About Us
The Wyoming Local News Fund envisions a future where all Wyoming residents have access to the local news and information they need to thrive. To reach this aim, the Fund supports trustworthy, equitable and solutions-focused projects and organizations that contribute to a vibrant media ecosystem.
Our Mission
Partners
It takes many partners to support and build a vibrant media ecosystem across Wyoming. These are a few of the organizations at the table — but there is always room for more.
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The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the sustainability and future of local news. Through funding, training, and national partnerships, the Institute helps local news organizations build long-term capacity, resilience, and operational support.
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Wyoming Local News Fund, ensuring all donations it receives on behalf of WLNF are used for tax-deductible purposes. This partnership supports the WLNF’s development of statewide programs focused on local news sustainability, workforce development, and community information access across Wyoming. If you are interested in making a philanthropic contribution or learning more about supporting this work, please contact Melissa Cassutt at melissa@wylocalnewsfund.org.
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The Democracy Fund works toward an open and just democracy that is resilient in the face of change and worthy of the American people's trust.
The Democracy Fund provided the seed funding to launch the Wyoming Local News Fund, and a generous grant funded the Wyoming Local News & Ecosystem Information Report. Over the past few years, the Democracy Fund has also provided guidance, support and connection to other local news funds and thought partners that supported the launching of this work in Wyoming.
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For 35 years, the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF)has connected people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming. Over the years, WYCF has not only granted over 100 million to charitable causes; we have worked on statewide initiatives that support Wyoming families and communities.
WYCF has long been a supporter of local media in Wyoming, and provided financial support for the Wyoming Local News & Ecosystem Information Report.
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The Wyoming Community Foundation is home to Press Forward Wyoming, a local chapter of a national initiative to support local media across the country. The Wyoming Local News Fund and Press Forward Wyoming are working collaboratively to support and build a vibrant media ecosystem across the Equality State.
Learn more about Press Forward Wyoming.
Melissa Cassutt, Founder & Director
Melissa Cassutt is also a Project Manager with the Solutions Journalism Network, where she supports sustainability and revenue initiatives for local news organizations across the country.
Before launching WLNF, Melissa worked as a journalist and editor at publications across the Mountain West, including the Jackson Hole News&Guide. She was named the 2016 Wyoming Press Association Young Journalist of the Year and received the Wyoming Woman of Influence Award in Media and Communications in 2019.
