Start with the region, then notice the differences
Latin America and the Caribbean are often grouped together, and for good reason. Across both, you’ll find:
- well-established regional intermediaries
- strong traditions of regranting and pooled funds
- active local and regional foundations
- thematic funding tied to democracy, environment, gender, and accountability
That said, scale and structure differ. Latin America has a denser landscape of regional organisations and philanthropic networks. In the Caribbean, funding ecosystems are smaller, often more country-specific, and diaspora philanthropy tends to play a more visible role.
The common thread is that very little funding flows directly from large donors to individual media outlets.
Why intermediaries are your real entry point
If you’re used to starting your funding search with EU or US donors (even when access has been limited), Latin America and the Caribbean require a mental shift.
Here, intermediaries are not an extra layer. They are the system. Regional journalism funds, media support organisations, and thematic regranting platforms often:
- receive funding from international donors
- shape priorities in consultation with local actors
- redistribute grants in smaller, more flexible amounts
For practitioners, this means shorter applications and smaller grant sizes, but far higher chances of entry and repeat funding.
Many organisations lose time by trying to “reach the donor” instead of building relationships with the intermediaries donors already rely on.
Regranting and pooled funds: how most money actually reaches newsrooms
A large share of media funding in the region is distributed through regranting mechanisms, pooled thematic funds and regional programmes run by trusted partners.
These are often framed around themes (e.g. investigative journalism, environmental reporting, local accountability, gender, or civic participation) rather than institutional survival. From a practitioner perspective, that has trade-offs:
- grants are usually modest
- funding cycles can be short
- reporting is lighter but more frequent
But it also means lower barriers to entry, opportunities to test partnerships and real potential for renewal.
How global philanthropy feeds regional ecosystems
One example of how funding circulates into Latin America and the Caribbean is the relationship between Luminate and the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM). Luminate has supported the development of IFPIM as a pooled funding vehicle designed to strengthen public interest media in resource-constrained environments. Rather than funding individual outlets directly at scale, global philanthropy helps capitalise funds like IFPIM, which then issue regionally relevant calls and distribute grants.
For practitioners, this illustrates a broader pattern: major donors often work through specialised funds and intermediaries, which act as the operational entry points for media organisations.
If your organisation is looking for large, multi-year core funding, this ecosystem can feel frustrating. If you’re looking for access and momentum, it can be far more realistic.
Diaspora and local foundations: less visible, more relational
Another feature of the region is the role of local and diaspora-linked foundations. These funders often don’t issue open calls, operate through trusted networks and prioritise local credibility over formal track records.
Diaspora platforms such as the Haiti Development Institute illustrate how capital raised abroad is channelled into locally guided initiatives through partnerships rather than competitive calls. The Cuban American National Foundation is primarily advocacy-oriented, but it is an example of politically engaged diaspora philanthropy influencing civic and media-related spaces. The Foundation for Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rico–based philanthropic actor with strong diaspora ties. In post-disaster contexts in particular, diaspora philanthropy has often mobilised quickly, typically working through trusted local intermediaries rather than direct grantmaking from abroad.
Regionally rooted actors such as the Avina Foundation show a similar pattern: funding flows through networks and long-term collaboration, not unsolicited proposals.
These organisations do not always fund journalism directly. Instead, they often support the broader civic, governance, and accountability ecosystems within which independent media operate. For external organisations, this is where preparation matters more than pitching:
- understand national media debates
- work through local partners
- be clear about why your work is relevant locally
“Local” doesn’t mean small — but it does usually mean relationship-driven.
If your funding search has been shaped by EU/US logics
Even when EU or US funding hasn’t been accessible, it often still shapes how organisations frame proposals, what scale they assume is realistic and how much compliance they expect.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, successful organisations often adjust by simplifying narratives, focusing on concrete journalistic outcomes and prioritising partnerships over standalone projects.
This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about aligning with how funding decisions are actually made in the region.
What this means in practice:
- If you’re a media outlet: Start with regional intermediaries and regranting platforms. Don’t wait for a “big donor” to appear.
- If you’re a support organisation: Partnerships matter more than proposals. Who you work with locally often determines access.
- If you’re exploring the region: Map ecosystems before funders. Understanding the flow saves time – and energy.
Where to start to understand funding ecosystems in Latin America & the Caribbean
If you’re new to funding in Latin America and the Caribbean, or if you’re trying to understand how money actually moves rather than who funds what, these resources are a good place to start. They won’t help you find open calls or funding deadlines.
Instead, they’re useful for understanding how philanthropy and media funding are structured in the region: who shapes funding agendas, why intermediaries matter, and how money tends to circulate. Used early, they can save time by helping you focus on realistic entry points rather than chasing donors that rarely fund directly. If you’re looking for where this ecosystem logic translates into actual journalism support and funding programmes, these organisations are good places to look:
- Latimpacto: A regional network connecting foundations, donors, and intermediaries across Latin America. Useful for understanding how local and regional philanthropy is organised – and why intermediaries play such a central role.
- WINGS: WINGS works with philanthropic infrastructure organisations worldwide and regularly publishes regional insights. Helpful for situating Latin America and the Caribbean within broader global philanthropy trends – especially around pooled funds and regranting.
- Candid: Candid’s data and analysis tools are often used by donors, but they’re equally useful for practitioners wanting to understand funding flows and patterns. Best used here to spot how funding is channelled, rather than to hunt for individual donors.
- Global Investigative Journalism Network: GIJN is a good example of how journalism funding often reaches newsrooms through trusted regional and thematic intermediaries. Useful if your work overlaps with investigative, accountability, or cross-border journalism.
- International Center for Journalists: ICFJ runs and hosts multiple regional and thematic funding and support programmes. Worth following to understand how donor funding is translated into fellowships, regranting, and programme-based support.
For those ready to dive deeper, explore more resources in the MediaDev Fundraising Guide. Did you find an error or something in need of an update in this article? Please do let us know by contacting us at communications@gfmd.info. Are you a donor? Would you like to update us on your grants and programmes or add you to this article? Please get in touch!