The submission period starts on January 29, 2019 and ends on February 28, 2019 at 11:59pm ET. Applications must be submitted before the deadline.
Projects must be centered around community building.
Applications are accepted on act.usatoday.com.
Entrants must provide the following information with their entry in order to be eligible for one of the grants: • EIN
• Name of organization, mailing address, phone number
• Executive director and point of contact information
• Mission and outcomes of organization
• Explain how you would use one of the grants from the Gannett Foundation:
- Project description, impact, outcomes • Project title
• Total organization operating budget
• Project budget and other funders if relevant
• Population served
• Key project dates
• Project sustainability
Entries will be divided into two tiers:
This year, applicants will be divided into tiers based on the applicant pool to make the split as equitable as possible.
Depending on your organization’s Tier, you must raise a minimum amount in donations in order to be eligible to receive a grant:
- Tier 1 entries must raise at least $3,000 in online donations to be eligible to receive a grant.
- Tier 2 entries must raise at least $6,000 in online donations to be eligible to receive a grant.
There will be 16 entries selected who will receive one of the following project grant amounts toward their respective project(s):
• Three - $100,000
• Seven - $50,000
• Six - $25,000
(Total value of all project grants: $800,000.)
There will be $200,000 award in fundraising incentive grants during the campaign.
Operating grants will vary in size and will be a minimum of $2,500.
Program Timeline
• Jan 29 – February 28: Entries are open to the 2019 A Community Thrives program.
• March 18 – April 12: Fundraising for approve projects begins.
• Around June: All grant winners are publicly announced
We often hear from the communities that we serve about what’s missing, what’s needed, or what must change to make their communities thrive. And through this we’ve discovered that everyone has great ideas - tons of them - but we also find that the common roadblocks in implementing these ideas are a lack of funding, resources, and ability to get the word out. So, we’re helping to remove those speed bumps, and here’s your chance to participate.
Submit your big ideas for community change to A Community Thrives, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. We’ll use our resources to drive national exposure and encourage a wider audience to believe in your project, too. Together we’ll raise awareness and donations to help make your idea come to life. To make the pot even sweeter, A Community Thrives will be awarding up to $1,000,000 in grants to a few ideas, including those coming from organizations that fundraise the most from each tier. So, the more you spread the word about the program, the better your chances of being awarded a grant will be.
In addition, if your organization provides services in one of USA TODAY NETWORK’s 109 newspaper markets, you could be eligible to receive an additional operating grant from a $1,300,000 fund.
USA TODAY NETWORK includes over 100 local newspaper brands across the country. The connection that we have to these local communities through our journalism lets us see the issues that impact our country on a daily basis. It’s through these stories and connections that a great opportunity emerged to partner with people just like you who have smart ideas and solutions to help create change.
A Community Thrives, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is a way to share your community building ideas on the national stage, gain support through donations and apply for a grant from a $1,000,000 fund to help your project succeed.
In addition, if your organization provides services in one of USA TODAY NETWORK’s 109 newspaper markets, you could be eligible to receive an additional operating grant from a $1,300,000 fund.
The Program is only open to valid legal 501(c)(3) charities providing services within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and Guam.
You must either be an authorized staff member of the qualifying nonprofit organization or have authorization to submit on the qualifying nonprofit organization on its behalf. Fiscal agency is permitted.
What is the breakdown of project grant awards?
There will be sixteen (16) Project Grants:
• Three - $100,000
• Seven - $50,000
• Six - $25,000
What are the operating grant awards?
Entrants with community operations in Gannett markets and which meet eligibility requirements will be eligible for consideration for operating grants. Grant amounts will vary and will be determined by the local Gannett market. The minimum operating grant amount is $2,500.
What is the deadline to participate in the 2019 program?
The submission period starts on January 29, 2019 and ends on February 28, 2019 at 11:59pm ET. Applications must be submitted before the deadline.
What is the deadline for donations?
The fundraising period starts on March 18, 2019 and ends on April 12, 2019. All donations must be received through your organizations’ A Community Thrives CrowdRise campaign page by April 12, 2019 at 11:59am ET.
Can I donate money to my own campaign?
An individual can donate as they wish. An individual or organization cannot use organization funds to donate to its own CrowdRise campaign for this program.
Is there an incentive for raising the most money?
Yes, the three organizations in each tier that raise the most online during the Program’s Fundraising phase will each receive incentive grants:
$25,000 Top Fundraiser (one winner in each Tier)
$15,000 Second Highest Fundraiser (one winner in each Tier)
$10,000 Third Highest Fundraiser (one winner in each Tier)
Plus, there are weekly bonus challenges in each tier that offer extra opportunities for organizations to receive additional grants. Information on how the bonus challenges are structured are in the Official Rules.
Does my organization have to raise a certain amount of money?
To be eligible to receive a project or operating grant, Tier 1 organizations must raise at least $3,000 and Tier 2 organizations must raise at least $6,000 during the Program fundraising period.
How do I know if my organization is in Tier 1 or Tier 2?
Tiers will be determined based on the operating budgets of the applicant pool to create as equitable a split as possible. In 2018, it was > and < $1M. Approved organizations will receive an email on or before March 13 informing you of your organization’s tier.
If my organization doesn’t raise the minimum amount required to receive a project or operating grant, do I still get to keep the money my organization raised during the fundraising period?
Yes! That is the beauty of this program. Even if you don’t receive a grant, you still have the chance to raise money for your organization.
How are grants selected?
Only campaigns that reach or exceed their goal during the Program fundraising period on CrowdRise are eligible to receive a grant from the Gannett Foundation.
The project grants will be awarded at the discretion of Gannett, based primarily on the viability and sustainability of the project and how the project contributes to community building.
The operating grants will be awarded by local decision makers based primarily on community need and how the organization’s mission contributes to community building.
The incentive grants will be awarded based on fundraising totals. More information is found in the Rules. Gannett reserves the right to look at the other top submissions if the top fundraisers do not meet certain vetting requirements. Incentive grant recipients may be one of the same organizations selected to win another grant, but it does not have to be.
If I receive a grant, are there requirements on how it is used?
Project grants must be used towards executing the project outlined in the organization’s project submission.
Operating grants, incentive grants, and the money raised through crowdfunding campaigns should be used towards general operating expenses of the associated 501(c)(3).
