Grants to USA Journalists for Expenses Associated with Gro

Grants to USA Journalists for Expenses Associated with Groundbreaking Reporting

Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Regular and Follow-Up Grants

GrantWatch ID# 178022

Agency: Foundation

Funding Source

Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)

Geographic Focus

All USA

Important Dates

Deadline: 01/30/23 11:59 PM ET - Deadline for Regular Grants; Applications for Follow-up Grants are accepted on a rolling basis.

Grant Description

Grants of up to $2,500 and grants of up to $10,000 to USA journalists to cover costs incurred while researching and writing groundbreaking stories. Prior to submitting an application, applicants must obtain a commitment letter for publication of the proposed story in a U.S. media outlet. Funding is intended for expenses including equipment rental, document collection, and travel. Requests for small stipends will also be considered.

The Board of Directors looks for: stories that break new ground and expose wrongdoing, such as corruption, malfeasance, or misuse of power – in the public and private sectors. The Fund encourages proposals written for ethnic media and submitted by journalists of color.

The Fund offers grantees the opportunity to be matched with a seasoned investigative reporter to serve as a mentor. The Scripps Howard Foundation supports the mentoring program. As part of the application form, applicants are asked to explain how a mentor can help you and whether you can commit to keep your mentor informed of your progress. Mentors act as a sounding board and work with grantees for the duration of the project.

Two Types of grants are provided:

Regular grants: Proposals are reviewed three to four times a year.
Follow-up grants: Proposals for timely follow-up coverage to original investigations that were produced with grants from the Fund are accepted. Grantees can apply for expedited review for follow-up grants.

Full Grant Text RFP

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Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Criteria for Eligibility

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.

To be considered, foreign-based story proposals must come from U.S.-based reporters or have a strong U.S. angle, involving American citizens, government or business. All stories must be published in English and have a media outlet in the United States.

Grants cannot be used to rent office space, purchase office supplies or buy equipment.

Pre-Application Information

Applications for regular grants are reviewed three or four times a year. The next application deadline is Monday, January 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Applicants receive a decision about six weeks after the deadline.

Applications for Follow-up Grants are accepted on a rolling basis.

Before you apply, you will need to obtain a “Letter of Commitment” from a news outlet agreeing to publish or air the specific story you propose as long as it meets the publication’s expectations and standards. This letter should not be thought of as an unqualified pledge. If the work is not satisfactory, the news outlet cannot be expected to publish it. The Fund needs this commitment before making a grant because the Fund doesn’t have the capacity to help reporters place stories. The letter must be written on letterhead that includes contact information for the news outlet and the individual signing it.

If you are book author applying for a grant, a signed book contract from a publisher serves as the commitment. If you are a documentary filmmaker, a letter of support from a distributor or broadcaster can serve as the commitment.

FAQs: https://fij.org/grants-faq/

"How to Get a Grant" Webinar: https://fij.org/how-to-get-a-grant-webinar/

Estimated Size of Grant

Regular Grants: up to $10,000
Follow-up Grants: up to $2,500

Contact Information

All proposals are submitted through the same application form: https://investigate.submittable.com/submit

Direct questions to: grants@fij.org

The Fund for Investigative Journalism
1100 13th St., NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 378-0953

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