Spotlight Delaware receives $150,000 from Lenfest Institute

Spotlight Delaware, a nonprofit statewide investigative news organization that focuses on public policy in the First State, is receiving $150,000 to support its business staff and operational needs.  

Delaware Business Now has been a content partner forn  Spotlight Delaware since its launch a year ago.

Spotlight Delaware is focusing on three key areas for growth: community support, including membership and other revenue streams; partnerships with diverse media outlets throughout Delaware; and civic engagement among its readers.  

“The Lenfest Institute is proud to help support welcome Spotlight Delaware. We are eager to learn from them as they provide vital news and information to the residents of Delaware and beyond,” said Institute Head of Philadelphia Programs Shawn Mooring. 

Spotlight Delaware joins 17 other newsrooms participating in the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative. The Initiative works with Philadelphia-area news organizations with approximate annual revenue between $500,000 and $5 million.

Each grant is intended to help address the specific sustainability needs of a news organization serving a key community in the region. 

The addition of Spotlight Delaware is intended to address gaps in coverage for those living in the Delaware Valley region, but outside of Philadelphia proper. 

“We are so grateful for The Lenfest Institute’s support as we strive to empower, engage and connect our communities, many of which cross state lines in our tightly bound region,” said Spotlight Delaware Publisher and CEO Allison Taylor Levine. “With many of our neighbors living in one state and working in the other, it’s critical that we build and support a holistic local news ecosystem that serves the region effectively.”   

The Lenfest Institute had earlier awarded a grant to Spotlight Delaware to assist in strategic planning and market assessment prior to its launch in 2024. The Institute was the founder of Spotlight PA and drew heavily on its successful business model to  advise Spotlight Delaware.  

The Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative launched in 2023. Participating outlets have had early success across disciplines such as audience engagement, new revenue strategies, and digital transformation.