The Knight Foundation Fund for Gary, Indiana was established at the Legacy Foundation in 2002 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Knight Foundation supports democracy in America by fostering informed, engaged, and equitable communities. The foundation invests in journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of 26 cities and towns where John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. In 18 communities, the Foundation has endowments in the local community foundation and serves as the donor advisor.

Knight Foundation views local community foundations as both important partners in sourcing ideas for our strategic grantmaking, and leaders and conveners in each Knight community. They seek to be a funder of opportunities for the future of each community and seek to build upon local momentum, assets, and resources – often focused geographically in the downtown core. They are open to prototyping new ideas to support local leaders and organizations.

Grant Focus – Talent attraction and retention through downtown revitalization and blight reduction

Knight supports Gary’s goals for talent attraction and retention, economic opportunity in the downtown and nearby communities, and mitigating the population loss. They invest in this core city vibrancy by supporting entrepreneurship, creative solutions for blight reduction and places that bridge economic divides.

Tactics leveraged:

• Building on Assets: better connecting the community to key assets like universities, corporations, or nature.
• Public Spaces: enhancing the public realm to be more connected and vibrant.
• Civic Engagement: breaking down barriers between residents and decision makers; engaging underrepresented communities in civic life and leadership roles.