The Minnesota Star Tribune launches Local News Fund

On the heels of our reboot of the Minnesota Star Tribune, we’re doing everything we can to buck the perilous trend of steep declines in local news. Launching our Local News Fund is an essential part of our strategy to sustain our work for Minnesota.”

Steve Grove, CEO and publisher, The Minnesota Star Tribune

The Minnesota Star Tribune today announced the launch of the Local News Fund and is actively soliciting donations at www.startribune.com/donate. At a time when the economic model for quality journalism is deeply under threat, the Minnesota Star Tribune is creating new ways for people and organizations to support this critical resource for the state. The move comes at the forefront of a rising industry trend that sees a growing number of news organizations leveraging philanthropic dollars to fund and grow local journalism during a crucial time for the news industry.

Built off the experience of dozens of peer organizations, a strong model is in place to ensure philanthropic dollars work to fund journalism without influencing it. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s editorial independence and objective reporting are at the core of the Local News Fund’s work.

“Philanthropy has become and will continue to be an important portion of the revenue mix for any healthy and modern media organization,” said Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “On the heels of our reboot of the Minnesota Star Tribune, we’re doing everything we can to buck the perilous trend of steep declines in local news. Launching our Local News Fund is an essential part of our strategy to sustain our work for Minnesota. Put simply, we need your help to better serve Minnesota.”

Donations to the Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund are administered in partnership with a fiscal sponsor, the Minneapolis Foundation. Through the financial stewardship of the Minneapolis Foundation, donor’s support will fund important topics including:

• Investigative journalism to expose systemic injustices and impact public policy.
• Geographic expansion across Minnesota to provide reporting resources dedicated to covering and preventing news deserts in Greater Minnesota, while funding tools and technology to enable partnerships with hyperlocal news organizations across the state.
• Tackling big issues to take on specific topics that matter most to your organization and our state. Vital areas include environment, transportation, social issues and education that are essential to Minnesotans’ lives.

As part of the launch of the Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund, the Taylor Foundations will match all individual donations up to $500,000. These funds will double individual donor impact during the inaugural philanthropic appeal.

“When I acquired the Star Tribune it was not for financial gain. In fact, I've never taken a dollar out of the business, and I never will,” said Glen Taylor, owner of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “I want to ensure that this critically important institution will continue to serve Minnesota as it has for 157 years. Relaunching as the Minnesota Star Tribune was a vital step, and now I ask you to join me in investing in our future as we strive to become the leading model for local journalism in the country.”

To honor the year of the Star Tribune’s founding (1867), the first 1,867 donors to support the Local News Fund with $25 or more will earn the status of being one of the Founding Donors. These supporters will receive an exclusive Star Tribune gift and recognition in print and online.

Additional details are available online at www.startribune.com/donate.

 Editorial integrity statement

The Minnesota Star Tribune’s commitment to ethical, community-funded journalism ensures that our reporting serves the public interest. We value the trust of our readers and remain steadfast in our mission to serve the public with accurate, unbiased, and impactful journalism. The Minnesota Star Tribune maintains strict editorial independence and funders do not have any control over our content or editorial decisions. We are committed to transparency in funding and a list of our funding sources will be made publicly available on our website.

About The Minnesota Star Tribune Media Company:

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and hundreds of other awards, the Minnesota Star Tribune boasts the Midwest’s largest news organization and is an unrivaled force for journalistic excellence in Minnesota and beyond. As the heart and voice of the north, the Minnesota Star Tribune is on a journey to create the leading model for local news in America — driving innovation in media to make every Minnesotan’s life better. For more information, visit www.startribunecompany.com.

About the Minneapolis Foundation:

The Minneapolis Foundation drives collective action to realize strong, vibrant communities. We cultivate generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs — partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a difference in their communities.