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About Transformation

About Transformation

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A Legacy of Vision, Courage, Discovery, Know-How and Tenacity

Our commitment to transformation is rooted in the beliefs of our founders, John S. and James L. Knight. They were newspaper entrepreneurs who had the vision to transform a small newspaper company in Akron, Ohio, into the nation’s largest newspaper chain. They relied on courage, tenacity and know-how and valued the constant discovery of new ideas. One of their collaborators, Knight Newspapers editor Stuffy Walters once said: “The secret of the Knight papers is ideas, not dough. We have no inhibitions. We’ll try anything.”

Jack and Jim Knight transformed a small paper in Akron into the nation's largest newspaper chain.

More than 50 years later, the private, independent Knight Foundation is committed to the same drive to transform, with the same dedication to the discovery of ideas, and the same belief that vision, courage, tenacity and know-how are essential.

Transformation is about systemic ideas that are scalable, have broad support from a network of peers and partners, and are driven by social innovators and entrepreneurs.

We understand that transformation takes time, commitment and risk.

And we believe transformation is more likely to emerge from the pursuit of a big idea rather than by addressing a limited need. We take seriously the rare privilege to invest the foundation’s assets to change our world and our communities for the better.