• by Ray Schultz , April 4, 2024

A state fundraising lab for publishers, the first of its type, has been established in Pennsylvania by the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. 

The lab is being supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Pennsylvania’s PNA Foundation.

The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding has helped more than 100 newsrooms raise more than $22 million since 2020. 

Pennsylvania newsrooms will learn the best practices described in LMA’s Pathways to Philanthropy and Sustaining Philanthropy for Journalism reports on supporting philanthropy.

In addition, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism will provide programmatic support, guest speakers and case studies.

The Pennsylvania news cohort is headed by Liz White, former publisher of the Record-Journal of Meriden, Connecticut. 

White is a graduate of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding and LMA Advanced Fundraising Lab. 

Working with coaches, each publisher in this group will set a fundraising goal that is in line with its market size. In addition, these participants can attend LMA Fest in September.

In addition, the PNA Foundation will award $20,000 grants to three participating news organizations at its 100th Anniversary Gala on Nov. 14.