What stage does American Journalism Project invest at?

American Journalism Project invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.

What is American Journalism Project's typical check size?

American Journalism Project typically writes checks of $1M – $1.5M.

What sectors does American Journalism Project focus on?

American Journalism Project focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Impact & Social Good, Media & Entertainment, Social.

Where is American Journalism Project located?

American Journalism Project is headquartered in Washington, US.

Does American Journalism Project lead rounds?

American Journalism Project typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

American Journalism Project

Foundation

Washington · Pre-Seed–Seed · 63 people tracked

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✨ Fox Verdict

Investment thesis

The American Journalism Project invests in independent, mission-driven nonprofit local news organizations that show a strategic growth vision and demonstrated community impact. Typical investments range from roughly $1M to $1.5M over three years, focused on building business and operational capacity for transformative growth, with the goal of helping each grantee add at least $1M in sustainable annual revenue after funding concludes. Beyond capital, the organization offers hands-on strategic support through assigned Success Partners, capacity-building resources, specialized expertise in areas like audience growth, product development, legal resilience and AI experimentation, and access to a peer network of nonprofit newsrooms. Its competitive grantmaking process is invitation-only.

Invests inAI & Machine Learning Impact & Social Good Media & Entertainment SocialUnited StatesWashington

Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.

Stage

Pre-Seed–Seed

Check

$1M – $1.5M

Washington, US

Leads rounds

Follows

Instruments

Grants

Tracked investments

Team · 63 people

from the firm's website

John Thornton· Board member emeritus, Co-founder, American Journalism Project

Co-founder of the American Journalism Project (1965-2025), serving as board member emeritus.

Sarabeth Berman· Chief Executive Officer

Michael Ouimette· Chief Investment Officer

A.X. Mina· Senior Vice President, Specialized Support

Alexis Price-Waddy· Communications Associate

Alina Panek· Senior Associate, Local Partnerships

Amalie Nash· Vice President of Journalism, Knight Foundation

Amar Rajwani· Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

Amber DeLind· Director, Individual Giving & Advancement Operations

Ashleé Clark· Senior Manager, Community & Learning

Baybars Orsek· Head of Strategic Partnerships

Christy Johnson· Executive Assistant

Courtney Parker· Senior Development Analyst

Darrin Kerr· Head of Growth Investments

Dave Burdick· Vice President, Newsroom Strategy

David Lopez· Vice President, Growth Investments

Dr. Anya Schiffrin· Senior lecturer, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs; Advisory Circle

Evan Smith· Senior Advisor, Texas Tribune and Senior Advisor, Emerson Collective; Advisory Circle

Farai Chideya· Host and producer, Our Body Politic; Advisory Circle

Flannery Berg· Finance Lead, Specialized Support

Funmilayo Brown· Development Lead, Specialized Support

Gonzalo del Peon· Program Strategy & Operations Lead

Graciela Mochkofsky· Dean, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism; Advisory Circle

Heidi Zheng· Senior Manager, Data & Insights

Helen Zeineddine· Manager, People & Operations

Hilary Schneider· CEO, SimpliSafe

Irving Washington· Board Chair; SVP and Executive Director, Health Information and Trust Initiative, KFF

Jason Alcorn· Vice President, Growth Investments

Jeff Cohen· Executive Vice President of Communications, Arnold Ventures

Jelani Cobb· Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism, Columbia Journalism School

Jim Brady· Principal, Spirited Media Consulting

Joe Natoli· Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Baptist Health South Florida

Julia O’Connell· Senior Manager, Philanthropic Engagement

Kate Yoo McCrery· Vice President, Growth Investments

Laurence Baer· Chief Executive Officer and President, San Francisco Giants; Advisory Circle

Liam Andrew· Technology Lead, Product & AI Studio

Linnea Ashley· Director, Market Research & Strategy

Lisa Heyamoto· Vice President, Portfolio Learning

Loretta Chao· Head of Startup Studio & Local News Innovation

Maria Thomas· Co-Founder & CEO of Sunday Health, Board Director and Startup Advisor

Marsha Cooke· Vice President, ESPN Films and Executive Producer, 30 for 30; Advisory Circle

Matthew Mantica· Business Strategy & Expansion Lead

Michelle De La Isla· Former Mayor, City of Topeka, Kan.

Mitchell Bloom· Vice President, Local Partnerships

Natalie Choate· Vice President, Growth Investments

Nguyen Phan· Finance Manager

Pamela Maffei McCarthy· Deputy Editor of The New Yorker 1992-2020; Advisory Circle

Peter Lattman· Vice Chair; Managing Director, Media, Emerson Collective

Rachel Jorgensen· Senior Technical Product Manager, Product & AI Studio

René Gornall· Chief of Staff

Richard Tofel· Principal, Gallatin Advisory LLC and former president, ProPublica; Advisory Circle

Rosental Alves· Professor, Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, University of Texas at Austin

Roshni Neslage· Head of Communications

Ryan Stultz· Audience Growth and Monetization Lead, Specialized Support

Shawnie Dockery· Director, Foundation Partnerships

Simone Coxe· Co-founder, Chair emeritus, CalMatters; Advisory Circle

Stephen George· Head of Emerging Markets

Teresa Gorman· Associate Director, Public Square, Democracy Fund

Tina Dyakon· Senior Vice President, Growth Investments

Tyrell Byrd· Director, Operations & Finance

Upasna Gautam· Head of Product & AI Studio

Will Schick· Editorial Impact Lead

Zainab Shah· Vice President, Audience Strategy

Investments · 63 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

Akronsignalakron.orgin 𝕏

Boyle Heights Beat

A 15-year-old community newsroom for the Eastside of L.A., integrated into The LA Local.

CalMatters

Nonprofit newsroom providing statewide California coverage, backed by The LA Local.

Capital B Gary

Local news outlet in Gary, Indiana supported through Free Press Indiana investments.

Capitalbnewscapitalbnews.orgin 𝕏

Cardinalnewscardinalnews.orgin 𝕏

Cincinnatisignalcincinnati.orgin 𝕏

Citybureaucitybureau.org

Citysidejournalismcitysidejournalism.orgin 𝕏

Civicnewscivicnews.orgin 𝕏

Civilbeatcivilbeat.org𝕏

Clevelandsignalcleveland.orgin 𝕏

Ctmirrorctmirror.org

Cvilletomorrowcvilletomorrow.orgin

Deep South Today

A nonprofit network of local newsrooms including Mississippi Today, Verite News, and The Current.

Deepsouthtodaydeepsouthtoday.org

Documentednydocumentedny.comin 𝕏

Elpasomatterselpasomatters.orgin 𝕏

Enlacelatinoncenlacelatinonc.org𝕏

Fortworthreportfortworthreport.orgin 𝕏

Free Press Indiana

A community-launched trusted local news source in Indiana built with a sustainable business model.

Gristgrist.org𝕏

Houstonlandinghoustonlanding.orgin 𝕏

Indiancountrytodayindiancountrytoday.com𝕏

Inewsourceinewsource.orgin 𝕏

INN standardsinn.org

LAist

Nonprofit newsroom in which The LA Local has invested for in-depth local coverage.

Localnewsforindianalocalnewsforindiana.org

Localnewsforlalocalnewsforla.orgin 𝕏

Louisvillepublicmedialouisvillepublicmedia.orgin 𝕏

Mirror Indy

Indianapolis-based local news outlet published by Free Press Indiana.

Missionlocalmissionlocal.org𝕏

Mlk50mlk50.comin

Montanafreepressmontanafreepress.org

Mountainstatespotlightmountainstatespotlight.org𝕏

Nashvillebannernashvillebanner.comin

Nclocalnclocal.org

Nebraskajournalismtrustnebraskajournalismtrust.org

Nysfocusnysfocus.com𝕏

Opencampusmediaopencampusmedia.org

Outliermediaoutliermedia.orgin

Periodismoinvestigativoperiodismoinvestigativo.com

Richmonderrichmonder.org𝕏

Sahanjournalsahanjournal.com𝕏

Sanjosespotlightsanjosespotlight.comin 𝕏

Sltribsltrib.com𝕏

Spotlightdelawarespotlightdelaware.orgin 𝕏

Spotlightpaspotlightpa.org𝕏

statewidesignalohio.orgin 𝕏

Texastribunetexastribune.orgin 𝕏

The LA Localthelalocal.orgin 𝕏

The Oklahoma Eagletheokeagle.org

Thecitythecity.nyc𝕏

Themainemonitorthemainemonitor.orgin 𝕏

Themarshallprojectthemarshallproject.org

Thenevadaindependentthenevadaindependent.comin 𝕏

Tprtpr.org

Tulsa Flyertulsaflyer.orgin 𝕏

Underscoreunderscore.newsin 𝕏

VT Diggervtdigger.orgin 𝕏

Frequently asked questions

What stage does American Journalism Project invest at?: American Journalism Project invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
What is American Journalism Project's typical check size?: American Journalism Project typically writes checks of $1M – $1.5M.
What sectors does American Journalism Project focus on?: American Journalism Project focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Impact & Social Good, Media & Entertainment, Social.
Where is American Journalism Project located?: American Journalism Project is headquartered in Washington, US.
Does American Journalism Project lead rounds?: American Journalism Project typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

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