The Chronicle of Philanthropy has announced plans to become an independent nonprofit organization.

In September 2020, the publication entered a partnership, funded by the Lilly Endowment, with the Associated Press and the Conversation, which added five AP and Chronicle journalists to cover the nonprofit sector and created a yearlong fellowship program designed to help local and regional news organizations better cover the social sector. As a nonprofit, the Chronicle intends to expand its staff with at least 13 new positions, including at least eight new editorial staff, and expand its technology and business teams. It aims to double its revenue and number of subscribers within five years.

In support of the transition, the Chronicle has received commitments totaling nearly $6 million from the William and Flora Hewlett ($3 million), Ford ($2 million), Charles Stewart Mott ($500,000), Walton Family ($200,000), John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur ($100,000), and Conrad N. Hilton ($75,000) foundations and the Heinz Endowments ($50,000).

“The Chronicle of Philanthropy is taking a major leap forward in how we serve nonprofits and foundations,” said editor Stacy Palmer, who helped found the publication in 1988 and will become executive director of the new organization. “We are boldly reimagining our mission to both amplify our role as a trusted source of information for social sector professionals but also to double down on our collaboration with other global news outlets to ensure the public better understands the trillion-dollar world of nonprofits and foundations.”

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