The Pivot Fund

10/05/2026

As layoffs continue across the news industry, talented journalists and media professionals are looking for what comes next.

Community publishers: This is a recruiting opportunity.

In “Don’t Just Mourn the McClatchy Layoffs. Recruit the Talent,” we look at what independent newsrooms have to offer — from meaningful work and greater ownership to the opportunity to make a direct community impact.

🔗 Read more:

I spend a lot of time talking with independent publishers about hiring. Usually, the conversation starts with what they can’t offer. They can’t match the salaries of larger news organizations. They can’t always offer fancy offices or big benefits packages. And they certainly can’t promise th...

09/30/2026

For small, independent newsrooms, applying for funding can mean hours spent on budgets, essays, interviews and reporting — time that isn’t being spent running the newsroom, generating revenue or serving your community.

Before applying, community publishers should ask more than “Are we eligible?” Ask: Do we have a realistic chance of being funded — and is it worth the time it will take?

In “Apply or Pass? How to Know When a Grant Is Worth Your Time,” we break down how to evaluate opportunities, recognize when funding aligns and know when the smartest decision is to pass.

Swipe for more tips!

09/04/2026

With Pivot Fund support, Mississippi Free Press expanded reporting in East Central Mississippi, including coverage of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, by investing in reporters and relationships rooted in the community.

That support has helped MFP deepen connections and create new pathways for community engagement and recruitment, including career fairs and Solutions Circles.

MFP’s experience shows how flexible, long-term investment can give newsrooms the capacity to build coverage with communities, not just about them.

08/28/2026

When a $350,000 USDA grant was unexpectedly pulled from Black By God: The West Virginian, the team had to move quickly.

On The Pivot Fund Pod, founder Crystal Good shares lessons from the experience that other community publishers can put into practice, including reaching out for help early and tapping into your team’s strengths.

For Black By God, their quick response and outreach included a 24-hour podcast-a-thon and resulted in a $35,000 matching grant from The Pivot Fund that helped secure its agriculture reporter for another year.

🎧 Hear Crystal’s lessons for navigating a sudden funding crisis and building a more resilient newsroom.

Listen to the full podcast episode at: https://share.transistor.fm/s/72ea955b

08/14/2026

285 South’s growth shows what happens when a community newsroom has the capacity to turn trust into action.

With support from The Pivot Fund, 285 South grew from a one-person newsletter into a newsroom reaching 22,500 people across Metro Atlanta. But its impact goes beyond audience growth.

Its reporting helped prompt Georgia to add Dari to its driver’s permit test, while coverage of a driving program for immigrant and refugee women helped generate enough donations to keep the program operating.

At 285 South, community trust helps surface needs that might otherwise go unseen — and greater newsroom capacity makes it possible to report on them in ways that create tangible change.

Stay tuned for more stories about how community publishers are building stronger newsrooms and stronger communities.

07/23/2026

Capacity creates opportunity.

With support from The Pivot Fund, Radio Campesina expanded its reporting capacity — making it possible to consistently livestream radio programs on YouTube, grow its digital presence and show up in the community every day.

The results? 📈 432% YouTube growth, nearly double the monthly website audience, new revenue streams and stronger community connections.

But the biggest impact goes beyond the numbers. The trust the outlet has built with its community by being present is invaluable.

Watch Radio Campesina’s testimony + learn more at https://shorturl.at/wAEGm

Stay tuned for more stories about how community publishers are building stronger newsrooms — and stronger communities.

07/20/2026

Sustainable local news requires strong organizations — newsrooms with diverse revenue, deeper community relationships and the capacity to keep serving their audiences long after a grant ends.

Since our first cohort in 2022, Pivot grantees have:

• Increased revenue streams by 69%
• Grown non-grant revenue by 530% on average
• Built more sustainable business models, with 60% now generating revenue from three or more sources.

Capacity isn’t just about growth. It’s about giving trusted community publishers the stability to continue informing their communities for years to come.

That’s the kind of investment communities deserve.

05/27/2026

Grantee testimony: Pivot’s support for Black By God is “transformational.”

In 2024, The Pivot Fund awarded $150K in unrestricted funding—helping stabilize operations, expand capacity, and build toward long-term sustainability.

Recently, the outlet lost $350K in federal funding tied to broader USDA rollbacks of DEI-related programs. The grant supported their agriculture reporting, including a reporter position at approximately $70,000 annually over five years.

Rather than retreat, the organization launched a community campaign anchored by a 24-hour live podcast-a-thon on a houseboat! The Pivot Fund agreed to match $35,000 in donations to sustain the reporter position for another year because losing this reporting capacity would mean the loss of trusted reporting for Black communities in a state where civic information gaps already run deep.

BBG is showing how community media adapts, activates support, and continues showing up for the communities it serves.

05/21/2026

What happens when community publishers start planning not just for today — but for the next generation?

After nearly 50 years , including more than three decades as publisher, Janis Ware is stepping back and passing leadership to the next generation.

Founded in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement, The Atlanta Voice has remained rooted in a mission that still resonates today: “A people without a voice cannot be heard.”

For community publishers, her transition offers a reminder: succession planning is an important part of sustainability.

Start early. Mentor future leaders. Create opportunities across roles. Build something that can outlast you.

Ask yourself:
➡️ Who are you bringing along?
➡️ Who are you making space for?
➡️ What will this look like without you?

Read more: https://shorturl.at/3kLxu

05/15/2026

For many hyperlocal publishers, traditional local news revenue models built around advertising, affluent audiences, and memberships simply don’t reflect the realities of the communities they serve.

is offering another approach.

The Bay Area outlet recently released its Civic Partnerships Playbook, showing how publishers can generate revenue through partnerships with nonprofits, government agencies, and mission-aligned organizations seeking to reach “hard-to-reach” communities.

The model generated roughly $300K through 18 civic partnerships in 2024 and $350K in 2025—making it El Tímpano’s second-largest source of revenue.

View the playbook and takeaways at: https://shorturl.at/zIH7D