Nearly 50 million people have little to no access to news, according to a recent report on local news. In the municipalities in the south suburbs, majority do not have a traditional local news source. Content creators are rising to meet an audience disaffected with mainstream media.

Friendly reminder: ART applications are due this Friday by 11:59pm. More details below.

We're excited to share the launch of the Healing Illinois 2026 Reporting Project, “Democracy Lives Here”—made possible by a grant from Healing Illinois, a racial healing initiative from @ilhumanservices.bsky.social in partnership w/ Field, managed by @medillschool.bsky.social @soljourno.bsky.social

Trust in U.S. elections is eroding. Between skepticism about redistricting, fear about immigration agents at the polls, and unproven claims about widespread election fraud, Americans are losing confidence in the accuracy and security of their elections.

250 years of American democracy. Latino communities have been part of this story the whole time — and right now, that story is changing fast. Illinois Latino News is on the ground, listening. En inglés y en español. #HealingIllinois #DemocracyLivesHere #LatinoVoices

Your ballot could be thrown out — not because you did anything wrong but because of a postal rule change you’ve probably never heard of. Chicago News Weekly is exposing what’s at stake and who’s fighting back. Don’t miss this. #HealingIllinois #DemocracyLivesHere

Want your local government to actually listen? @WGLTNews – Bloomington-Normal's Public Media is reporting on what works — and what doesn't — when citizens show up to advocate for change. Tune in the week of May 11. #HealingIllinois #DemocracyLivesHere

What does it actually take to run an election? Capitol News Illinois is reporting on Illinois county clerks — their evolving roles, their challenges and the practices that strengthen faith in electoral processes. Coming May 11. Stay tuned. #HealingIllinois

Democracy Lives Here. Launching May 11: five IL newsrooms reporting on what's working to strengthen democracy across the state. Supported by @FieldFoundation, IDHS, and @MedillSchool. Stay tuned. #HealingIllinois

The 2026–2027 Field Fellowship is open! Recent graduates, graduate students, and early-career professionals in Chicago — apply by June 12. $20,000 stipend. Learn more: fieldfoundation.org/about/field-fellowship/ Know a good candidate? Please spread the word!

Field Foundation is proud to host @morelatinosinnews.bsky.social "Holding the Mic" series TONIGHT in #Chicago — a conversation on Latino journalism, newsroom representation, and narrative power. May 4 | 5:30–8PM | Impact House

Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash joins host @bpopetv.bsky.social on Episode 1 of Bridging Illinois — a new podcast series featuring the people and work behind Healing Illinois. Listen: vimeo.com/showcase/121...

Our portal is open for A Road Together (ART) grant applications! Through our partnership with @macfound.org, small and mid-sized Chicago arts & culture organizations can apply for 3-year gen ops grants — 25 awards ranging from $10K to $100K per year. Apply by May 15. Learn more: bit.ly/4dLPpFt

Chicago #JAWS members, be sure to save the date for @fieldfoundation.bsky.social's July 16 event:

July 4, 2026 marks America's Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Anniversaries like this invite both celebration and reflection: on the ideals our founders set forth, and on the ongoing work of living up to them. (1/)

On Tuesday, we convened the visual journalism community for a "Covering Immigration Today," workshop presented by @borderlessmag.bsky.social, in partnership with @catchlight-io.bsky.social. The event brought together photojournalists committed to covering immigration with care, rigor & and courage.

"You're part of a movement to strengthen journalism and local news." Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash welcomed 1,200 journalists to #ONA26 in Chicago last night, speaking on behalf of fellow sponsoring funders: Press Forward Chicago, The Joyce Foundation & Driehaus Foundation.

Field Foundation has complimentary registrations available for grant recipients attending the ONA @journalists.org conference in Chicago. If you are a journalist with a Field Foundation-funded news outlet and would like to attend, please email [email protected] by Monday, March 23.

We're proud to host "Covering Immigration Today," a free workshop for photojournalists and photo editors presented by our grant recipient @borderlessmag.bsky.social in partnership with @catchlight-io.bsky.social Happening in Chicago on March 31. Register: www.catchlight.io/events/2026/...

Friendly reminder that Leaders for a New Chicago nominations are due in one week. Eligible nominees are leaders from nonprofits who have received a grant from the Field or MacArthur Foundations in recent years. Learn more and submit your nomination by Friday, March 20, at 11:59pm: bit.ly/4aFHZAr

They say make no small plans. The Field Foundation stepped away for a few days to connect, learn & think big about the future of community power building in Chicago. Thanks to Sonya Jackson & Yvonne Judice for leading our sessions and to Kate Lee & Neal Sales-Griffin for inspiring us to innovate.

July 4, 2026 marks America's Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Amid the many celebrations, it's also a moment of reflection: on our founding ideals, on the progress we've made, and on the work still ahead. (1/)

With journalists increasingly at risk covering mass demonstrations & immigration enforcement activities, the Field Foundation is pleased to support the Chicago Headline Club Foundation in expanding safety resources & training for reporters and photographers.

Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash participated in a philanthropy discussion w/ students from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business alongside Julia Stasch, past president of @macfound.org & Philanthropy Executive in Residence at the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.

Publicity Club of Chicago held an insightful panel discussion at Impact House last week with Field Foundation COO Mark Murray joining a conversation on how operations, communications & technology are evolving across nonprofits, education, agencies, and corporate sectors. 📸 CREDIT: Emilio Albertini

We're thrilled to launch our 8th annual Leaders for a New Chicago Award program. In collaboration with @macfound.org, we will award $50K each to 8 nonprofit leaders who are driving transformative change in Chicago. Awardees will receive $25K gen ops grants for their nonprofits More: bit.ly/4aFHZAr

We honor the memory of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who dedicated his life to lifting up the voiceless and understood that meaningful change comes from communities standing together. His legacy and tremendous impact as a tireless advocate will endure. #communitypowerbuilding #chicago

Coming soon! In mid-Feb, we're kicking off our 8th annual Leaders for a New Chicago Award program. In collaboration with @macfound.org, we will award $50K each to 8 individuals who are leading transformative change from the ground up - plus, $25K gen ops grants for affiliated nonprofits. Stay tuned.

Yesterday, Half Step, a nonprofit financing organization that expands access to capital for underserved businesses, took over The Morning Show with Rufus Williams on @WVON 1690 AM. Watch (conversation begins at 55:20): bit.ly/3LO4Npj Learn more about Half Step: www.ahalfstep.com

We're proud to share the 2025-2026 #HealingIllinois subgrantees! In partnership with @ilhumanservices, we will distribute $4.3 million in Healing Illinois grants to nearly 200 nonprofits to support racial & community healing statewide. Learn more at healing.illinois.gov.

Sharing an opportunity to apply for the Chicago Planning Academy, Mar 10-May 26. The program, a collaboration between the Chicago Architecture Center & the Center for Neighborhood Technology, is designed to empower residents to create positive change in their communities. More below. bit.ly/4sQzDOA

Today, we honor the memory of Dr. King and celebrate the dedicated individuals and organizations who carry forward his legacy.

We had a wonderful turnout at our event, Data as Power: 50 Years of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act! Panelists discussed the past, present, and future of HMDA data and its role in combatting redlining and enforcing fair lending laws.

As we approach the holiday season and year end, we want to express our gratitude for the opportunity to work with so many of you in our mutual pursuits to help shape a stronger Chicago. Our 2025 year-in-review reel reflects community power building in action: bit.ly/48ICcKD Happy holidays to all.

Join us next Wednesday at @woodstockinst.bsky.social “Data as Power: 50 Years of HMDA” event, where Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash will moderate a panel on the successes & stumbling blocks of using Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Data & what’s possible for the future of fair housing.

The Field Foundation and @macfound.org held a special event Thursday to honor arts and culture grant recipients who dedicate themselves to Chicago’s communities. It was a joyful opportunity to connect, uplift and have fun—while celebrating our shared purpose and creative spirit. bit.ly/4rwoXUX

The Field Foundation was delighted to join the city's journalism community at the Chicago Journalists Association's 86th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated exceptional local journalists and impactful reporting from the past year. 1/

The Field Foundation's COO Mark Murray recently hosted a group of DePaul University undergraduates for a discussion about careers in the arts. Mark shared his journey from a practicing artist to his current position on the business side of the arts. Thanks to the students for spending time with us.

We're looking forward to celebrating Tonika Lewis Johnson's recognition as a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash will moderate an event at Kennedy-King College next week to honor Tonika's work and impact. Learn more in this @blockclubchi.bsky.social story.

Congrats again to the 2025 “A Road Together” (ART) grant recipients announced this week. As part of our 5-year, $15M partnership with @macfound.org, 25 Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits will receive general operating grants totaling $2.85M over three years. More: fieldfoundation.org/art

We’re excited to announce the 2025 "A Road Together" (ART) grant recipients – 25 Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits who together will receive general operating grants totaling $2.85 million over three years. 1/

GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Healing Illinois Returns for 2025-2026! We're proud to partner with @ilhumanservices.bsky.social to distribute $4.3 million in funding to Illinois nonprofits fostering racial healing and community healing statewide. Learn more: www.healing.illinois.gov.

We were proud to sponsor the "Building a Nonprofit Newsroom," panel at last weekend's @womenjournos.bsky.social JAWS conference in Washington, D.C. The panel featured two grant recipients from Field's Multi-Year Cohort: Chicago News Weekly & Investigative Project & Race and Equity. 1/

We're proud to support #JAWSCAMP2025 @womenjournos.bsky.social, Sept 5-7 in Washington, DC. For all attending, don't miss this panel on "Building a Nonprofit Newsroom," featuring leaders from @floodlightnews.org, Chicago News Weekly, @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social, & @raceandequityproject.org

Yesterday, we toured the construction site of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side. We learned about how the 19.3-acre campus will serve Chicago, its communities & residents. We look forward to returning when it opens in 2026. Thx to the @obamafoundation.bsky.social team for hosting us.

Yesterday, the Field Foundation’s Director of Journalism & Storytelling, Maudlyne Ihejirika, joined an insightful Inspired Generosity panel, “FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM: Advancing Narrative Change in Community Stories.” 1/

“Storytelling is at the heart of journalism and at the heart of philanthropy … and we need each other. We have to tell our stories … that’s how we move hearts and minds.” — Maudlyne Ihejirika, Director of Journalism & Storytelling, Field Foundation 1/ #journalism #storytelling

Happening next Tuesday! Register for this Inspired Generosity event by Aug 24.

🎯 GRANTMAKING & STORYTELLING IN THE PHILANTHROPIC SPACE Join us Thursday, August 28, from 8:30-10:30 AM CT at Impact House for an insightful conversation about how storytelling can be a powerful tool to enhance the impact of grantmaking in the philanthropy sector. 1/

🎯 FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM: Advancing Narrative Change in Community Stories Join us August 26 from 9-11 AM CT at Impact House for an important conversation about how underrepresented communities are reshaping media narratives to ensure accurate, fair, and contextual news coverage. 1/