We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community,
research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.
Call (305) 908-2600 to speak with our operator.
Send an email to web@knightfoundation.org if you don’t know a Knight staff member’s e-mail address.
Send postal mail to John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 2850 Tigertail Ave., Suite 600, Miami, FL 33133
Check out their profile page. There’s a link next to their photo.
We provide several opportunities. Check out our Apply for Funding page for the latest.
Visit knightlogo.org.
We do not pay indirect administrative fees to grantee organizations.We may make exceptions if you are providing a
necessary service directly related to the grant. Based on the recommendation of program staff, on an case-by-case
basis, we will consider indirect fee payments of up to 10 percent of a proposed grant.
We primarily fund U.S.-based organizations.
There are no restrictions on how often you may submit a funding request.
We review letters of inquiry frequently. After the review, we will send you an e-mail that either invites you to submit a
full proposal, or explains why we are not interested in funding the request. (Submit one here.)
We do not have deadlines as part of our standard grant-making process (you can submit a letter of inquiry anytime).
Initiatives such as the Knight Arts Challenge and Knight Cities Challenge have specific start and end dates.
John S. “Jack” Knight and James L. “Jim” Knight founded Knight Newspapers. The company merged with Ridder
Publications and became Knight-Ridder Newspapers in 1974, and eventually Knight Ridder Inc. In 2006 the
McClatchy Co. purchased Knight Ridder. John S. Knight died in 1981 and James L. Knight died in 1991. The
foundation is their legacy to communities where they had newspaper operations through 1991 and to the profession of
journalism in general. Read more about the Knight brothers’ legacy.
Yes. Here is a list of programs Knight prefers not to fund:
Requests for support of fundraising events;
Charities operated by service clubs;
Activities that are normally the responsibility of government. (The foundation will, in selective cases, join with units of
government in supporting special projects.)
Medical research;
Organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate or alleviate the effects of a specific disease;
Requests from hospitals (unless they are for community-wide capital campaigns with a stated goal and beginning
and ending dates or for specific projects that meet foundation goals.)
Activities to propagate a religious faith or restricted to one religion or denomination;
Support of political candidates;
Memorials;
Group travel and honoraria for distinguished guests — except in foundation initiatives;
Scholarships for individuals.
Follow these directions to Knight Foundation in downtown Miami.
We’ll let you know by email or mail.
Some other funders include Ford Foundation; Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation; McCormick Tribune
Foundation; Scripps Howard Foundation; Gannett Foundation; Hearst Foundation; and Open Society Foundations.