Turnagain News Selected for Two Triple Match Programs

TNews Donations Drive Begins Nov. 1

By Brooks Chandler

TNews Contributor

On Sept. 24 Turnagain News was selected to receive a matching donation of up to $3,000 from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation as part of the 2026  NewsMatch challenge program.   Newsmatch headquarters said TN  qualified based on “dedicated coverage of K-12 education” in Girdwood.  

TN has featured stories on the achievements of our local youth, solicited the help of young writers and editor Soren Wuerth has actively promoted “cub reporters”—Girdwood K-8 students. 

"Young reporters have stepped in to help with coverage again and again," said Wuerth. "We love that Turnagain News offers an opportunity for young people to gain experience in the field of journalism. It is important for us that our platform gives space for them to publish their writing."

More good news followed.  On Sept. 29 TN was designated a NewsMatch 2026 “rural partner”.  

This designation qualifies TN to receive up to $2,500 in additional matching funds from the Newsmatch Rural Partner Fund. NewsMatch headquarters stated this fund “is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.”  It is awarded “to newsrooms serving rural audiences and covering rural issues”.  

 “Communities need local, credible, non-profit platforms to serve as accurate sources of information so people don't have to rely on just Facebook page bulletins and gossip," Wuerth said. "It's a challenge. We're always looking for writers”.

NewsMatch said both the education and rural matches run concurrently with the “main match” NewsMatch challenge program- a 1:1 match of the first $12,000 in individual donations to TN.  The NewsMatch main match program is funded by a coalition of national philanthropists in support of local nonprofit news.  

This results in the following donation math:

•  First, $2,500 in individual donations will be triple matched.  Once by the main match, once by the education coverage program and once by the rural coverage program.  Net result is $10,000 in TN funding-  $2,500 individual donations plus $7,500 in matching donations.  

• The next $500 in individual donations will be double matched.  Once by the main match and once by the rural partner match.  This will provide $1,500 of funding. 

• When individual donations top $3,000 there is a single match by the NewsMatch challenge program.  This final match will apply until a total of $12,000 in individual donations have been received.  The potential additional funding for TN from this main match is $18,000 ($9,000 in individual donations plus the $9,000 match.

The NewsMatch challenge programs have been critical in enabling TN to build capacity to deliver information to Turnagain Arm communities.  

Donations made last year allowed TN to add coverage from freelance reporters to supplement volunteer contributors.  This has expanded TN reporting on Whittier and Girdwood happenings. 

"We are so honored to be named recipients of a triple-match fundraising opportunity!" said TN editor Wuerth. "Our team is super excited to fire up a drive to gain the match. Pedal to the metal! Please get ready to donate beginning Nov. 1."