When federal immigration agents flooded the Twin Cities earlier this year as part of “Operation Metro Surge,” local newsrooms scrambled to cover what was unfolding.

It was a moment when local news mattered — when it could report what was happening, show how it was affecting communities across the region and have the resources to do it.

Press Forward Minnesota moved quickly, too.

Within a week, the philanthropic coalition was mobilizing to support local news organizations. In the end, it raised $700,000 from both national and regional funders and started to deploy it just as quickly.

One critical early step: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recognized what was happening and reached out to Press Forward Minnesota to help kickstart the effort, seeding the fund with $200,000 within 24 hours, and helping bring other funders on board.…