DEADLINE: Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Grants

The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) invites applications three or four times per year 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 accepts applications for projects on domestic and international issues.

Grants of up to $10,000 cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, and equipment rental. The Fund also considers requests for small stipends.

Open to freelance journalists, staff reporters and media outlets. Investigations can be for print, online or broadcast stories, books, documentaries or podcasts.

NEW! The Fund for Investigative Journalism is accepting proposals for grants of $1,000 to $2,500 for early reporting and research that can lead to groundbreaking investigative stories. Click here for the online application portal.

Proposals are due Monday, May 22, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Journalists whose proposals are accepted will be notified and receive payment June.

This Friday (May 5) at noon Eastern, the Fund will hold a short webinar on how to apply for these grants. Click here to register for the webinar.

These grants are part of a new program at the Fund, aided by the Gumshoe Group, to support freelance investigative journalists much earlier in the process. The grants cover the expenses of early reporting and research, which can include public-records fees, reporting trips, research, reporters’ time and more.

Grants are paid directly to freelance investigative reporters (those who do not have a full-time job at a media outlet). Grants can be used to help develop investigative stories on any topic in any medium, including print or online articles, television or radio stories, books, podcasts and documentaries. Journalists who receive “seed grants” for preliminary research and reporting are encouraged to apply for full grants from the Fund once their stories are fleshed out and they have secured a commitment from a media outlet to publish or broadcast the story.

2023 deadlines for regular grants: Jan 30; May 1; more TBA

Four types of grants are available:

• Regular grants: We review proposals three to four times a year for grants up to $10,000. The next deadline is TBA.
• 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 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.

Learn more about how to request mentorship in the application process from a past grantee.