TIME has named Stewart and Sandy Bainum to the second-annual 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy List, which highlights individuals shaping the future of giving.
The Bainums were selected for their investment in supporting and strengthening sustainable local journalism. The list was determined by TIME editors and correspondents from around the world, highlighting “the most compelling stories in philanthropy today.”
The Bainums are cofounders of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, which owns The Baltimore Banner and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2022, they committed $50 million to launch The Baltimore Banner and earlier this year pledged an additional $30 million over the next five years to support the institute’s path to sustainability.
This month, the Venetoulis Institute acquired the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, expanding its investment in local journalism into a second regional market.
The recognition comes as The Banner continues to receive national honors for its journalism. In 2025, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for an investigation into Baltimore’s overdose crisis conducted in collaboration with The New York Times. This year, the newsroom was recognized as a Pulitzer finalist for reporting on how unreliable public transportation contributed to chronic absenteeism among Baltimore students.
The full TIME100 list will appear in the May 25, 2026, issue available on newsstands Friday, May 15, and online at ti.me/100-philanthropy.
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