Fund for Investigative Journalism grants

• Eligibility Criteria: All journalists are eligible. Most grants are awarded to freelance journalists. Some journalists on staff at nonprofit and traditional media outlets also receive grants. Their investigations can be for print, online or broadcast stories, books, documentaries or podcasts. The story must also demonstrate a strong connection to the United States.
• Type of Funding: Grant
• Target Region: North America
• Application Language: English

The Fund for Investigative Journalism provides grants and other support for reporters to produce high-quality, unbiased, nonpartisan investigative stories that have an impact.

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.

Thematics

The Fund for Investigative Journalism provide several types of grants:

• Regular grants: We review proposals three to four times a year for grants up to $10,000. The next deadline is Monday, September 14, 2026.
• Seed funding: We provide small grants, up to $2,500, for preliminary reporting that can lead to full investigations. These grants cover costs like open-records requests and initial reporting trips. The next deadline is Monday, September 14, 2026.
• 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.
• Regular grants for those who have previously received Seed funding: We review proposals for individuals who received Seed funding from FIJ for grants up to $10,000 on a rolling basis. Applicants receive a decision within about two to four weeks.
• Alicia Patterson Fellowships: Fellows will spend either six or 12 months traveling, researching, reporting and writing stories on specific topics that will be published in news outlets. Fellows are awarded $40,000 for a 12-month grant or $20,000 for a six-month grant.

Regular, Follow-up proposals, Seed funding, and Regular for previous Seed grantees are submitted through separate application forms. Alicia Patterson Fellowships are awarded annually.

To apply and know more, please visit this page.