Fund for Investigative Journalism 2025 (grants of up to $10,000)

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About Fund for Investigative Journalism

The Fund for Investigative Journalism gives funds and other assistance to reporters to publish high-quality, unbiased, nonpartisan investigative articles with a significant impact.

Grants are available to freelance journalists, professional reporters, and media outlets for investigations for print, internet, or broadcast articles, books, films, or podcasts.

They provide several types of grants:

• Regular grants: We review proposals three to four times a year for grants up to $10,000. The next deadline is Monday, January 27, 2025. 
• Seed funding: We provide small grants, up to $2,500, for preliminary reporting that can lead to full investigations. These grants cover costs like open-records requests and initial reporting trips. The next deadline is Friday, January 31, 2025.
• Expedited grants: In rare cases, we 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 to four weeks.
• Follow-up grants: We 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. We 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 offers diversity fellowships. Information about these fellowships will be posted to our website when applications are open.

• Sponsor Organisation: Fund for Investigative Journalism

Benefits of Fund for Investigative Journalism

Grant Amounts

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. 

Reporters who do not yet have a full investigative proposal, but need support to do initial reporting to develop a story, an apply for seed funding to help cover the expenses of preliminary reporting. These grants range from $1,000 to $2,500.

Fund for Investigative Journalism Requirements

Freelance journalists, staff reporters and media outlets are eligible for grants, and their investigations can be for print, online or broadcast stories, books, documentaries or podcasts.

Application Date and Process

Regular, Expedited, and Follow-up proposals are submitted through the same application form. Seed funding is submitted through a special application form. Emergency Grants are submitted through their own application form.

They do not accept resubmissions of proposals that we’ve declined previously, unless we specifically invite you to resubmit.

They do not accept multiple proposals from the same applicant in one grant cycle, except in rare cases. To seek an exception to this guidelines, please email them at [email protected].

More information about our grants is below. Additional resources about applying for grants include:

• Frequently Asked Questions about applying for a grant.
• 30-minute video with a former grantee and a Board member sharing tips for applying for a grant
• How to contact them to ask questions or get feedback

Deadlines

Regular Grants

• Winter: January 27 at 11:59 pm ET
• Spring: April 28 at 11:59 pm ET
• Summer: September 8 at 11:59 pm ET

Seed Grants

• Winter: January 31 at 11:59 pm ET
• Spring: May 9 at 11:59 pm ET
• Summer: September 19 at 11:59 pm ET

Scholarship Application Portal

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