A group of attendees at the June 4 Every Voice, Every Vote 202 Grant Launch event at Lenfest's headquarters in Philadelphia

Every Voice, Every Vote coalition launches two-year, $1.8M grant program to expand civic news and information efforts

Grant applications now open for media and community organizations 

 

With Philadelphia’s municipal primaries less than a year away, Every Voice, Every Vote is today announcing the launch of a new, two-year, $1.8 million grant program to continue supporting in-depth local journalism on key issues and to catalyze civic action.
 

Every Voice, Every Vote is organized by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support for the next phase of Every Voice, Every Vote is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Philadelphia Health Partnership, Judy and Peter Leone and The Lenfest Institute.
 

The citywide coalition was formed in 2023 to inform voters ahead of municipal elections, connect residents to local government, and track the progress of the city’s response to the issues Philadelphians deemed most important— including public safety, education, environmental, housing, and economic opportunity. The coalition, which consists of local media organizations, community organizations, and independent civic content creators, has become Philadelphia’s largest-ever collaborative journalism and community engagement effort.
 

Applications for funding are now open through July 13 at 11:59 p.m. Media and community organizations can now apply for support for projects that:

  • •  Strengthen civic engagement by helping Philadelphians better understand and engage with the issues shaping their communities

  • •  Build trust through locally rooted reporting, listening efforts, and community-informed conversations

  • •  Reach new and underserved audiences through partnerships with trusted civic content creators and community voices.


Since its launch, Every Voice, Every Vote has expanded access to trusted information, engaged residents across Philadelphia, and strengthened civic participation through more than 365 civic engagement projects, content in more than 15 languages, and over 200 collaborations across media, community organizations, and civic news creators. In the past year, it created a Solutions Progress Report to track city policy initiatives and launched Community Conversations to bring together journalists, city leaders, and community members around key issues.
 

To ensure reporting is responsive to community needs, the coalition will once again partner with the research firm SSRS to conduct a new public opinion polling effort that builds on past research and identifies which issues remain top of mind for Philadelphians. Over the course of the two-year program, Every Voice, Every Vote will also deepen its civic news creator partnerships and expand its Community Conversation series, hosting town hall-style meetings throughout the city.
 

“Every Voice, Every Vote has illustrated the power of collaboration to expand access to trusted information, reach underserved audiences, and help residents engage more deeply with the issues affecting their lives,” said Lenfest Institute Head of Philadelphia Programs Shawn Mooring. “This new investment builds on that momentum and supports the journalism and community partnerships that are essential to a healthy democracy."
 

The Every Voice, Every Vote team will host a virtual information session to answer questions about the application process and grant requirements. It will take place June 24 at 1 p.m. EDT. Applicants can register for the session here.
 

Applications for either grant must be submitted through the Institute’s Fluxx grantee portal. Create or log into your account, select either the Every Voice, Every Vote Media application or the Every Voice, Every Vote Community application, and click Apply. Please note if you are new to the portal, you will need to create your account at least two business days prior to each application due date. Account validation can take up to 48 hours.

 

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About The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism was founded in 2016 by H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest as a mission-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting local journalism and building sustainable business models for news organizations in Philadelphia and across the United States. Through grantmaking, training, and research, the Institute provides free tools and resources to help news organizations serve their communities. For more information, visit www.lenfestinstitute.org.