Applications are now open for our expanded Sustainability 360 Program.
This year-long initiative was designed to give independent news leaders the time, space, and support to make meaningful progress toward sustainability.
This cohort-based program will offer to up to 40 LION members a mix of strategic coaching, expert consulting, and peer connection to help tackle your most pressing challenges. Whether you're putting together your first budget, preparing to hire, or working to align your editorial mission with your business model, this program is built to meet you where you are.
Participants will receive:
We ask that a person in your organization's executive leadership please fill out the application form and participate in the program. For background on this program and who is qualified to apply, please refer to the full program announcement.
Apply to participate by completing the form below. We will accept applications until June 9, 2025 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. (You will receive a copy of your application via email after you submit.)
Which definition best describes your stage of sustainability?
Preparation: Beginning to implement a minimum viable product (MVP).
Building: Iterating products based on audience and market research while building a foundation for the supporting revenue and operations.
Maintaining: Increasing journalistic impact and audience growth while still seeking operational and financial stability.
Growing: Steadily and simultaneously growing revenue, audience and operations.
As part of this program, you’ll receive strategic coaching tailored to your organization’s stage and goals. Based on the recommendations you received from your most recent Sustainability Audit (if applicable), or based on your assessment of your challenges, what are three things you’d like to tackle during this program?
As part of this program, you’ll have access to an HR expert who can help you design or strengthen the systems that support a healthy, sustainable team, whether you’re hiring for the first time, managing a network of freelancers, or working to improve retention and culture. In many cases, the HR expert can take the lead on drafting materials or building out processes so this work doesn’t fall entirely on you. However, your input and involvement will still be essential to ensure the final deliverables reflect your organization’s values, goals, and unique context.
Our HR support menu includes, but isn’t limited to, the following deliverables:
1) A new employee handbook or editing an existing handbook
2) Job descriptions
3) Compensation policies
4) Onboarding processes
5) Staff feedback surveys
6) Benefits
7) Performance reviews
8) Corrective action processes
9) Organizational chart and role review
10) Hiring processes, e.g., job postings and interview guides
11) People-policies and culture, e.g., PTO, remote work
What are two to three HR deliverables you’d like to walk away with by the end of the program? These should ideally align with your broader strategic goals.
For example: If your strategic goal is to grow reader revenue by 20% by end of year and you’re preparing to hire a Membership Manager, your HR deliverables might include a job description, a hiring process, and an onboarding plan.
As part of this program, you'll get to work with a Finance expert who can help you make sense of your financial systems and set up tools that support your goals. Whether you're putting together a budget for the first time, figuring out how much runway you have, or learning to make smart decisions informed by a clear understanding of your financial position, our finance expert can help.
Our finance support menu includes, but isn’t limited to:
1) Creating or refining a budget
2) Building cash flow projections
3) Identifying your financial runway or break-even point
4) Understanding and organizing your chart of accounts
5) Tracking restricted vs. unrestricted revenue
6) Creating and interpreting financial reports for decision-making
7) Clarifying the cost of staff roles and planned hires
Has your organization faced barriers to building a sustainable news business? Barriers could include, but are not limited to, inequitable access to funding, systemic discrimination, and exclusion based on gender identity, location, race, ethnicity, or religion. What steps has your organization taken to address these challenges, and how do these efforts align with your overall mission?