INFORMED COMMUNITIES

With New York City and Philadelphia news often overshadowing the concerns and challenges we face here in New Jersey, there is both a need and a hunger for constructive dialogue, access to quality information and public data, and community participation in local decision-making.

Dodge supports local journalism, government transparency initiatives, and creative community outreach efforts to educate and engage the public around issues of importance to New Jersey, as well as to uncover abuses of power by the institutions in which we’ve placed our trust. We believe that communities thrive when news and information is a collaborative endeavor that seeks to include and represent all voices in the community, and facilitates meaningful opportunities for public participation in policy decisions that impact their lives. 

Informed Communities Guidelines:

Through local journalism and creative community building efforts, citizens are informed, engaged and empowered to make decisions and take action to improve their own lives, as well as to shape the future of their communities.

We strive to fulfill this vision for Informed Communities in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Provide high quality, New Jersey-focused news across multiple platforms;
• Seek ambitious, innovative and collaborative reporting opportunities, with a priority on investigative reporting;
• Actively engage traditionally underserved audiences with relevant news, information and community building initiatives; and
• Encourage meaningful, ongoing civic dialogue and community participation.