Press Forward launches matching challenge to triple reader gifts to local newsrooms in 12 communities during Local News Day 2027

When readers invest in their local newsroom, they're saying this reporting matters to how we live, together. The Matching Challenge lets funders meet that commitment and multiply it. A $25 gift becomes $75 for the journalists covering your school board and your city council.”

Dale R. Anglin, executive director, Press Forward

Press Forward has announced the Press Forward Matching Challenge, a new national campaign that will triple reader gifts to local newsrooms in 12 communities this spring. Timed to Local News Day on April 8, 2027, the campaign runs April 1–30, 2027. Every gift to a participating newsroom will be matched by Press Forward and its local chapter, up to a match goal set by each community.

The challenge brings together Press Forward chapters from Maine to Washington state, with newsrooms selected locally by each chapter. Applications for newsrooms to join the Matching Challenge open Nov. 2 in each community, with an information session taking place on Oct. 30.

Twelve Press Forward chapters are participating in the 2027 Matching Challenge: Press Forward Blue Grass (Kentucky); Press Forward Central Valley (California); Press Forward Colorado;  Press Forward Indiana; Press Forward Iowa; Press Forward Maine; Press Forward Mississippi; Press Forward Montana; Press Forward New Jersey; Press Forward San Antonio; Press Forward Vermont and Press Forward Washington (state).

Local newsrooms are how neighbors learn what is happening at city hall, in their schools and on their streets. Support from readers is one of the strongest foundations a newsroom can build. During the Press Forward Matching Challenge, every dollar a reader gives goes three times as far.

“When readers invest in their local newsroom, they're saying this reporting matters to how we live, together,” said Dale R. Anglin, Press Forward’s executive director. “The Matching Challenge lets funders meet that commitment and multiply it. A $25 gift becomes $75 for the journalists covering your school board and your city council.” 

Press Forward is committing $1 million from its national Pooled Fund to launch the challenge. Each local chapter is raising matching dollars locally through March 2027.  Every dollar raised by Press Forward and local chapters will be leveraged by newsrooms in April 2027, to incentivize contributions from individual audience members. 

The campaign builds on the model and success of NewsMatch, the Institute for Nonprofit News' campaign, which just celebrated 10 years of impact. INN operates NewsMatch to benefit a network of 500+ nonprofit newsrooms that meet INN’s membership standards for public service news reporting and financial transparency. Like NewsMatch, the Press Forward Matching Challenge offers capacity-building training for newsrooms on fundraising and raising reader support. The Press Forward Matching Challenge also expands that model by opening applications to both nonprofit and independent or locally owned for-profit outlets. 

For newsrooms. Applications open Nov. 2 through each local Press Forward chapter. An information session will take place on Oct. 30.  Chapters are looking for newsrooms that produce original, local reporting connected to the communities they serve and are eager to grow audiences, build reader revenue and join a coordinated giving campaign. Each chapter sets its own eligibility requirements, selection priorities and a match goal for its newsrooms.

Selected newsrooms will run a community fundraising campaign April 1–30, 2027. Participants receive a fundraising toolkit with a campaign plan and ready-to-use templates, virtual training sessions co-hosted by Press Forward and their chapter.

For supporters. From April 1–30, 2027, gifts to participating newsrooms will be tripled until each newsroom reaches its match goal. Supporters are encouraged to give early to make sure their gift counts three times over. 

Learn more at pressforward.news/matching-challenge

About Press Forward:

Press Forward is a network with chapters nationwide, working to strengthen local news so communities stay informed, connected and engaged. With more than 40 place-based chapters and over $400 million invested, we support sustainable models, close coverage gaps and cultivate the local news champions that help ensure everyone has access to reliable information. Together, we can write a new story for local news.