Gift Acceptance Policy

This is an updated policy approved by NLP’s board of directors on July 30, 2025.

At the News Literacy Project, we believe that news literacy is a fundamental skill — one that helps us agree on facts, builds trust in credible information and supports a free press. Because it prepares people to think for themselves, news literacy is inherently nonpartisan. These values are central to our mission and are reflected in the funding we accept and the partnerships we pursue. We thoughtfully consider each funding opportunity to ensure it reflects our core values and reinforces our independence and credibility. 

We independently develop our educational content, events and media outreach in response to current events and the needs shared by educators. When appropriate, we engage subject matter experts — such as journalists, scientists, First Amendment scholars and misinformation researchers — whose expertise aligns with the topics and goals of a specific project. We select collaborators for the value of their knowledge, not their sponsorship or funding. 

We accept gifts to advance our mission and maintain our independence 

Teachers trust NLP to put their interests and needs as educators first, which is why our independence is vital. NLP’s programs are designed and budgeted before we pursue funding. This ensures that all gifts advance NLP’s mission and goals, rather than influence them. 

We welcome partnerships and funding from individuals, foundations, businesses and government agencies that share our values and believe in the power of news literacy education to shape informed, engaged communities. We invite prospective funders to explore our established programs and welcome their interest and ideas. However, all content and programmatic decisions rest solely with NLP. We do not accept funding that seeks to influence our content, curriculum, educator resources, public events or media engagement, or to promote specific viewpoints, products, policies or political beliefs. 

We are transparent and accountable 

We share clear, accessible information about our funders, including in-kind gifts, on our Supporters page. In some cases, we accept donations from individuals or institutions who request anonymity, a common and accepted practice in philanthropy. These donors are vetted with the same standards as any other gift, and their identities are known to senior staff for due diligence. 

We are intentional about maintaining a healthy balance across our institutional funding sources to avoid overreliance on organizations that could be perceived as aligned with a particular agenda. In keeping with our nonpartisan mission, we do not accept funding from overtly partisan organizations. 

We welcome individual donors who are likely to have a variety of viewpoints. We recognize that they may express those views publicly, including on social media, and we do not monitor or assess those personal expressions. With hundreds of individuals supporting NLP each year, we view this range of perspectives as powerful evidence that news literacy is valued as a fundamental skill that transcends differing beliefs. 

Board members are expected to give in ways appropriate to their capacity. NLP does not contract with board members or their organizations in exchange for compensation. 

When NLP receives in-kind support or engages in sponsorships or partnerships, we formalize those relationships through agreements that preserve our independence and allow all parties to exit without penalty. 

We uphold the public’s trust 

We believe that teaching news literacy builds a stronger society. To maintain public trust, we uphold ethical fundraising practices and evaluate potential relationships carefully. 

The CEO, in consultation with senior leadership and the board when appropriate, has the authority to accept, conditionally accept or decline any gift — including anonymous gifts — based on alignment with our values, reputational risk or perceived conflicts of interest. All gifts are subject to the same ethical standards and transparency expectations. 

We maintain consistent standards for recognizing funders, whether through acknowledgments on our website, at events or in materials. Recognition never implies endorsement or influence. In addition, NLP staff and board members are required to always disclose potential conflicts and act in the best interest of the organization. 

We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from individuals, foundations and businesses. This generosity allows us to provide free, high-quality news literacy resources to educators, students and families — broadening access and deepening impact.