Initiatives & Programmes
The DNT Fund empowers small and independent news publishers through targeted project-based grants and tailored capacity-building support.
Our initiatives focus on strengthening digital operations and infrastructure (including CMS, analytics, and SEO), advancing audience development strategies, exploring innovative revenue models like memberships and commercial experiments, and offering access to essential training, mentorship, and organisational development.
Each programme is designed to drive sustainable digital transformation and long-term impact within South Africa’s independent media ecosystem.
Flexible Funding. Tailored to Your Stage.
It is envisaged that the DNT Fund will offer three tiers of support, depending on the needs and capacity of each applicant:
“Build” Tier: Up to R380 000 per project, per year, for publishers with limited or no online presence to lay the groundwork for a solid digital foundation.
“Grow” Tier: Up to R950 000 per project, per year, for publishers with basic digital products seeking to expand their reach and capabilities.
“Engage” Tier: Up to R1 900 000 per project, per year, for digitally mature publishers looking to invest in new technologies to enhance their digital business models.
Flexible Funding. Tailored to Your Stage.
The DNT Fund will offer three tiers of support, depending on the needs and capacity of each applicant:
“Build” Tier: Up to R380 000 per project, per year, for publishers with limited or no online presence to lay the groundwork for a solid digital foundation.
“Grow” Tier: Up to R950 000 per project, per year, for publishers with basic digital products seeking to expand their reach and capabilities.
“Engage” Tier: Up to R1 900 000 per project, per year, for digitally mature publishers looking to invest in new technologies to enhance their digital business models.
Media We Finance
The DNT Fund supports small to established, local, and independent news publishers or collectives that are committed to public-interest journalism and digital transformation.
Eligible beneficiaries must be members of the Press Council of South Africa but do not need to be affiliated with the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), nor are they required to use Google products or services in their digital initiatives.