We have a vision for serving you better in 2030 — and for many years beyond that.
And, after Tuesday’s Advancing Local News in Texas event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, we’re halfway there.
The gathering was organized by the American Journalism Project, a venture philanthropy that provides grants and coaching to build business models for nonprofit newsrooms; More Perfect, a bipartisan alliance of presidential centers and other democracy-focused groups; and Press Forward, a national network working to strengthen journalism.
Sarabeth Berman, the American Journalism Project CEO, spotlighted the Fort Worth Report as an investable local news organization, alongside The Texas Tribune, a statewide news organization. The gathering was attended by local, state and national funders.
After our presentation about our Vision 2030 strategic plan, the national philanthropy announced a $1.5 million reinvestment in the Fort Worth Report. The American Journalism Project made an initial investment in 2022.
“Texas is demonstrating what’s possible when communities build sustainable models for strong local news,” Berman said in a statement. “This work ensures people have the information they need to participate in their communities.”
The vision calls for the Fort Worth Report to expand coverage across Tarrant County, adding additional coverage to serve more cities and neighborhoods while strengthening its core reporting in Fort Worth.
Since launching in 2021, the Report has grown from a staff of six to 24 and expanded beyond Fort Worth with the addition of the Arlington Report and other specialized emailed editions.
In addition, Tarrant County funders are joining our Vision 2030 campaign, pledging almost $1 million. That puts the campaign close to $2.5 million of its goal to raise $5 million across the next three years.
As part of the campaign, the North Texas Community Foundation pledged $300,000 for a new journalist to cover Tarrant County nonprofits.
“Fort Worth Report provides local residents with essential information about the issues that matter most, helping all of us make more informed decisions in our daily lives,” Rose Bradshaw, North Texas Community Foundation president and CEO, said in a statement. “By funding reporting that highlights the public sector, we aim to strengthen public awareness of the challenges facing our nonprofit leaders and lift up opportunities to support their success.”
Pete Geren, president and CEO of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, said his board members believe strongly in the critical importance of education. That is why the foundation has supported the Fort Worth Report since the news organization was founded in 2021 and has increased its support as part of the Vision 2030 campaign.
Education reporter Matthew Sgroi listens to Lake Worth ISD trustees discuss Texas taking control of their 3,500-student district during a school board meeting on Dec. 15, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
He described the Report’s education reporting as a model for the state and country.
“Democracy can solve big problems, but it cannot solve a problem it does not know it has,” Geren said.
Inspired by earlier remarks from Laura Arnold of Arnold Ventures, Geren went on to say a transformational change in public education “requires enduring structural change.”
“That happens when the public demands better. The first step is to make the public aware,” he said. “And, in my opinion, that can only happen when you have persistent, expert and unflinching local journalism. The Fort Worth Report provides that and should serve as the model for public education coverage across the state.”
We are inspired by Geren’s words and are grateful beyond measure to all of our funders, large and small, who have been inspired by our work and our Vision 2030. The American Journalism Project’s reinvestment will support strengthening the Report’s business and revenue capacity so its journalism can grow in reach, depth and sustainability.
To explain the reinvestment grant another way, the national philanthropy is supporting the backbone of our operations to allow our community to focus on supporting the journalism they want to see, such as nonprofit reporting, education coverage and more news in Arlington, Mansfield, Southlake, Alliance, Keller, Aledo, Walsh, Crowley — well, you get the idea. Tarrant County’s 2.2 million residents — and growing — deserve local news about where they live.
The bottom line? We’re building our ability to connect our community through trusted local news and information.
Along with all of Tuesday’s incredible news, this month marks another exciting milestone: The Fort Worth Report’s newsletter subscriptions have topped 100,000. And more than four times as many visit our website every month.
Our Vision 2030 helps us see how we can serve you better — and for decades to come. To do that, we need your support and want to hear from you about all the ways trusted local news can be essential to your life.
Chris Cobler is the CEO and publisher of the Fort Worth Report.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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