Guidelines

• Application checklist note new deadlines
• What we do not fund
• Deadlines & Timeline
• Specific Guidelines for Washington, DC area grants
• Specific Guidelines for United Kingdom grants

The Gannett Foundation supports local organizations in communities where the Gannett Co., Inc. owns a local daily newspaper or broadcast station. 

Is your non-profit organization located in a Gannett community?

If your non-profit organization is located in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, go directly to the DC Area Fact Sheet.

Each local Gannett operation establishes its own priorities, depending upon local needs, and may have additional guidelines and restrictions. If your organization is located in one of the Gannett communities, contact them to learn about their priorities, restrictions, and deadlines. If unsure about your organization's eligibility, an e-mail  (or one-page letter) of inquiry to your local community contact is welcome.

Please do not send a proposal directly to the foundation offices in McLean, VA, unless it addresses local needs in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

Send one copy of your application form and complete proposal of no more than five pages (plus attachments) to the local newspaper publisher or TV station general manager. 

Grant Application Checklist:

Your grant proposal must contain the following information:

  • completed Grant Application Form 
  • IRS letter of determination for 501(c)3 tax exemption
  • one-page project budget, and an organizational budget
  • needs statement
    • objectives of the project to be funded
    • whether the project is new or ongoing
    • constituency to be served
    • community and volunteer involvement
  • sustainability statement 
    • your organization's qualifications to carry out the project
    • how the project will be evaluated
    • plans for continued funding of the project, if applicable
    • list of other funding sources, committed and applied for
  • pertinent recent publications may also be included

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What we do not fund

Like many donors, we receive many more requests than we can fund. As a result, contributions will not be considered for the following purposes:

  • individuals
  • private foundations
  • organizations not determined by the IRS to be a tax-exempt public charity under §501(c)(3)
  • organizations classified by the IRS as 509(a)(3)
  • national or regional organizations unless their programs address specific local community needs
  • programs or initiatives where the primary purpose is the promotion of religious doctrine or tenets
  • elementary or secondary schools (except to provide special initiatives or programs not provided by regular school budgets)
  • political action or legislative advocacy groups
  • endowment funds
  • multiple-year pledge campaigns
  • medical or research organizations, including organizations funding single disease research
  • organizations located in or benefiting nations other than the US and its territories
  • fraternal groups, athletic teams, bands, veteran's organizations, volunteer firefighters or similar groups

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Deadlines & Timeline (for all locations except Washington, DC metro area)

Please submit your proposal to the local contact at the daily newspaper or television station by the 15th of February and August to allow time for the local review process. Some localities may have earlier deadlines.  An email to your local newspaper or TV station contact person to ask about local deadline dates is recommended. 

The Management Contributions Committee at Gannett corporate headquarters reviews proposals two times a year from February through October. Generally, applicants should plan on 90 days for processing and a decision. Local newspaper publishers or TV station general managers will notify applicants of decisions and distribute contributions.

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