In August, 2007 AFPF received a $25,000 grant from the Challenge Fund for Journalism – a consortium of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, Ford Foundation, James L. and John S. Knight Foundation and McCormick-Tribune Foundation. The goal is to raise, at a minimum, an additional $25,000 in new or increased donations from our individual supporters. Because donations will be matched 100 percent, this is an amazing opportunity for AFPF to raise at least $50,000 to support the program and its growth.

What is the purpose of the Challenge?

To help journalism organizations improve their long-term financial health and sustainability by cultivating support from more individual donors.

What plans does AFPF have for the grant period?

Your contributions and this grant will allow us to reshape our governance and our finances, to infuse new ideas and energy into the Foundation and Fellowships. We expect to restructure the board of our primary funder, the recently renamed Alfred and Jean Friendly Foundation, so that it will have a majority of members who are not Friendlys. We believe the family has been good stewards of the program and have taken many steps to make it more relevant to journalism today. Click here for more about our current work] We want to continue that forward motion with new board members who will help us raise the funds that will make us less dependent on year-to-year grants. Two Friendly family members will remain on the Foundation board, but we'll be able to tap the expertise of a broader range of people who know and admire the program and whose professional connections will assure that we continue to be relevant and effective.

How was AFPF selected for this Challenge?

Current grantees of these four foundations were invited to apply for the grant. Twelve organizations were selected from an application pool of 23.

What is the time frame of the Challenge?

Exactly one year. Donations received between August 9, 2007 and August 8, 2008 are eligible for the 100 percent match.

How much money must AFPF raise?

AFPF has already received the $25,000 from CFJ. We must now raise $25,000 from individuals.

What kinds of individual donations will qualify toward fulfillment of the Challenge?

Contributions from NEW individual donors, including spouses and significant others of past donors.

New contributions from past donors will count, at least in part:

- For donors who have not contributed more recently than August 8, 2004, the entire amount of the any new gift will count.

- For past donors who have contributed since August 9, 2004, only the amount of increase over the highest, single prior donation since August 9, 2004, will count toward the Challenge.

- Please contact AFPF Executive Director Susan Albrecht at salbrecht(at)pressfellowships.org or 202-429-3740 to refresh your memory about your giving history.

You have our sincere thanks for your donation.