With the goal of having informed communities that lead to a healthy democracy, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism and arts in communities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers — including Detroit, where an office is based. The foundation is based in Florida. In journalism, the foundation invests in programs that support diversity in the field, the long-term success of local media, and First Amendment protection. The foundation recently finished this year’s Knight Media Forum, which convenes leaders in philanthropy, journalism, and technology who work to strengthen local news. The foundation has supported outlets such at WDET and Michigan Radio through the Detroit Journalism Cooperative. To support the arts in Detroit, the foundation has awarded grants to causes such as The Heidelberg Project’s capacity building, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s campus activation, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Detroit Theater Cohort. The foundation has also supported community resources such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center run by the New America Campaign and the University of Michigan’s Detroit Metro Area Communities Study Initiative.
