We help our partners turn ideas into action. 

The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund offers grant and funding partners access to expertise, connections, and lessons learned. Our big-picture analysis ensures funds are distributed equitably and transparently—and our detailed follow-through helps grant partners put dollars to work that benefits all of North Carolina.

Our Approach

The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund cultivates a media landscape driven by local leaders and built on trust, access, and belonging. Here are the five key parts of our community-centered approach to grantmaking:

  • We fund a diverse range of roles in our information infrastructure, including newsrooms, community organizations, and other trusted messengers.

  • We award flexible funding that enables our grant partners to experiment with solutions and information problems.

  • We design processes that reflect our values and embed an equity lens into our grantmaking decisions.

  • We weave stronger networks among grant partners, funders, and other players in our civic infrastructure.

  • We share emergent lessons learned about an ecosystem approach that can be scaled across regions and networks.

Through these actions, we are transforming the local media landscape to become more inclusive, accessible, and reflective of all communities in our state.  

Our Priorities

We are building a more resilient and inclusive news and information ecosystem, so that everyone in North Carolina can find, trust, and use the information they need to thrive.

 
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Find

We invest in a wide range of trusted messengers who:

  • Expand access to strong local journalism and accurate, relevant information.

  • Serve people and places historically left out of traditional news and philanthropy.

  • Distribute news and information through channels that meet people where they are.

 
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Trust

We foster a collaborative and community-centered information network that:

  • Proactively communicates useful information that disrupts mis/disinformation and harmful narratives.

  • Reflects diverse communities and stories across the state.

  • Democratizes storytelling tools to train more journalists and trusted messengers.

 

Use

We help connect people in North Carolina with relevant and reliable information that:

  • Equips people to make decisions in their daily lives on issues ranging from their health to the local economy.

  • Empowers people to take action and participate in our democracy.

  • Holds systems, government leaders, and institutions accountable.

Glossary

At the Fund, we are dedicated to breaking down barriers to access, but we also know that some words we use may not be commonplace. We’ve compiled and defined a few words we often use in our communications to offer additional context and clarity:

News and Information Ecosystem

The interconnected network of people and institutions that deliver news and information to communities both nationally and locally.

  • Read more about how adopting an ecosystem approach to local news creates more connected communities from Democracy Fund: What is a News Ecosystem?

Information

A wide range of facts and knowledge. The Fund invests in the development and distribution of useful, accurate information that serves communities throughout North Carolina. It helps people meet their basic needs and make daily decisions, like securing housing, food, and jobs. Information — which includes news, journalism, and storytelling — also fosters greater understanding, belonging, civic engagement, and accountability.

Civic Infrastructure

The public institutions, systems, informal networks, communication channels, information, and policies that allow people to engage in their civic life, local community, and our democracy.

Pooled Fund

A collaborative approach to grantmaking in which multiple donors contribute resources that are collectively managed and distributed. A pooled fund approach aims to maximize collective impact by coordinating strategy, sharing information and knowledge, and reducing inefficiencies for funders and grant seekers.

Trusted Messengers

A wide range of news and community organizations, institutions, and people who effectively reach their communities and deliver the information they need. These include journalists, community organizers, community health workers, and storytellers, among others. Trusted messengers are seen as credible sources by their communities. This trust, credibility, and relevance can stem from a variety of factors, including lived experience, shared values, relationships, and expertise.