The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), a global organisation seeking to unleash the potential of women and non-binary journalists as champions of press freedom to transform the global news media, has opened applications for the 2026 cycle of the Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism, a grant program created to honor the legacy of Kari Howard and her passion for powerful storytelling.
Kari Howard was known for championing stories that made readers feel deeply connected to the people and experiences being portrayed. As an editor, she encouraged writers to capture the beauty of everyday life while shedding light on important social issues through compelling narrative journalism. In her memory, Kari’s family and friends, in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), continue to support journalists who share her commitment to meaningful storytelling.
The Fund provides grants averaging about $5,000 to support narrative journalism projects. Applicants can be print journalists or print journalists leading multimedia reporting teams. Eligible projects may be reported and published in English anywhere in the world. Grant recipients are expected to complete all reporting and publication within six months of receiving the award.
To be eligible, applicants must be women or nonbinary journalists working primarily in professional journalism. Both freelance and staff journalists may apply either individually or as part of a multi-format team. Applicants must have at least three years of professional journalism experience, excluding internships.
Candidates should also be able to demonstrate editorial interest in their project or provide evidence of previous publication in recognized media outlets. Applications and final publications must be in English. While stories may be published digitally rather than in traditional newspapers or magazines, any multimedia components must support a print-based reporting project.
Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submissions in early September 2026.
The deadline to apply is July 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
For more information and to apply, please visit: https://iwmf.submittable.com/submit/c65a15f2-9ff5-4c2b-b2a3-2d897c703381/the-kari-howard-fund-for-narrative-journalism-2026
