The National Trust for Local News (NTLN) is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that supports local newspapers and news outlets. 1
The National Trust for Local News was founded in 2021. It later acquired 24 newspapers, websites, and digital newsletters in Colorado with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 2 It has since expanded its operations into four other states. 1
Background
The National Trust for Local News was founded in 2021, later acquiring 24 newspapers, websites, and digital newsletters in Colorado through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 2 It has since expanded its operations into four other states. 1
The nonprofit seeks to increase the capacity of state and county news outlets through direct financing, the creation of shared resource spaces, and operational guidance. 3
Activities
In 2022, the Google News Initiative sponsored a workshop by the National Trust for Local News and the Local Media Association to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership for Word In Black, a publishing collaborative of Black news. 4
In 2023, the NTLN purchased 22 newspapers from Masthead Maine, which owned most of Maine’s independent newspapers prior to the acquisition. 5
In 2023, the NTLN established the Georgia Trust for Local News, which consists of 18 newspapers serving 900,000 Georgians. The trust received $5,000,000 from the Knight Foundation and additional funding from the Marguerite Casey Foundation. 6
People
As of June 2024, Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro was the CEO and co-founder of the National Trust for Local News (NTLN). 7
Caroline Ross was Chief of Staff at the NTLN as of June 2024. She formerly worked as senior director of the Sorenson Impact Institute, and program assistant at the Center for Justice Innovation. 8
In June of 2024, NTLN’s board included former president of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the former CEO of Time’s Up Foundation Lisa Borders, senior vice president of Warner Brothers Discovery International Louis Goldstein, co-founder and director of CALmatters Simone Cox, Marc Hand, and Mizel Stewart III. 9
Keith Mestrich was also a board member at NTLN as of June 2024. Mestrich has held prominent positions at the Service Employees International Union, Democracy Alliance, and Amalgamated Bank. 10
Financials
According to its 2022 tax return, the National Trust for Local News saw revenue of $4,292,081, over $4.1 million of which came from contributions and grants. Its expenses were $1,826,157, and its net assets were $3,227,009. 11
Between 2022 and 2023, the National Trust for Local News received $100,000 from the Windward Fund, $50,000 from the Chicago Community Trust, and $250,000 from the Schwab Charitable Fund. 12 11 13
In 2021, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave a $750,000 grant in collaboration with the Colorado Trust and the American Journalism Project to fund the National Trust for Local News’ acquisition of Colorado Community Media, Colorado’s largest locally owned newspaper chain. The NTLN acquired 24 physical and digital news outlets through this purchase. 2
Former state senator and president of the Maine State Senate Justin Alfond (D) was listed as an individual supporter on the NTLN’s website. 14
Other supporters listed on the NTLN’s website as of June, 2024 included: Open Society Foundations, American Press Institute, Bohemian Foundation, Brett Family Foundation, Democracy Fund, FJC: A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds, Heartland Fund, Klarman Family Foundation, The Lenfest Institute, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, NewsGuild-CWA, Tides Nexus, and Way to Rise. 14
References
- “Illustrations.” NTLN. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.nationaltrustforlocalnews.org/our-approach.
- “National Trust for Local News – Colorado Community Media.” Gates Family Foundation. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://gatesfamilyfoundation.org/grant/colorado-community-media/.
- “National Trust for Local News, 2022 Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862022385/202343189349307114/full.
- “Three Lessons from Our First Succession-Planning Workshop.” NTLN, August 1, 2022. https://www.nationaltrustforlocalnews.org/post/three-lessons-from-our-first-succession-planning-workshop.
- Robertson, Katie. “Nonprofit Buys 22 Newspapers in Maine.” The New York Times, July 11, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/business/media/maine-newspapers-nonprofit.html.
- “Nonprofit Group Working to Strengthen Local News in Middle, South Georgia.” The Christian Index, December 19, 2023. https://christianindex.org/stories/nonprofit-group-working-to-strengthen-local-news-in-middle-south-georgia,69386.
- “Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro – The National Trust for Local News.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-hansen-shapiro-5a76339/.
- “Caroline Ross: Experience.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/caeross/details/experience/.
- “Who We Are.” NTLN. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.nationaltrustforlocalnews.org/who-we-are.
- “Keith Mestrich.” InfluenceWatch. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.influencewatch.org/person/keith-mestrich/.
- “The Chicago Community Trust, Form 990, Schedule I – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/362167000/202312279349301591/IRS990ScheduleI.
- “Windward Fund, Form 990, Schedule I – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/473522162/202323149349302457/IRS990ScheduleI.
- “Schwab Charitable Fund, Form 990, Schedule I – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311640316/202411039349301716/IRS990ScheduleI.
- “Supporters.” NTLN. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.nationaltrustforlocalnews.org/supporters.