Our resource library includes frameworks, research, tip sheets, case studies and more to help you think through how to do your work more effectively.
Please check back frequently as we continue to build out these materials. Is there a resource you'd like to see? Contact Shannon Thomas, Manager of Member Engagement: shannon@mediafunders.org.
Learning Pillar Hubs
MIF’s work is organized around a set of thematic pillars that reflect the core challenges and opportunities facing media funders today. Each of these learning hubs brings together resources related to each pillar, making it easier to stay oriented over time. These hubs are updated continuously as new work, insights and conversations emerge.
Future of Public Media
Supporting funders working to strengthen public media as a trusted, resilient civic institution. This includes questions of sustainability, governance, innovation and public service in a rapidly evolving media environment.
Platforms & Audience Reach
Helping funders understand how platforms, algorithms and distribution systems shape who sees and trusts information, and what it takes for public-interest media to reach and engage audiences today.
Effective Philanthropic Practice
Advancing shared learning about best practices in funding media effectively.
Safeguarding Media & Journalism
Addressing the threats facing independent media and journalism, including political pressure, legal risk, safety concerns and challenges to press freedom, integrity and trust.
Resource Library
Members Only
A Field-Level View of Local Journalism Infrastructure: In Conversation with Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro
Presentation and Q&A with researcher and author of the new report: "Rebuilding Journalism at Scale"
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
A Funder’s Guide to Building Social Cohesion
Get started with recommended entry points to funding democratic health and bridge building
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PACE
Effective Grantmaking Practice
A Guide to Assessing Your Local News Ecosystem
Step-by-step toolkit for funding news in your community
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Democracy Fund
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
A Snapshot of Global Journalism Funding in 2024
A report on the state of global journalism funding
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • International Journalism
A Strategic Framework to Guide Investments in Narrative Change
Philanthropy best practices for narrative change
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USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
A Toolkit for Inclusion & Accessibility
Toolkit for inclusion and accessibility in documentary film
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FWD-Doc
Effective Grantmaking Practice
Arts + Social Impact Explorer
Interactive tool for tracking impact in the arts
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Americans for the Arts
Arts and Culture • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Best Practices for Supporting Elections & Democracy Reporting
In a session from the 2023 Journalism Funders Gathering, Angelica Das, Director of Equitable Journalism at Democracy Fund, shares best practices for supporting elections and democracy reporting. Drawing on data from a community listening project with Democracy Fund grantees, Das outlines concrete ways funders can shift their approach to…
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Democracy Fund
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Democracy/Free Expression • Effective Grantmaking Practice
Beyond the Impact Report
The most overlooked and urgent issues in social impact documentary
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Communication Matters
One of the original models from the Communications Network, this framework was built on extensive research across the social sector to support communication practitioners. Informed in part by communications leaders in philanthropy, the model organizes communications attributes across four key dimensions: Brand, Culture, Strategy, and Action. Use This Guide To:…
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The Communications Network
Effective Grantmaking Practice
Communications Strategies That Fast Track Policy Change
Using Media to Effect Policy Change
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Media Impact Funders
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Media Access & Policy
Community Foundations & Journalism: Funding Data from 2009-2019
How Community Foundations support local journalism
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Local Journalism
Community Foundations & Media: Funding Data from 2009-2021
How Community Foundations support local journalism
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Media Impact Funders
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Decoding Media Impact: Insights, Advice & Recommendations
Overview of the current state of impact assessment
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Elev8Docs: A Documentary Marketing Initiative
Eight case studies on marketing experiments that tested different approaches to connecting audiences with films.
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Color Congress
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Platforms & Audience
Environmental Media Grantmaking: How Funders Are Tipping the Scales Toward Change
Highlighting trends in environmental grantmaking
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Environment/Climate • Impact Evaluation
Executing Accessible Zoom Meetings
Our step-by-step guide to hosting accessible virtual meetings
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice
Foundation Maps for Media Funding
Media Grants Map How-To Guide
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Members Only
From Pop Culture to Public Benefit: Funding Entertainment that Creates Change
Our Nov. 2025 network meeting featured a discussion with Luminate’s Kristel Muciño, Cinereach’s Candice McFarlane, and Common Era’s Yonah Schiller on how philanthropy can strategically engage in the public-benefit entertainment space. We talked about what public-benefit entertainment is, why it matters, and how funders can use it to advance…
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Platforms & Audience
Funder Perspectives: Assessing Media Investments
How Field Leaders Built Their Assessment Strategy
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Funding Journalism, Finding Innovation: Success Stories and Ideas for Creative, Sustainable Partnerships
Case study report on early journalism funding practices
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Local Journalism
Funding the News: Foundations and Nonprofit Media
Landmark report on philanthropy in news
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Global Media Philanthropy: What Funders Need to Know About Data, Trends and Pressing Issues Facing the Field
MIF’s first survey of international journalism trends
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Media Impact Funders
Democracy/Free Expression • Effective Grantmaking Practice • International Journalism
Guidance on Philanthropic Funding of Media and News
Ethics guidance for new funders
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American Press Institute
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
How Foundations Can Foster Diversity & Inclusion
A playbook on advancing equity in philanthropy
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Chronicle of Philanthropy
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Racial Justice
How Funding Local News Ecosystems Helps American Communities Thrive
Learnings from five years of strategic regional local news funding
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Democracy Fund
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Impact Assessment for Nonprofit News Projects and their Funders
How-To Guide for Developing Assessment Strategies
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Media Impact Funders
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Impact Pack
A card deck to spark conversations about impact
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Dot Connector Studios
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Platforms & Audience
Inside MIF’s Film Funder Gathering
Our annual film funder gathering in Park City, Utah brought together 65+ philanthropic organizations for a morning of collaboration and learning ahead of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Effective Grantmaking Practice
Journalism and Media Funding in Europe
Survey & key findings of journalism and media funders across Europe from 2025
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Philea
Effective Grantmaking Practice • International Journalism
Journalism and Media Grantmaking: Five Things You Need to Know and Five Ways to Get Started
The beginner’s guide to media grantmaking
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Local Journalism
Journalism and Philanthropy: Growth, Diversity and Potential Conflicts of Interest
The role and influence of philanthropic funding for journalism
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Local Journalism
Journalism Grantmaking: New Funding, Models and Partnerships to Sustain and Grow the Field
Ten years of media philanthropy, 2009-2019
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Local Journalism
Legal Compliance Guidances
Legal reference materials on a variety of matters affecting funders and nonprofits updated regularly
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Council on Foundations
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Safety & Security
Members Only
Media Grantmaking: Where to Start
MIF's recommended resources for new media funders
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Media Grants Data Map
MIF’s Powerful Data Insights Tool
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Meeting the Revenue Challenge – Philanthropy’s Role in Local News Growth
A look at how far along the local news field is on the road to sustainability
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Wyncote Foundation
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Members Only
Meeting the Revenue Challenge: In Conversation with the report’s authors
A conversation with the authors of “Meeting the Revenue Challenge”
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Narrative Infrastructure for Narrative Immersion
A grantmaking framework for narrative infrastructure strategy
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Pop Culture Collab
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Platforms & Audience
Members Only
Navigating Legal Boundaries in Media Support & Advocacy
In today’s shifting legal and policy landscape, funders and practitioners face complex questions about what is—and isn’t—permissible when supporting media and journalism. This meeting offered practical guidance across two key areas: Initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion: What types of funding are permissible in light of recent…
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Safety & Security
Members Only
Options for Responding to Emergency Funding Needs
Our Oct. 2025 network meeting featured a discussion between MIF Members Sarabeth Berman, CEO of American Journalism Project (AJP) and Liz Baker, Senior Director of Public Engagement at Humanity United (HU) on how funders can think about grantmaking for organizations facing financial emergencies and…
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • International Journalism • Safety & Security
Pew-Knight Initiative Media Habits
Ongoing audience research on civic information & local news
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Pew Research Center
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Media Access & Policy • Platforms & Audience
Philanthropy’s New Voice: Building Trust with Deeper Stories and Clear Language
A guide to help foundations build trust with their communities through story
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Council on Foundations
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Practical Grantmaking: INN on How to Find and Support Small, Strong Newsrooms
Practical ways funders can find, support and scale small and strong local newsrooms
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Institute for Nonprofit News
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Members Only
Public Media Bridge Fund Q&A Session
The announcement of the Public Media Bridge Fund marks a critical next step in protecting public media at a time of system-wide risk, as evidenced by Knight Foundation’s leadership in supporting this catalytic effort. Designed to provide immediate emergency support to the most vulnerable stations while also laying the…
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism • Public Media
Radio & Audio Grantmaking: Reaching New Audiences Through Old Platforms
Making the case for radio and audio grantmaking
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Platforms & Audience
Rebuilding Local Journalism at Scale: A Field-Level Analysis of Infrastructure Needs
An analysis of infrastructure challenges across local journalism
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Media Impact Funders
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Six Ways to Shift Your Philanthropic Mindset
In a session from the 2023 Journalism Funders Gathering, Crystal Hayling, former executive director of the Libra Foundation, shares six ways to shift your philanthropic mindset to meet the past and be an active force in bending history’s arc toward justice.
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Crystal Hayling
Democracy/Free Expression • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Justice
Storytelling for Good
Craft stronger messages for your organization
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The Communications Network
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation
Members Only
Strategies for Supporting Narrative Change Work
Our Jan. 2026 network meeting furthered conversations we’ve been having around support for public-benefit media, strategies for reaching new and different audiences, and the role of platforms and distribution in funding decisions. The discussion featured two narrative change funders focused on climate media: Ricky Benavidez, Director…
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Media Impact Funders
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Environment/Climate • Impact Evaluation
The Creator Journalism Trust and Credibility Toolkit
Tips for funders on creator journalists
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Lenfest Institute
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Misinformation/Disinformation • Platforms & Audience
The Filmmaker-Participant Relationship Unpacked
A thorough examination of the filmmaker-participant relationship in documentary filmmaking
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ITVS
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Safety & Security
The Narrative Directory
A tool for sharing resources to support narrative change
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IRIS
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Impact Evaluation • Platforms & Audience
Members Only
The New Realities of Documentary Funding
This meeting examined the current state of documentary public media, including how federal funding cuts have affected the sector, and opportunities for funders to engage and support this work. Featured Speakers: Carrie Lozano, President & CEO, ITVS Lauren Pabst, Senior Program Officer, MacArthur Foundation…
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Public Media
The People of Color Documentary Ecosystem: Engines for a New American Narrative
Landscape study on diversity in documentary film
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Color Congress
Arts and Culture • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Racial Justice
The Pivotal Role of Grantmakers in Supporting Successful Mergers & Acquisitions Among Nonprofit Media Organizations
The do’s and don’ts of supporting successful integrations between nonprofit media organizations
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Platforms & Audience
This Is Local News Now
A report on rethinking local news stakeholders
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Press Forward
Civic Engagement/Civic Information • Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism
Unlocking U.S. audience demand for international news
This study, written by former Global Press CEO Cristi Hegranes and COO Laxmi Parthasarathy, reveals significant untapped demand for higher-quality international journalism among U.S. readers across diverse demographics, including noncitizen, diaspora, and migrant populations. Drawing on a rigorous methodology—including a nationwide survey of more than 1,200 U.S.-based international news readers,…
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Media Impact Funders
Democracy/Free Expression • Effective Grantmaking Practice • International Journalism
Words that Work
A toolkit to help funders talk about local news
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Press Forward
Effective Grantmaking Practice • Local Journalism