LETTER FROM THE CEO

Seeing is an active and continuous act. And when done with intentionality, an act that brings both information and connection.

Our aim is not to merely shine a light on issues when they become so pressing that they enter the national consciousness. That is the critical work that wire services like the AP, Getty Images, and Reuters have taken on and do so well — documenting history as it moves from main event to main event. Our goal is different and in many ways complementary: It is to establish and support edifices of light, and lighthouses that provide continuous representation of issues and solutions that truly matter to local communities for years to come.

Journalism is an essential part of a healthy democracy.

At CatchLight, the visual journalists we support are as diverse as the stories they create and the communities they serve. When people see themselves represented in their local media, they are more likely to trust the news and participate in the democratic process as engaged citizens. The following stories reflect some of those edifices of light and lighthouses that CatchLight supported and produced in 2024.

Community-based journalism is more important than ever.

In 2025, we’ll open 15 visual journalism staff positions through an expanded partnership with Report for America. This means we’re bringing our visual-first, community-based journalism model to small towns and cities across the United States, from Spanish-speaking communities throughout North Carolina to investigative reporting outlets in Wisconsin. We’re launching a mental health initiative to highlight the specific challenges faced by youth, mothers, and incarcerated people. And, we’re launching a Night of Photojournalism tour to bring live, community-led visual journalism to cities across North America to showcase the power of visual journalism that inspires civic engagement and action.

Your partnership over the last few years has prepared us to meet this moment.

Thank you for your support

Elodie Mailliet Storm

CEO, CatchLight

Explore select stories produced by CatchLight photographers in 2024.

Video produced during CatchLight's 2024 events.

Take a trip through 2024 with CatchLight's Year in Pictures.

Experience the daily lives and extraordinary moments of Californians, curated by in partnership with CalMatters.

Our local parnters organized by location.

Click on a point on the map or use the index on the left to learn more about each member organization.

In 2024:

546,366 monthly audience across all newsroom partners

41,114 local news stories produced through CatchLight Visual Desk

61,527 people connected through public programs

16 awards and nominations for CatchLight Local Fellows and staff

33 Global Fellowships awarded

6200 journalists attended 10 CatchLight Educational workshops

Over the next three years, CatchLight will triple the number of Fellows and Visual Desk members, starting with 15 new positions opening in 2025 as part of an expanded partnership with Report for America.

The 2024 Global Fellows are leaders working with Indigenous water defenders working in Ecuador, documenting the racial divide and reclamation of Black history in Elaine, Arkansas, and recording the civilian experiences of war in Donbas, Ukraine.  

Since 2017, through the Global Fellowship, CatchLight has awarded 23 visual leaders with $690,000 to create new work and deepen the social impact of their creative practices.

In 2025, CatchLight is launching a Night of Photojournalism tour to bring live, community-led visual journalism to cities across North America to showcase the power of visual journalism that inspires civic engagement and action. 

Deepest thanks to our guest editor Elizabeth Krist, who sifted through thousands of images to highlight these complex and nuanced stories.

Heartfelt thanks to the participating photographers and to the individuals pictured for lending their image, likeness, stories and experiences to these projects.

CatchLight is a 501c-3 nonprofit organization. We would not exist without the generosity of individuals like you who invest in our mission and whose gifts make our work possible. 

Founder’s Circle  |  $25,000+

Alan Marks • Amanda M. Minami • Anonymous • Nancy and Bob Farese • The Blodgett Family Fund • Xin Liu

Visionary Circle  |  $10,000-$24,999

Black Dog Private Foundation  •  Cameron Schrier Foundation  •  Coxe Family Fund  •  Deirdre and Christopher Hockett  •  Elizabeth Needham and Peter Mark  •  Mike and Carol Ramsay  •  Tom and Liz Hale  •  Wesley N. and Kate D. Mitchell

Luminary Circle | $5,000-$9,999

Fran and David Meckler  •  Jim and Linda Waterbury  •  Lisa Kleiner Chanoff  •  Rory C. Quintana  •  Silver Giving Foundation

Leadership Circle | $1,000-$4,999

Allison/Shipley Fund  •  Amanda Kelso  •  Anonymous  •  Betsy Blumenthal and John Root  •  Christopher McCall  •  Christopher Michel  •  Chuck Kissner and Cary Orr-Kissner  •  Hendy and Jon Dayton  •  Joan Dea and Lionel Conacher  •  Jon Tigar and Carrie Avery  •  Linda Wang  •  Lori Quinn and Jeffrey Lowenthal  •  Marcy Tilton  •  Mital Patel  •  North Ridge Foundation  •  Rebecca S. Draper Fund  •  Rikki De Wit  •  Robert Usdan and Amy Yenkin  •  Roseann Eppolito-Needleman  •  Sara Howard  •  Stacy-Marie Ishmael  •  Su-Moon Paik  •  Susanne Pruitt  •  Tim Albright and Sarah Baker Charitable Gift Fund

Supporters

Abair Trust in Memory of Ben and David Rosenthal • Alyson Aliano • Anne Lai • Barry Schwartz • Caroline Kim Oh • Charles Versaggi • Chelcey Adami • Coburn Dukehart • D.A. Bullock • Darian Swig • David Madson • David Maisel • David Wilson • Elizabeth Krist • Elizabeth Pratt • Elizabeth Waldo • Ellen Schneider • Elodie Mailliet Storm • Erica Garber • Gene Dominique • Gerald and Jane Baldwin • Geralyn Migielicz • Homayoon Norooz • iJames England • Jay Bryant • John Dunne • John Schramm • Jordan Park Mission 1st Fund • Joseph Silva • Julia Caldwell • Julie Makinen • Julie Ruskin • Katrina Basile • Keith Forman • Lenore Pereira • Liang Mi • Lisa Ceremsak • Lizzy Gilbert • Lynn Johnson • Magdalena Reyes • Maggie Hinton • Mark Silverberg • Martin Lesinski • Maz Ali • Michael Barkin • Michael Shaw • Neil Chase • Ngan Vu • Pierre Terdjman • Richard Hay • Robert Rosenthal • Sally Ward • Samantha Laurey • Sandra Eisert • Sandra Weinstein • Scott Gamble • Shazna Nessa • Tara Pixley • Tristan Loper • Umbreen Bhatti • Vlad and Wen Bacvanski

Organizations

Donations

We are at a pivotal moment for the future of the visual storytelling ecosystem.

Help us build a new collaborative model for visual journalism to drive impact in our communities and our democracy.

We have one-time, monthly and yearly contribution options.

Become a sponsor

Email us to find out how you can share in CatchLight’s vision and connect your brand to our audiences through corporate giving. 

Mail

Prefer to mail a check? Our mailing address is 1150 25th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Contributions or gifts to CatchLight are tax deductible. Our tax ID is #27-1912845. 

Questions? Email us .

This report was produced by MediaStorm using the MediaStorm Platform.

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