Larger contributions generally come in two flavors, with strings attached and without. The term of art for the former is “program” support and for the latter, “general operating” support. A program grant may specify the subject area of reporting, the type of reporting or a geographic focus, or it may be tied to some special project or specific

Editors, in fact, do well not to think much of advertisers (or donors) at all. That is the job of publishers. When editors are too eager to please funders, unfortunate compromises can ensue. When they refuse to do so, they can actually strengthen their news operations.

there is no substitute for a clear editorial point of view and an analysis of the gap you are seeking to fill in your particular news ecosystem. That analysis should cover what is missing that you intend to supply as well as what is not, or is at least beyond your scope.

the role of a board is to ratify, not create, strategy. Top management should propose a newsroom’s strategy, based on its experience and what it believes are the company’s capabilities.

If your organization is its own 501(c)(3) — and it should be, as soon as feasible — your board is a “governing board,” and that’s a big hint of its most important role, to oversee the company and its finances: hiring and evaluating (and, if necessary, firing) the CEO or CEOs; preserving the company’s mission; approving (and, if necessary, refining)

There are many fundamental differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations, but one of the most critical is that nonprofits cannot be sold. They can merge, or absorb other organizations, or even be given away, but you can’t buy them — there is no one to pay, and while nonprofits have balance sheets, they do not have what bankers might

The principal job of a board, most of the time, is to ratify and help shape a company’s strategy. The strategy, of course, should flow from the mission (not the other way around) and indicate how the newsroom intends to fulfill that mission, particularly in the next few years.

what sort of team is to be assembled: What are the key roles? What sort of newsroom culture is sought? What news values will inform the work?

Successful news offerings must be distinctive. It is no longer possible to prosper with a product or service that feels commoditized.