The Keystone of Local Media
We strengthen Colorado communities by investing in trusted, equitable local news and information.
I Inform My Community
I'm a Funder
About Us
Colorado’s future depends on informed and engaged communities. Since 2018, Colorado Media Project has been at the forefront of a movement to ensure every Coloradan has access to the trusted local news and information they need to thrive.
We are a nonpartisan philanthropic initiative, housed at the Rose Community Foundation, that unites funders, journalists, and community leaders to build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable local news ecosystem for all. We do this by investing in innovative projects, connecting partners for greater impact, and advocating for local news as an essential public good.
Explore our work and meet the people dedicated to strengthening our communities.
What We Fund
We invest in a resilient, equitable, and sustainable local news ecosystem for all Coloradans. Our strategic grantmaking provides catalytic support for innovation, helps close critical coverage gaps, and empowers newsrooms to build sustainable models that serve their communities for the long term.
We support local newsrooms that prioritize:
Closing Coverage Gaps
Trusted Local News & Information
System-Wide Strengths
Our Impact
$9.1M+
Impact by the Numbers
We’ve raised over $9.1 million for local news since 2018 and distributed over 310 grants to newsrooms, journalists, and ecosystem-building projects.
Representing Local Voices
News leaders from KSJD (Four Corners Community Radio) and KSUT (Tribal Radio)
5x
Fundraising Impact
For every $1 we invest in our #newsCOneeds match challenge, the community gives back $5 to local news.
Statewide Reach
We support local news and information providers throughout Colorado.
Grantees
"Colorado Media Project grant programs have provided newsroom fuel to provide our community, and even the state, with news and insights that would have simply remained on a "to-do" list otherwise. The grant programs have not only enabled the Sentinel to publish a bevy of critical, award-winning reports, we've been able to draw next-generation journalists into a news laboratory, empowering students from all kinds of backgrounds to become the next news leaders. "
"CMP's funding has been key for Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange newsrooms, giving us the space to try new things beyond just daily news. It's the investment in time and tech that helps us innovate how we tell stories and connect with our communities in new ways. This support, along with CMP's focus on collaboration, ultimately lets us serve Colorado's diverse audiences even better."
"With CMP funding, KOTO was able to hire its first Spanish-language news reporter to help 'inform, educate and entertain while reflecting the needs and desires of our diverse community.'"
"Thank you for your support over the years. It has truly changed lives."
"The impact of CMP's funding has been visible not only in the KGNU newsroom and our communications and music departments but also for the students and community members who we have been able to host through the programs we developed and strengthened with CMP funding."
News on the Ground
Stay up to date with the latest from our ecosystem. This is where we share news, grantee spotlights, and key learnings from our work to strengthen local news across Colorado.
