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Philanthropic Partnerships

Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism (FORJ)
Oregon’s local news system is at a decisive turning point. Across rural and small-town communities, independent publishers are facing increasing operational and economic pressures—while demand for trusted, local information continues to grow.

FORJ works at the system level to strengthen independent publishers, build a locally rooted workforce, and develop the shared infrastructure needed to sustain community-centered journalism.

This is about strengthening the entire system—not a single project.
Where Investment Matters
Strategic, flexible funding at this moment can accelerate the transition from declining legacy models to a resilient, community-centered local news system.

Investments in shared infrastructure, workforce pipelines, and collaborative reporting can stabilize existing publishers while enabling new models to emerge and grow.

Why Business & Community Partnerships Matter

A well-informed workforce
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Transparent and effective local government
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Strong civic participation
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Resilient local economies
This is a window for catalytic, system-level impact.

Core Areas of Investment

  • Shared Resource Center: Technical, operational, and audience support for independent publishers
  • Workforce Pipeline: Paid internships, community college pathways, and place-based journalism training
  • Collaborative Reporting Labs: Multi-newsroom reporting initiatives addressing critical community issues
  • Civic Information Infrastructure: Tools and systems to improve access to public information
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How Philanthropic Partners Engage

FORJ seeks flexible, multi-year philanthropic partnerships that support capacity-building and long-term sustainability. Funding may be aligned to specific initiatives or support core organizational infrastructure.
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Partnership opportunities may include:
  1. Multi-year general operating support
  2. Programmatic investment in workforce, infrastructure, or reporting initiatives
  3. Seed funding for new Journalism Labs or pilot programs
  4. Statewide capacity-building and innovation initiatives
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What Your Investment Supports
  1. Sustainable independent news organizations in rural and small-town communities
  2. Expanded access to trusted, locally relevant information
  3. A new generation of place-based journalists
  4. Stronger civic engagement and community resilience
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FORJ maintains full editorial independence. Philanthropic support strengthens infrastructure and capacity—not content direction.
Let’s Start a Conversation
To learn more contact FORJ Board President Heidi Wright at hwright@forjournalism.org or call (541) 850-8574.

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