Knight commits $10 million to public media fund’s next phase

Knight Foundation is committing $10 million over three years to the Public Media Bridge Fund’s next phase. The commitment is part of the fund’s effort to raise an additional $38 million, after it had raised $87 million; Knight’s contribution is not the full fundraising target.

The fund is helping local public-media organizations adjust after the loss of federal public-media funding in 2025. Knight says the next phase will focus on station sustainability, diversifying revenue and regional partnerships intended to preserve and sometimes expand local content and community engagement.

The fund’s initial round, announced in December 2025, awarded $26 million to 74 organizations operating 186 radio and television stations that Public Media Company said reached about 30 million people. Knight announced the new commitment at Public Media Company’s anniversary event in Denver on Oct. 13; Knight’s public announcement is dated Oct. 14. Knight and Public Media Company have not named recipients or provided a distribution timetable for the new commitment.