The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), based in Washington D.C., in the United States, is calling for proposals from freelance journalists, staff reporters, and media outlets for its grants and other support to enable them produce high-quality, unbiased, nonpartisan investigative stories that have an impact.
The grants are available for print, online, or broadcast stories, books, documentaries, or podcasts.
FIJ administers grants at different levels, each serving distinct purposes. The regular grants undergo comprehensive reviews three to four times annually, with a maximum allocation of $10,000 to a proposal. The next upcoming submission deadline for this category is January 29, 2024.
Seed Funding, on the other hand, offers smaller grants of up to $2,500 to bolster preliminary reporting with potential for further development into full-scale investigations. These grants cover expenses such as open-records requests and initial reporting trips.
In exceptional circumstances requiring urgent attention, the organization facilitates Expedited Grants, ensuring proposals undergo rapid reviews on a rolling basis, with decisions communicated to applicants within approximately two to four weeks of applying. Additionally, FIJ welcomes proposals for Follow-Up Grants, supporting timely coverage that extends original investigations funded by the Fund, with grantees eligible for expedited review of up to $2,500.
Threats to Democracy in the U.S. category is specifically designed for groundbreaking stories exposing wrongdoing related to threats to democracy and provides support of up to $10,000. Proposals for this category are reviewed on a rolling basis, with grant decisions expected within two to four weeks of submission.
FIJ demonstrates its commitment to diversity in investigative journalism through the provision of Diversity Fellowships, details of which are available on its website when applications are open.
Applicants are encouraged to explore specific criteria and deadlines for each grant type on the official website.
Regular, Expedited, and Follow-up proposals are submitted through the same application form. Seed funding is submitted through a special application form while Emergency Grants are submitted through their application form. Diversity Fellowshipsare submitted through their application form, which is posted on the FIJ website when fellowships are open.
The deadline to apply for regular grants is January 29, 2024.
For more information and to apply for any of the grants, please visit https://fij.org/apply-for-a-grant/.
