Our Mission

The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation (WIJF) was established in August 2020 and classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity in February 2021. Our mission is to support community journalism that ensures long-term access to accurate local news and investigative reporting throughout western Iowa. 

We believe that a robust and independent press is essential for a thriving democracy and are dedicated to supporting community-based news sources that provide professional journalism that informs, engages, and reflects the communities they serve.

Our philanthropic endeavors have been developed to meet the following objectives: 

WIJF is governed by a seven-person board of directors and serves residents in all Iowa counties west of Interstate 35, roughly half of the state of Iowa.