STATEMENT OF STRATEGYThis is a statement of our core beliefs, our approach to our mission and our statement of the strategic direction of our work. It is not cast in stone. Like the Knight brothers, we believe their foundation should evolve with time, society and technology, while always focusing on ways to make relevant their passion for informing and engaging communities.Knight FoundationKF_a1198cd6-ebbf-11df-ae5d-52537a64ea2aJohn S. and James L. Knight believed that a well-informed community could best determine its own true interests and was essential to a well-functioning representative democracy. The brothers pursued those beliefs, building and running one of the largest and most commercially successful newspaper companies in America in the 20th century; they were known for their journalistic principles and openness to evolving technology.James L. KnightThe Knights also formed Knight Foundation. In the words of James L. Knight, their foundation was to promote excellence in journalism and the success of the communities in which they worked, and they were not otherwise prescriptive. Decades after the demise of both brothers, the company was sold but their foundation remains.John S. KnightLike their newspaper company, the foundation has evolved over time and continues to do so. This flexibility is intentional; as John S. Knight wrote, "a truly effective foundation should have freedom to exercise its best judgment as required by the times and conditions under which they live." What remains constant is Knight Foundation’s commitment to informing and bettering our communities.Knight Foundation Direct GranteesWhere We Fund DirectlyAkron, OhioCharlotte, North CarolinaDetroitMacon, GeorgiaMiamiPhiladelphiaSan Jose, CaliforniaSt. Paul, MinnesotaKnight Foundation Indirect GranteesWhere We Fund IndirectlyAberdeen, South DakotaBiloxi, MississippiBoulder, ColoradoBradenton, FloridaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbus, GeorgiaDuluth, MinnesotaFt. Wayne, IndianaGary, IndianaGrand Forks, North DakotaLexington, KentuckyLong Beach, CaliforniaMilledgeville, GeorgiaMyrtle Beach, South CarolinaPalm Beach County, FloridaState College, PennsylvaniaTallahassee, FloridaWichita, KansasWell-informed communities determine their own true interests_ac9d3ab6-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4bTo invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. _ac9d3ca0-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4bFreedom of ExpressionKnight Foundation strategy and programs are based on three core beliefs derived from our founders:
We believe in freedom of expression and in the values expressed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.InformationWe believe an informed citizenry is essential for individuals and communities to make their own best choices and that journalism has a critical role to play in that democratic process.CitizenshipJournalistsDemocracyCommunityWe believe in equitable, inclusive and participatory communities.ParticipationSocial InvestmentSOCIAL INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES --
Our investments seek societal impact and are guided by these principles:ImpactWe seek ideas, leaders and initiatives that will have impact; transformational change begins with things as they are and requires leadership that has vision, courage, know-how and tenacity.OpportunityWe seek the best opportunities to improve or advance informed and engaged communities and will partner with people and organizations who share our values and goals; we do not fund generally.FocusWe concentrate grants and other resources in the field of journalism, and in the communities where the Knight brothers once worked.InnovationWe support grantees and partners who identify and experiment with new solutions and technology. When these ideas show promise, we reinvest in their success.LearningWe seek to understand and share insights from our work.EquityEquity and Inclusion: We seek an equitable society which provides opportunity and is intentionally inclusive. InclusionRespectWe treat all with respect and conduct our business with the highest ethical standards.JOURNALISMSupport free expression and excellence in journalism._ac9d3d72-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b1Knight Foundation supports free expression and excellence in journalism for the purpose of promoting informed communities that may better determine their own interests. We support ideas, leaders and initiatives that seek to meet the needs of an evolving practice of journalism, including the use and adoption of new media technology.
We define journalism as the full, accurate, contextual search for truth, through both reporting and commentary. We seek to enable sustainable news organizations, primarily by supporting the relevance of their journalism to audiences.
We fund for impact in these areas:First AmendmentChampion a broad interpretation of the First Amendment in the digital age._ac9d3e4e-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b1.1JournalistsWe champion a broad interpretation of the First Amendment in the digital age. We fund research, training and litigation in support of the people's right of expression, public access to information and journalists' right to practice their craft.Journalistic ExcellenceSupport the transformation of news organizations and institutions committed to meeting the demands of the digital age._ac9d45e2-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b1.2News OrganizationsWe support the transformation of news organizations and institutions committed to meeting the demands of the digital age. We support innovative approaches to the use of technology to advance the practice of journalism and inform community. COMMUNITY & NATIONAL INITIATIVESIdentify and work with partners to help our cities attract and nurture talent, promote economic opportunity and foster civic engagement._ac9d45e3-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b2CitiesAkronMiamiKnight Foundation supports informed and engaged communities by identifying and working with partners to help our cities attract and nurture talent, promote economic opportunity and foster civic engagement.
We work in 26 communities in the United States. In eight communities, a local program director leads our work. In another 18 communities, we work through the local community foundation. We are mindful of the particular relationship our founders had with the cities of Akron, where they started, and Miami, where they ran their business. As a national foundation with deep local roots, Knight works locally, and then shares successful ideas across communities when and where it makes sense. We fund to:TalentAttract and nurture talent._ac9d45e4-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b2.1Leadersby supporting and networking diverse leaders from all sectors.OpportunityEnhance opportunity._ac9d45e5-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b2.2by building inclusive pathways to economic opportunity.Civic EngagementFoster civic engagement._ac9d45e6-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b2.3by enabling people to contribute to -- and take an active part in -- the life of their community, in a manner that is equitable and inclusive. ARTSWork with partners who create or present art that engages, educates and delights residents._ac9d45e7-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b3ArtistsKnight Foundation works with partners who create or present art that engages, educates and delights residents in ways that reflect the rich diversity and identity of each community. We endeavor to make art general in Knight communities by funding anchor institutions seeking wider audiences and by supporting grassroots initiatives of individual artists and organizations. This two-pronged approach and our focus on specific communities increase the impact of our work.
We do not tell artists what to create or institutions what work to present. We fund artists and organizations that demonstrate the following strategic characteristics:
Artistic Excellence: through partners who create or present art that has the capacity to transform and inspire.
Authenticity and Inclusion: through partners whose artistic practices reflect the rich diversity of our communities, who promote diversity in arts leadership and who support universal engagement with the arts.
Technological Innovation: through evolving technology that helps people create, exhibit and understand art. Artistic ExcellenceFund artists and organizations who create or present art that has the capacity to transform and inspire._ac9d45e8-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b3.1ArtistsAuthenticity & InclusionFund artists and organizations whose artistic practices reflect the rich diversity of our communities, who promote diversity in arts leadership and who support universal engagement with the arts._ac9d45e9-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b3.2ArtistsTechnological InnovationFund artists and organizations who help people create, exhibit and understand art through evolving technology. _ac9d4682-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b3.3ArtistsTECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONSupport the adoption of evolving technology to advance our core beliefs._ac9d4790-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b4We are open to change and support the adoption of evolving technology to advance our core beliefs.Approaches & ApplicationsIdentify, explore and invest in innovative technology approaches and applications._ac9d4880-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b4.1Knight Foundation identifies, explores and invests in innovative technology approaches and applications with the greatest potential to advance the fields in which we work.Collaboration & Cross-Cutting IssuesCollaborate to examine core technology issues that cut across the foundation's work._ac9d497a-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b4.2Technology is a part of all our grant-making and social investment programs. This requires collaboration among programs to examine core technology issues that cut across the foundation’s work, and to discover and implement program solutions.ExperimentsSupport innovative experiments in the use of digital media and technology to inform._ac9d4a9c-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b4.3Knight Foundation also supports innovative experiments in the use of digital media and technology to inform. We then reinvest in the most promising projects that emerge from early-stage grants.LEARNING & IMPACTDisseminate information and insight about the context of our work and the impact of programs we support._ac9d4bb4-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b5Knight Foundation seeks to understand the broader context of our work and the impact of programs we support. We disseminate information and insight to relevant fields and communities in ways that are frank and clear, and advance learning, social development and future intelligent grant-making. We do this by our work in three areas:ContextDevelop research about the fields in which we seek to have impact and the forces that affect them._ac9d4ce0-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b5.1We develop research that provides a clear understanding of the fields in which we seek to have impact and the forces that affect them.DiscussionCreate spaces for open and challenging dialogue to drive learning._ac9d4dda-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b5.2Knight Foundation StaffKnight Foundation GranteesKnight Foundation PartnersWe create spaces for staff, grantees and other partners to have open and challenging dialogue to drive learning.EvaluationAssess and share the impact of the foundation's work._ac9d4ec0-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b5.3Knight Foundation StaffKnight Foundation GranteesKnight Foundation PartnersWe work with staff, grantees and other partners to assess and share the impact of the foundation’s work. These assessments inform future grant-making. KNIGHT FOUNDATION ADMINISTRATIONSupport our grant-making program._ac9d4fec-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6Knight Foundation's grant-making program is supported by several essential functions:CommunicationsWidely distribute information and understanding about our work._ac9d5136-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.1ThinkersWe seek the widest distribution of information and understanding about our work to attract the best ideas, build networks of thinkers and leaders, and promote positive change.AdministrationSupport a nimble structure and a high-performing, agile, competent and open-minded staff._ac9d5294-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.2Knight Foundation StaffCarrying out our work requires a nimble structure and a high-performing, agile, competent and open-minded staff.FinancePromote efficient and effective financial operations._ac9d5438-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.3We promote efficient and effective financial operations, ensure a culture of regulatory compliance and accuracy, maintain relations with outside legal and investment counsel, and manage direct investments in mission-aligned companies. Knight grants and initiatives are developed and informed by a consultative process that includes financial, business and management considerations.CultureEnsure a culture of regulatory compliance and accuracy._ac9d556e-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.4CounselorsMaintain relations with outside legal and investment counsel._ac9d5690-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.5InvestmentManage direct investments in mission-aligned companies._ac9d578a-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.6Information TechnologyEfficiently and effectively use technology systems and tools to support the foundation's mission and operations._ac9d58ca-c3ff-11e6-a71f-21803366cb4b6.7We require the efficient and effective use of technology systems and tools to support the foundation’s mission and operations. Information technology is an integral part of all staff functions and an essential platform for engaging with grantees, peer foundations and other partners.2016-12-16OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net