How We’re Funded

NewsWorks receives support from a number of foundations and individuals.

In the interest of transparency, here is a list of key supporters of NewsWorks, with information about the nature of their support. (A full list of all major supporters of WHYY can be found here.). NewsWorks makes every effort to disclose potential conflicts of interest with a funder that might appear in a news story or other content. If you think NewsWorks failed to note a potential conflict of interest, please send an e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 215-351-2386.

Key NewsWorks supporters:

Corporation for Public Broadcasting: In 2009, WHYY received a $307,000 grant from CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation formed to steward the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. The agency provided seed money for the initiative that became NewsWorks. In 2011, CPB awarded WHYY $789,950 over two years to expand NewsWorks’ journalism, to investigate models for financial sustainability, and to train other public media outlets in multimedia, digital journalism. Under other grants, CPB also provides support for NewsWorks’ science and education reporting.

C.E. Bennett Foundation: This Delaware-based, private foundation has provided $300,000 over three years to supports WHYY/NewsWorks’ Delaware arts and culture reporting, Web production and civic engagement around public issues.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation – In fall 2011, this national funder provided a grant of $100,000 for support of a consultative process to expand and strengthen WHYY’s digital technologies.

William Penn Foundation: In 2011, this Philadelphia-based community foundation this spring provided a $275,000, one-year grant to support the launch of the NewsWorks Tonight news magazine on WHYY-FM, and to continue NewsWorks’ partnership with the Daily News around the It’s Our Money blog and podcast.

NBC Philadelphia: NBC Philadelphia made a charitable gift of $25,000 to WHYY in late 2011, for general support.

Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation: This Philadelphia-based foundation provides annual sustaining support to WHYY’s Health and Science Desk to support in-depth reporting on behavioral health issues.

Wyncote Foundation: This local foundation provided $150,000 over two years to support NewsWorks’ community media program, which works with local organizations to provide multimedia journalism training to the community, and to nurture grassroots media projects that appear on NewsWorks and on WHYY-FM.

Public Health Fund, a PHMC affiliate: Part of the Philadelphia Health Management Corp., Public Health Fund has provided annual sustaining support to the Health and Science Desk.

Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation: This local foundation provided $15,000 for 2011 to support in-depth reporting on Philadelphia City issues.

Philadelphia Department of Public Health: As part of the Engage feature of NewsWorks, this city department asked WHYY to hold five forums around the city in 2011 to discuss possible policy steps to reduce tobacco use around the city. WHYY/NewsWorks has not taken a stance on any given idea; it is simply organizing and conducting the community meetings to air concerns and gather feedback on policy ideas for use by city health officials. The Department paid WHYY $47,000 in federal stimulus funds to organize and stage the forums.

The following individuals have provided major sustaining support to NewsWorks:

Arlin M. Adams

John C. Bogle

Richard Jasper

Benjamin R. Neilson