MLK50: Justice Through Journalism follows the standards set by the Institute for Nonprofit News, including disclosing our largest donors. Those standards state:

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics, and special projects. Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors. We do not give supporters the right to assign, review or edit content.

We will make public all donors who give $5,000 or more per year.

As a nonprofit, we will avoid accepting donations from anonymous sources, and we will not accept donations from government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates actively seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

The list below reflects gifts made over time. We appreciate all our donors, no matter what amount they are able to contribute because they help us carry on the legacy of our organization’s namesake. Click here to make your tax-deductible donation today.

Donors and funders over $5,000

$5,000-$9,999

The Burroughs Foundation

The Jeanne and Frank Jemison Fund

“Sylvia Goldsmith Marks Charitable Lead Annuity Trust Fund (Mr. and Mrs. Bert E. Barnett)”

Kenya Bradshaw

Jerry Cohen

Jenna Cushner

Merle and Russell Thomas

Ralph Williams

Rebecca Wilson

$10,000-$19,999

Anne Avis

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Democracy Fund

FedEx Foundation

Memphis Grizzlies Foundation

Kathleen Kingsbury and Brian Hindo

Ellen Klyce

Thomas and Ellen Prewitt

Gayle Rose

Wendi C. Thomas

$20,000-$99,999

Center for Community Change

Facebook Journalism Project COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund

Google News Initiative

NewsMatch

Shelby County Health Department

$100,000 – $249,999

Public Welfare Foundation

Emily Kaiser and Gene Bulmash

Inasmuch Foundation

Jonathan Logan Family Foundation

The Kresge Foundation

Report for America

$250,000+

The Skyline Foundation

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

American Journalism Project 

Racial Equity in Journalism at Borealis Philanthropy

Emerson Collective

Surdna Foundation 

The Ford Foundation

Knight Foundation

*Updated September 2023