ONA receives $100K Open Society Foundation grant

Executive Director named New Executives Fund Recipient

By on August 30, 2017

Washington, D.C. — The Online News Association, the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists, received a $100,000 grant from the Open Society Foundation to provide support to the association.  

The grant is provided through OSF’s New Executives Fund, which named ONA’s Executive Director Irving Washington as a recipient. The Fund, awarded to executives who have been in their position for less than one year, helps newly appointed directors to implement their vision of change. ONA’s two-year grant will support investments in the organization’s growth, including the development of its next strategic plan.

“Our community of digital journalists has never been more important than it is now,” said ONA Board President Joshua Hatch. “This grant is a testament to Irving’s leadership and I’m excited about where the organization is headed.”

“It’s an honor to be among a cohort of nonprofit leaders across the world impacting change,” added Washington.  “As we embark on our new strategic plan, this grant will allow us to invest in setting our future direction and ensuring we provide targeted resources, opportunities and training for our community.”

Since its inception in 2013, the New Executives Fund has awarded 75 grants for a total of $7,295,000, to executive directors across the world.  

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Jennifer Mizgata

Jennifer Mizgata is Director of Programs at the Online News Association, where she leads the Women's Leadership Accelerator. At ONA, Jennifer focuses on identifying talented digital journalists and innovative journalism projects and providing them with support. Jennifer is a business and design strategist with over a decade of experience creating industry-changing training programs, investing in award-winning projects, and managing key relationships with journalism partners and tech stakeholders. She regularly coaches managers, senior leaders and entrepreneurs on challenges related to their careers and launching new ventures. Jennifer shares advice for navigating tough work challenges in Work Space, a monthly column for Fortune.