Knight Foundation's board of trustees prefer not to fund:

• Requests for support of fund-raising events;
• Requests to cover operating deficits;
• Charities operated by service clubs;
• Activities that are normally the responsibility of government (The foundation will, in selective cases, join with units of government in supporting special projects.);
• Medical research; organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate and/or alleviate the effects of a specific disease; requests from hospitals (unless they are for community-wide capital campaigns with a stated goal and beginning and ending dates, or for specific projects that meet foundation goals);
• Activities to propagate a religious faith or restricted to one religion or denomination; support of political candidates; memorials;
• International programs and organizations, except U.S.-based organizations supporting a free press around the world;
• A second request for a capital campaign for which the foundation previously approved a grant;
• Conferences; group travel; honoraria for distinguished guests—except in initiatives of the foundation in all three cases;
• The board and program staff remain open to ideas and opportunities and will exercise flexibility when needed.