LION Sustainability Audits and Funding
The LION Sustainability Audits and Funding program offers a comprehensive process for LION members to identify and respond constructively to roadblocks to sustainability within their organizations.
The program includes a thorough assessment of your news business, with recommendations and resources to help enhance organizational sustainability. The audit process consists of:
- A questionnaire to define the current state of your organization in terms of operational, financial, and journalism metrics
- An interview with an expert analyst to dive deeper into your business
- An audit report compiled by the analyst and LION staff summarizing organizational strengths and recommendations for action to enhance organizational sustainability
The program, open to all LION members, also offers up to $6,000 in funding to participants who implement a minimum of two recommendations. You can apply to become a LION member here. If you are not a LION member, please complete your membership application at least two weeks prior to the upcoming audit cycle deadline to be considered for that cycle.
Sustainability Audit applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 28, 2023. Apply by May 30 to be considered for the first cycle, beginning in June. If you have questions about the LION Sustainability Audits and Funding program, please email Andrew Rockway at [email protected].
The LION Sustainability Audits and Funding program is made possible with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Google News Initiative.
Testimonials
We audited 100 LION members in 2022. 93% of participating organizations said the audit had or will have a positive impact in making their news business more sustainable, while 7% were not yet sure. 100% of participants planned to act on the recommendations from their audit report.
Here’s what some of the participating organizations have said: