Civic Media Program Grant Administrator RFP

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is seeking a grant administrator for the California Civic Media Program, which aims to support the sustainability of newsrooms and strengthen local reporting throughout the state. The selected entity will be responsible for developing an application process, reviewing applications, and distributing funds to selected candidates. The entity will also be required to develop a system to evaluate program effectiveness and audit applicants for compliance. The contract period is expected to be from May 2026 to October 2027. • The program has a total funding amount of $10 million. • The entity will be entitled to up to 5% of the total funding amount for administrative costs. • The program will support newsrooms and local reporting throughout the state. • The selected entity will be required to have experience in grant administration and fiscal agency. • The entity will be required to develop a system to evaluate program effectiveness and audit applicants for compliance. • The contract period is expected to be from May 2026 to October 2027.