Three Houston-based philanthropies, the Houston Endowment, the Kinder Foundation, and Arnold Ventures, have announced a combined pledge of $20 million to launch a local, independent, nonprofit news operation.

Anticipated to launch later this year or early in 2023 on multiple platforms, the new publisher will elevate the voices of Houstonians and work to address the needs of the local community as identified in a two-year research effort led by the American Journalism Project. Expanding on the nonprofit news movement in Texas, home to the Texas Tribune, the new organization will be sustained by a combination of philanthropy, memberships, and sponsorship revenue. Additional seed funders for the project include the American Journalism Project and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

“Commercial news organizations across the United States have rapidly declined in recent years, a trend that directly undermines the foundations of American democracy,” said Laura Arnold, co-founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures. “A free press is essential, and until the industry finds its footing, philanthropy must do its part to help strengthen and safeguard the Fourth Estate. We have long invested in nonprofit journalism, and we are honored to support the establishment of a robust newsroom endeavor in our hometown.”

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