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.