ProPublica, founded in 2008, is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. To date, it has more than 30 full-time journalists in its newsroom, making it the largest new nonprofit investigative news operation in the nation. Its major investigations to date have included examinations of stimulus spending, gas drilling and nursing abuses. ProPublica is led by Paul Steiger, a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation trustee and the former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. Knight Foundation president Alberto Ibargüen serves on the group’s board.

This grant will openly create a sustainable business model that draws on diverse funding sources, including institutional philanthropy, board contributions, individual contributions, corporate philanthropy, earned revenue and investment income. By the end of the grant, ProPublica will have a mature development operation, well along in implementing a diversified development plan. Future development work will be funded out of operating funds. It is expected that this model will allow ProPublica to continue its high-quality investigative reporting for the public interest. Ultimately, we hope its success in doing so will spur other emerging investigative journalism nonprofits.