged communities, which it believes are essential for a healthy democracy. Knight Foundation’s competitive advantage is its national stature, knowledge, and network. In many cities, Knight is the funder and stakeholder most willing to take risks and prototype new ideas. Knight operates on a small scale in Gary, and therefore intentionally seeks to build upon the natural momentum of the community, focus in geographically (often in the downtown), while also leveraging existing assets and resources.
Those interested in applying for a grant from the Knight Fund at Legacy Foundation should interact with Legacy Foundation staff rather than directly with Knight. Knight Foundation Fund grants are legally grants from the Legacy Foundation, which works with Knight to select opportunities to support.
Knight Foundation works to inform and engage communities through three major types of work, all of which are intended to leverage existing resources and momentum:
· Building on Assets: better connecting the community to key assets like universities, corporations, or nature.
· Public Spaces: enhancing the public realm to be more connected and vibrant.
· Civic Engagement: breaking down barriers between residents and decision makers; engaging underrepresented communities in civic life and leadership roles.
Projects should be innovative and intentionally seek to build upon the natural momentum of the community while leveraging existing assets and resources.
Key focus areas:
· Talent attraction and retention and economic opportunity
· Entrepreneurship
· Creative solutions for blight reduction and places that bridge economic divides.
· Downtown revitalization as demonstrated by a reduction in blight and a more vibrant, livable downtown.
Eligibility and Criteria
Applicants to the Knight Foundation Fund must be:
· Exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3).
· A government entity or education institution with an innovative project within the scope of Knight Foundation Fund’s grantmaking framework that benefits the community.
· In good standing as a not-for-profit with the Secretary of State’s office.
· Grant may range from $2,000 to $50,000.
· Multiple grant years might be considered if a proposal is compelling. However, multiple grant years are not guaranteed.
· Grants will only be made to organizations for projects that are geographically focused on Gary, Indiana. Organizations may apply if their project is a bi-city or Lake County wide effort, as long as the focus is on Gary and there are other funders helping to support the initiative.
· Grant requests for the Knight Foundation Fund for Gary may only be made through this application process. Requests will no longer be accepted through letters of inquiry or on a rolling deadline.
Application (Due 11:59 pm on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Recipients will be notified by November 6, 2019. Projects to begin by December 1, 2019.)
Begin Accepting Applications Date:
9/01/2019
Deadline Date (CST Time Zone):
10/06/2019 11:59 PM