The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a leading nonprofit news organization focused on advancing the social good, is proud to announce its annual Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship. This initiative supports local newsrooms in enhancing their coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits in their communities. Apply now!
About Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship
Opportunity Details
Fellowship Overview
Each year, four local news organizations are selected for the Fellowship Program, which provides:
- $30,000 funding to strengthen reporting on nonprofits and philanthropy.
- Collaboration with Chronicle reporters to develop and publish impactful stories.
- Training opportunities with partners like the Associated Press, whose expanded philanthropy team is funded through a grant from the Lilly Endowment.
Through this fellowship, participants will explore the vital role of nonprofits and foundations in their communities, producing stories that engage audiences and foster a deeper understanding of the charitable sector.
Why Nonprofit Coverage Matters
Nonprofits and philanthropic organizations manage trillions of dollars in assets and contribute to vital services such as housing, healthcare, education, and advocacy. Despite their significant societal impact, these organizations often operate with limited media scrutiny. Enhanced reporting on nonprofits can:
- Provide valuable public service by highlighting community solutions.
- Engage audiences eager to learn about problem-solving efforts.
- Promote transparency and accountability in the nonprofit sector.
Fellowship Goals
Looking for proposals from news organizations that:
- Examine impact: Investigate how nonprofits and foundations address pressing community issues.
- Educate audiences: Advance understanding of philanthropy among citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders.
- Highlight solutions: Showcase actionable ideas and solutions in local contexts.
- Promote diversity: Reflect diverse perspectives, particularly those directly affected by the issues covered.
Benefits of Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship
- Each of the four news organizations we select for the fellowship will receive $30,000 to enhance their coverage of nonprofits.
Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship Requirements
- The fellowship is open to all news organizations in the United States, with preference given to those that are local or regional.
Application Date and Process
Submit a proposal describing your project or projects and articles that could result from your reporting as well as data or other storytelling elements. They are looking for substantial projects that will take a year to complete. Each project, if there is more than one, should be presented in 1,250 words or fewer. In the proposal, please discuss the following:
- The role that philanthropy or nonprofits play in the project you are proposing and what you’d like to learn about them.
- Why this subject is important to your audience.
- How your story will identify solutions or ideas for action in your community or region. Their goal is to support reporting that does more than identify problems. It should help your audience learn about solutions and possibly find ways to engage with nonprofits working on important issues.
- How your reporting will reflect a diversity of sources that have a wide range of perspectives, including those directly affected by the topic of the reporting.
Each application must also include the following:
- Information about your publication and the community it serves.
- Names and titles of editors and reporters who will carry out the work, along with their resumes.
- A proposed timeline for the year of work; we know some things will change along the way.
- How you envision the Chronicle working with you to help shape your project, such as guidance you’d like from the Chronicle in finding sources, data, public documents, and more to enrich your reporting.
- Any potential conflicts of interest, such as applications for other grants or connections to organizations you’ll be covering.
Please also include the following:
- PDFs of two stories that show the team’s reporting and writing ability. We’re especially eager to see articles that demonstrate your ability to showcase solutions to complex problems or pieces that hold organizations and people accountable.
- A signed letter from your top editor authorizing your team’s participation in the fellowship.
For more information, see our fellowship page and their FAQs.
If you have questions or need further information, contact Jim Rendon, the Chronicle’s fellowship director.
Email these items to:[email protected]no later than January 31, 2025.
Application Deadline
31 January, 2025
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Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship
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