North Carolina Local News Lab Fund Announces Million-Dollar Gift from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Transformational gift positions the NC Local News Lab Fund to scale its impact and investments in an accessible news and information ecosystem in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation announced today a major $1,050,000 gift from North Carolina funder, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. This is the single largest gift in the NC Local News Lab Fund’s history. The majority of funds will go towards general operating grants, with the remaining funds to be directed towards the Fund’s operating support.
“This transformational gift from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust will help grow our grantmaking capacity and bring us closer to a fully resourced news and information ecosystem that is resilient, sustainable, and inclusive,” said Lizzy Hazeltine, Director of the NC Local News Lab Fund.
Since 2017, the NC Local News Lab Fund has deployed more than $2.4 million in grants backed by a coalition of funders who believe that reliable news and information networks are essential to healthy communities and a healthy democracy. The crucial support of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust will allow the Fund to strengthen its existing network of trusted messengers who provide accurate, reliable news to local communities, despite having been historically excluded from traditional philanthropy due to racial and systemic inequities.
A leader in the North Carolina philanthropic community, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust is a values-aligned partner of the NC Local News Lab Fund and has been instrumental to the Fund’s success. In spring 2020, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust made their first gift to the Fund at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the urgent need for communities to have access to timely, accurate, and trustworthy health information, the Trust invested in the NC Local News Lab Fund to further support local organizations who are closing information gaps and strengthening North Carolina’s news and information ecosystem.
“Through our partnership with the NC Local News Lab Fund, we’ve seen firsthand the vital role that a strong communications infrastructure plays to build trust, cultivate healthy communities, and stem misinformation,” said Adam Linker, Vice President of Programs at the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. “Our hope is that this gift will allow the Fund to invest in the capacity that these organizations have sustained in the first two years of the pandemic, and to bolster their efforts to provide accurate news to marginalized communities.”
The announcement of this gift comes just weeks ahead of the Fund’s next round of grants, which are slated to be the NC Local News Lab Fund’s most significant investment to date. Critical support from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the Fund’s growing coalition of funders makes it possible to scale the Fund’s grantmaking and community impact.
“While there is still work to be done to realize our vision of thriving, healthy, and informed communities in North Carolina, the Trust’s gift is a crucial step forward,” said Hazeltine. “This gift is a testament to the investment needed in the region to ensure that everyone in North Carolina can find, trust, and use the news and information they need to thrive.” For more information, visit www.nclocalnews.org/
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About the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund
The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund is a pooled fund housed at the North Carolina Community Foundation. The fund was established in 2017 to ensure that everyone in North Carolina can find, trust, and use high-quality news and information, delivered by providers that are reflective of and engaged with their communities. This coalition of local and national funding partners is building a resilient, sustainable news and information network that serves all North Carolina residents with accessible, inclusive news and information.
For more information about the NC Local News Lab Fund at NCCF, contact Lizzy Hazeltine, lizzy@nclocalnews.org.
About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) is the only statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has administered over $243 million in grants since 1988. With more than $440 million in assets, NCCF sustains more than 1,200 endowments and partners with a network of affiliates to award grants and scholarships in communities across the state.
An important component of NCCF’s mission is to ensure rural philanthropy has a voice at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.
About the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust was established in 1947 and is now one of the largest private trusts in North Carolina. The Trust’s mission is to improve the health and quality of life of financially disadvantaged residents in North Carolina. The Health Improvement in North Carolina program area supports community-wide health solutions across the state. The Local Impact in Forsyth County program area fosters equitable and sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life in Forsyth County. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as sole trustee.
For more information about the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, contact Nora Ferrell, director of communications, nora@kbr.org.