The San Antonio Area Foundation will grow its program to strengthen the viability of local news organizations thanks to a new partnership with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
MacArthur announced a $6 million total investment – the Area Foundation through eight partnerships with organizations focused on helping maintain and grow news and information organizations based in U.S. border states.
The Area Foundation’s effort comes through its role serving as the local chapter of the Press Forward project, helping lead regional collaboration and investment in creating a more resilient, sustainable and trusted local information environment for South Central Texas and select regions of the Texas-Mexico border..
“Every resident deserves access to reliable, consistent local news – yet without meaningful investment from philanthropy, our community risks losing vital newsrooms that keep us informed and connected,” said Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, the Area Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer. “We are grateful to play a small part in strengthening and sustaining trusted news providers across our region.”
Press Forward San Antonio (PFSA), established by the Area Foundation in 2024, is part of the national Press Forward initiative, a network of local chapters and funders working to reimagine how communities support and sustain local journalism. The $750,000 grant from MacArthur will go toward growing PFSA.
Its mission is to build and support a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive news and information ecosystem, so that everyone in the South Central Texas region can find, access and use verified news and information they need to thrive.
Local news plays a critical role in helping communities stay informed, connected, and engaged. As traditional media landscapes evolve, ensuring the sustainability of quality local journalism is vital to a thriving and informed region.
“Small newsrooms in this region struggle with limited resources while confronting exceptional challenges, including safety concerns, trauma and difficulties accessing information from governments on both sides of the border,” said Silvia Rivera, MacArthur Foundation’s Director of Local News. “This makes the role of local newsrooms even more critical, as they bear the overarching responsibility of combating misinformation and maintaining community cohesion.”
About the San Antonio Area Foundation:
The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFdn) has served as the city’s most trusted and impactful philanthropic partner for more than 60 years, growing to become one of the country’s largest community foundations. The Area Foundation strives to close opportunity gaps for those who need it most, managing more than 600 charitable funds totaling $1.3 billion in assets. The Area Foundation supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations – grantmaking reached $60 million in 2024, including $9.6 million in college scholarships. Learn more at saafdn.org.
About MacArthur Foundation:
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including revitalizing local news, advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local criminal justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.
