Build a stronger path from grant dependency to long-term sustainability.
This program supports independent media and public-interest journalism organizations working with Independent Media Support. It helps leadership teams understand their cost structure, reduce funding concentration risk, explore hybrid revenue models, and build a practical 90-day sustainability plan.
Where you are — and where this program helps you get to
60–80% of budget from 2–3 funders. One grant loss is an existential event. Financial planning is reactive. Editorial decisions are quietly shaped by funding availability.
→Grants remain a pillar, but earned revenue, membership, and diversified sources reduce concentration risk. Financial decisions become proactive. Editorial independence strengthens.
→A resilient funding mix, operational efficiency, and financial reserves create the foundation to grow, invest in editorial quality, and withstand political and economic shocks.
What you will work on
- 1 Understanding your true cost structure
- 2 Moving from activity budgets to P&L thinking
- 3 Mapping grant dependency and concentration risk
- 4 Testing earned revenue and hybrid funding options
- 5 Building your 90-day sustainability action plan
What support includes
- Live intro session with Nadim and your cohort
- Self-paced modules with exercises and frameworks
- Practical exercises and templates
- 1:1 advisory sessions with Nadim
- Optional follow-up support based on IMS arrangement
- Access via IMS coupon or access code
Nadim Zaazaa
Nadim has spent years working directly with MENA media organizations on the hardest part of sustainability — not writing the strategy, but executing the shift. As Business Viability Adviser at IMS MENA, he designs concrete pathways from grant dependence to blended finance and earned revenue. He combines that on-the-ground media experience with a track record deploying $25M across 80+ startups and managing a 200+ company portfolio at Bayer.