Applications are open for the Fund for Investigative Journalism Grants 2023. The Fund for Investigative Journalism provides grants and other support to independent journalists and news organizations to produce high-quality, unbiased, nonpartisan investigative stories that have an impact.
They provide support directly to investigative journalists for news stories, books, documentaries and podcasts that uncover wrongdoing by powerful people or institutions.
The Fund for Investigative Journalism was founded in 1969 by the late Philip M. Stern, a public-spirited philanthropist who devoted his life “to balancing the scales of justice.” Stern was convinced that small amounts of money invested in the work of determined journalists would yield enormous results in the fight against racism, poverty, corporate greed and government corruption.
Grants
They provide four types of grants:
- Regular grants: They review proposals three to four times a year for grants up to $10,000. The next deadline is Monday, January 30, 2023.
- Expedited grants: In rare cases, they provide expedited review for proposals that are extremely urgent and cannot wait for the regular review cycle. These proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants receive a decision within about two weeks.
- Follow-up grants: They accept proposals for timely follow-up coverage to original investigations that were produced with grants from the Fund. Grantees can apply for expedited review for follow-up grants up to $2,500.
- Emergency Grants: Threats to Democracy in the U.S.: These grants are for stories that break new ground and expose wrongdoing related to threats to democracy in the U.S. for up to $10,000. They will review proposals on a rolling basis. Grant decisions can be expected within 2-4 weeks of submission of application.
- Diversity Fellowship: In our commitment to increasing diversity in the field of investigative journalism, the Fund for Investigative Journalism is offering three, six-month Diversity Fellowships. The fellowships are open to individual applicants from groups underrepresented in investigative journalism due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, gender or religion. The Fund is partnering with three news organizations who will each host a fellow in their newsroom: The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, USA TODAY, and Wisconsin Watch.
Grant
- The maximum grant is $10,000.Grants cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection and equipment rental. The Fund also considers requests for small stipends, as part of the budget.
- Reporters who have already published an investigation with a grant from the Fund can request up to $2,500 for timely follow-up coverage to the original story.
Eligibility
- All journalists are eligible. Most grants are awarded to freelance journalists. Some journalists on staff at nonprofit and traditional media outlets also receive grants.
- Investigations can be for print, online or broadcast stories, books, documentaries or podcasts.
Application
- Regular, Expedited, and Follow-up proposals are submitted through the same application form. Emergency Grants are submitted through their own application form. Diversity Fellowship is submitted through its own application form.
