Funding Ethics: Today’s landscape and tomorrow’s practices

As the nonprofit news sector continues to grow, the ethics of accepting grants from foundations and gifts from donors is still evolving. With support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the American Press Institute recently explored the ethical practices of today's nonprofit news organizations, foundations and commercial outlets. This July, join two of the report's authors, Bill Buzenberg and Marjorie Connelly, for 1) an overview of what was learned from three surveys of the growing nonprofit news landscape, and 2) discussion on which practices are most critical for successful relationships with funders.

Lorie Hearn of inewsource in San Diego and Andy Hall of WisconsinWatch in Madison, who helped INN frame and implement the INN Membership Standards and practices, join INN CEO Sue Cross is talking about how they were developed and how non profits can use the INN templates and tools in their ethics practices.

In follow-up work, API has been asked to compile recommendations on ethical practices based on feedback from key stakeholders. A vital element is building off lessons from INN Membership Standards, INN member practices and more.

Facilitators: 

• Bill Buzenberg, nonprofit news consultant and former executive director, Center for Public Integrity


• Marjorie Connelly, senior fellow, NORC at the University of Chicago; former polling editor, New York Times