LION to help 40 New England publishers thanks to Barr Foundation grant

The Boston-based Barr Foundation has awarded a $265,000 grant to LION Publishers to support recommendations from the LION Sustainability Audit for up to 40 independent newsrooms in New England. 

Earlier this month, at the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit, Barr Foundation’s Director of Communications, Stefan Lanfer, shared the news during an after-hours roundtable discussion. 

“I was grateful to join LION at their Summit and to hear the many personal stories of members sharing how much their newsrooms have benefited from LION’s support and network. Most started with one or two people with a vision to help their communities be better informed, engaged, and equipped to address challenges and pursue opportunities that matter to them,” Lanfer said. “LION gives these news entrepreneurs the tools and supports they need to strengthen their business operations and sustainability – so they can keep doing and deepening that important work.”

This generous support will fund post-Audit assessment tools, resources, and coaching for participating news organizations in the New England region, which includes outlets in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

As many as 40 newsrooms will each benefit from a year’s worth of one-on-one coaching or group training to explore best practices and solution-making in key areas like audience development, revenue growth, and operations. LION will also provide access to its News Entrepreneur Academy, a comprehensive online resource hub designed to help news entrepreneurs navigate common challenges and build thriving businesses. 

Participants will complete a self-service Audit at both the beginning and end of the year-long program, allowing LION to track each organization’s progress and create a comprehensive, shared dashboard that will serve as a model for regional benchmarking.

“We’re excited to help dozens of New England newsrooms with the tools and expert help we know they need,” said Chris Krewson, LION’s executive director. “The Sustainability Audit has proven its value hundreds of times, and we’re grateful to the Barr Foundation for helping these news organizations take advantage of the resources we’ve gathered.”

If you’re an independent newsroom in New England, stay tuned for details on how to participate in this pilot. If you’re a funder interested in learning more about LION’s work, contact us at hello@lionpublishers.com.

About Barr Foundation

The Barr Foundation’s mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and enable all students to discover and actualize their unbounded potential. Founded in 1997, Barr now has assets over $2.9 billion and has contributed more than $1.7 billion to charitable causes. For more information, visit barrfoundation.org.

Learn more about LION here.