+ Crisis/emergency funding
In this section of the GFMD MediaDev Fundraising Guide you will find tools and resources about emergency funding.
Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression
CJFE's Journalists in Distress program provides humanitarian assistance to journalists around the world whose lives and well-being are threatened because of their work. Since its creation in 1999, the program has disbursed over $300,000 and supported dozens of journalists in need.
The programme covers expenses for:
Legal fees when journalists are detained.
Medical expenses when journalists are caught in the line of fire or traumatized by their coverage.
Transportation costs to flee a dangerous situation.
Financial support for the families of journalists who have been killed or imprisoned.
Resettlement costs within first year of arriving in a final safe country.
Civil Rights Defenders
Civil Rights Defenders provides protection grants to HRDs and CSOs, including journalists, including financial assistance for relocations, equipment, transportation and various other aspects.
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists' Journalist Assistance program dispenses emergency grants to journalists in distress worldwide through CPJ’s Gene Roberts Emergency Fund.
The fund was renamed in honour of Gene Roberts, the veteran U.S. journalist and former chairman of the CPJ board who was instrumental in the creation of the Journalist Assistance program.
The program also raises funds for journalists from outside sources and collaborates with other freedom of expression organizations.
Digital Defenders Partnership - Incident Emergency Fund
The Incident Emergency Fund is rapid response mechanism provided by the Digital Defenders Partnership for human rights defenders, journalists, activists and organisations facing digital threats and attacks.
The IEF provides up to €10,000 and can be used to cover costs which will directly reduce the risk or impact of a digital attack. The funding covers activities for a maximum of four months, and the fund aims to respond to requests within two weeks.
The fund covers, amongst other things:
Replacement of hardware or software
Purchase of more secure hard- and/or software and costs related to installation of the new systems.
Technical or non-technical activities to respond to urgent issues such as internet blockages.
Measures to improve physical security (related to information management and digital security).
Measures to address the psychological and psychosocial impacts of digital threats and risks.
DDP target groups are women, feminist and LGTBQIA+ organisations; land and environmental rights defenders; and journalists and other actors who make information available to the public. However, each regional team defines the target groups for each call. Check the call for your region.
DocuDays UA support for Ukrainian filmmakers
The NGO Docudays and Docudays UA festival team has initiated a fund to support Ukrainian filmmakers documenting the events of the war in Ukraine right now: recording war crimes, filming footage for the international media and for their future films which will later give the world a more in-depth perspective on the situation in Ukraine.
The fund helps filmmakers by providing them with the most necessary filming equipment (e.g. batteries, hard drives, memory cards, chargers, adapters, microphones, replacement of damaged lenses, etc.) and covering expenses for fuel, medicine and first aid kits, as well as basic needs in emergency situations (one-time payments of up to 4,000 UAH).
Help is provided primarily to Ukrainian filmmakers who are currently filming actively, participating in the organization of the filming process or the development of filmed footage.
Requests are processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Assistance is provided depending on whether funds are available.
For additional questions, email DocuDays UA at [email protected].
To apply for funding, fill out this form.
DOCU/HELP is no longer accepting responses.
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
ECPMF provides no grants at the moment, but temporary relocation of journalists/media workers at risk to Leipzig, Germany (up to 6 months). Individual guidance and financial support in exile for journalists who arrived in Germany are guaranteed as part of the Journalists-in-Residence (JiR) Programme which includes: Visa assistance; Shelter; Health insurance; Psychosocial support; Stipend. For more information contact the JiR Programme Manager at [email protected].
European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent, grant-making organisation that supports people striving for democracy in the European Neighbourhood - the Eastern Partnership, Middle East and North Africa, the Western Balkans and beyond. In exceptional and clearly justified situations, EED may process a limited number of requests on an urgent basis. You can apply for support on the EED website. To request emergency support you should tick the box at the bottom of the application form and provide a brief explanation as to why your request is urgent, and the potential consequences if you do not receive funding urgently. You can apply for support through the secure application form on the EED website:
Foreign Aid Bridge Fund
The Foreign Aid Bridge Fund is an emergency initiative established by Unlock Aid in collaboration with various partners to support frontline organisations affected by the recent U.S. foreign aid freeze. This fund aims to prevent disruptions in critical services provided by high-impact organisations worldwide.
Priorities for Media and Media Support: The Foreign Aid Bridge Fund primarily focuses on sectors such as health, agriculture, sanitation, climate adaptation, livelihoods, education, and humanitarian response. It does not explicitly prioritise media or media support. However, organisations operating within these fields that have a significant media or communication component may be considered for funding, especially if their media activities are integral to delivering essential services and information to communities.
Geographical Priorities: Global. The fund addresses urgent needs across various regions impacted by the U.S. foreign aid freeze.
Type of Funding Available: The Foreign Aid Bridge Fund offers critical, short-term grant-based financing designed to ensure immediate impact and program continuity. This rapid-response mechanism provides flexible funding to high-impact organizations with sustainable business models, enabling them to maintain or resume essential operations disrupted by the aid freeze.
For eligibility criteria, please see their FAQs. For more information or to apply for funding, visit Foreign Aid Bridge Fund.
Freedom House
Freedom House provides assistance to journalists and media staff as well as civil society organisations working on media/press freedom at risk.
Through various programmes they provide urgent advocacy and resiliency grants, and preventive security training to ensure that civil society organizations are able to continue working even in hostile and unpredictable environments.
Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work. See more under Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund. Through the fund Freedom House supports requests for:
Improving physical security of home or office
Temporary relocation, including for dependents affected by the threat
Medical expenses, including psycho-social support
Legal representation and trial monitoring
Humanitarian assistance and dependent support
Equipment replacement if confiscated or damaged
Free Press Unlimited
Reporters Respond
Free Press Unlimited manages the international Reporters Respond Fund. This international emergency fund provides direct assistance to journalists and media outlets, enabling them to resume work as quickly as possible when faced with a crisis situation.
Short-term support is provided irrespective of the medium and the area covered by the journalist or outlet and covers, among other things:
Medical assistance: for injuries sustained in the course of the journalists work;
Subsistence costs: short term support for journalists who are not able to work, or costs to temporarily flee an unsafe or vulnerable situation;
Legal defense support: legal representation for journalists facing prosecution, disputable lawsuits, or any other form of legal intimidation related to their work; cover the costs of judicial proceedings; assist media workers that have been arbitrarily detained or imprisoned (and their families);
Psycho-social support: advice, referral, and funds to seek psychosocial assistance;
Work provisions: replacement of confiscated or destroyed equipment due to a work-related emergency;
Family support: temporary support for family members of journalists who are unable to work, who are imprisoned, or who are deceased;
(Preventive) safety measures: security advice, digital tools such as VPNs for digital protection, PPE protection materials like face masks, and safety equipment like bulletproof vests.
Frontline Defenders
In 2001 Frontline Defenders launched its Protection Grants programme to provide rapid and practical financial support to human rights defenders at risk.
The amount of assistance varies according to the particular circumstances of the applicant but may include medical and rehabilitation costs, subsistence costs or relocation costs.
Protection Grants can pay for provisions to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders and their organisations including, but not limited to:
improving physical security of an organisation or individual, digital security and communication security;
supporting legal fees for HRDs who are being judicially harassed
paying for medical fees for HRDs who have been attacked or who have suffered a medical condition as a result of their peaceful human rights activities
providing family assistance for imprisoned HRDs or family members who are at risk because of a HRD's activities
Grants are for amounts up to a maximum of €7,500. The organisation provides an encrypted online security grant application form.
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
The International Federation of Journalists is the world's largest organisation of journalists represents 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries. The organisation organises collective action to support journalists, promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice, fight for gender equality in all its structures, policies and programmes, and opposes discrimination.
IFJ Safety
The IJF's Safety Fund is a lifeline for journalists facing violence, persecution and threat or needing medical treatment. The Safety Fund offers financial assistance in a range of emergency cases such as threats, violence and threats thereof, prosecution, settlement in exile and illness.
Download the application form here.
International Media Support
The Safety Fund
The Safety Fund for emergency relocation, family, legal and medical support. To provide immediate support for journalists who are victimised as a direct result of their journalistic work.
The fund is used in cases where:
A journalist has been killed or rendered otherwise incapable of sustaining his/her family;
A journalist is in need of immediate protection as a result of a direct threat (relocation, safe houses, evacuation out of the country or region);
Urgent legal or medical assistance is required.
Support is given only in the short-term, and no longer than 6 months, covering the immediate needs of the individual or his/her close relatives. It cannot be used as humanitarian support to journalists in cases where individuals are affected by natural disasters.
IMS has created a special email address to funnel applications: [email protected]
You can find more information here.
International Women in Media Foundation (IWMF)
The International Women's Media Foundation is an organization that is dedicated to strengthening the role of women journalists. The organization provides safety training, byline opportunities, and emergency support tailored to women journalists and photographers around the world.
IWMF Emergency Fund
The IWMF Emergency Fund was established in 2013 to provide women journalists with a lifeline of support in times of crisis.
The fund provides women journalists with:
Small grants for psychological and medical care for incidents directly related to threats and crises caused by one’s work as a journalist;
Three months of temporary relocation assistance in the event of crisis or threat;
Legal aid to counter threats of imprisonment or censorship;
Non-financial assistance in the form of information about additional access to resources.
To be eligible for the emergency fund candidates must meet the following criteria:
Be a staff or freelance woman reporter, working in any medium, whose primary profession is journalism;
Have worked full-time as a journalist within six months of applying for assistance;
Apply for assistance with a crisis situation directly connected to work as a journalist.
The Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund
The Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund (BJTRF) was started by Sonia Weiser in May 2020. The fund is designed to provide financial assistance for Black journalists facing financial hardship who are unable to pay for the mental health support they need during this time. While publications ask Black journalists — both freelance and full-time staff members — to put their lives at risk to report on racial injustices and embed themselves within the protests, they rarely provide resources for these same journalists to process the trauma incurred both on the job and in daily life. BJTRF will consider supporting Black journalists globally who:
are employed full time, part-time, freelance, or as an intern;
were laid off/furloughed due to COVID-19 or who quit due to harmful workplace practices;
are former journalists suffering from lasting emotional or physical trauma from their time in the field.
JX Fund
The JX Fund supports media and journalists who have fled war and crisis regions, providing them opportunities to quickly and with flexibility continue their work in exile. It acts as an international clearing house, identifying which resources are required at any given moment, collating offers of assistance, and distributing them to where they are needed most.
The JX Fund is supported by a broad alliance of media, civil society organizations, and an extensive donor pool.
When entire editorial teams have to leave their home country due to repressive laws and legal threats, it’s important that they are able to continue their reporting in exile seamlessly. The JX Fund supports media outlets in exile at every step of the way – filling a previous gap in support. The efforts of the JX Fund range from resolving humanitarian difficulties in the initial arrival phase (such as residence permits, health insurance, psychological support) through to consulting on business and funding models that are tailored to the media market of their current country of residence, and developing effective strategies to ensure that they can continue to reach their target audiences back home. The overarching objective is to rebuild a sustainable media landscape in exile.
Grants: The JX Fund awards grants of varying amounts to help media outlets in exile get back on their feet. The outlets are selected based on transparent criteria and the advice of an expert committee that meets on a regular basis.
Financial support is awarded both to media outlets that were already established in their countries of origin and which had clearly defined audiences, as well as to outlets that have developed new models for their work in exile and are in a start-up phase. The prerequisite for applying is a clear and workable editorial concept and a medium-term financial and strategic plan for further development and strengthening of the medium.
The duration of the funding, maximum grant sums, and additional conditions vary with each funding round. Applicants can apply for and receive funding more than once. The decision to fund a project, as well as how much to award, is made by a rotating five-person international expert committee on the basis of transparent selection criteria.
Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund
The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund is a consortium of 7 international NGOs providing emergency assistance grants to civil society organizations, including journalist organizations, facing threats due to their human rights work, and rapid response advocacy and resiliency grants to address broader threats to civic space and freedom of association and assembly. The fund is administered through the two human rights organisations Freedom House and Front Line Defenders.
Backed by 17 governments and foundations, their short-term grants address security, medical expenses, legal representation, prison visits, trial monitoring, temporary relocation, equipment replacement, and other urgently needed expenses to, among others.
For assistance please contact [email protected].
Consortium offering financial help to independent UA media
The Fix, a UK-based media industry publication and consultancy with Ukrainian roots, is partnering with Are We Europe, Jnomics, and Media Development Foundation, as well as multiple media partners from across Europe. The group is working with a growing list of Ukrainian media, including Ukrainska Pravda, Zaborona, Detector Media and others.
If you are representing independent media covering the war, want to be a part of the campaign and receive financial or any other help, please send a short description of your media and the list of urgent needs to the email [email protected] (bear in mind immediate support on the ground is extremely difficult to provide).
If you are a freelancer operating in Ukraine, please feel free to email as well. Although the consortium cannot offer any guarantees, they are looking into providing support to freelancer colleagues. This is more difficult for various administrative and governance issues, but they are working to solve them.
Media Freedom Rapid Response
The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) tracks, monitors and reacts to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.
The MFRR is organised by an alliance led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) including ARTICLE 19, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the Institute for Applied Informatics at the University of Leipzig (InfAI), International Press Institute (IPI) and CCI/Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). The project commenced in 2020 and is funded by the European Commission.
Threats against journalists and media workers often require urgent and swift responses to ensure the safety of those targeted but also to help journalists and media workers threatened with prosecution, just for doing their job. The alliance participates in supporting journalists on these issues by providing legal and practical support, public advocacy, and information to protect journalists and media workers.
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world.The NED Ukraine team is working around the clock to find ways to support partners in the country.
If you are the victim of a DDOS attack, NED can refer your organisation to Cloudflare, an American web infrastructure and website security company that provides content delivery network and DDoS mitigation services. Cloudflare offers pro-bono protections against DDOS attacks for organisations referred by NED.
For access to emergency funding, journalists and media workers can write to [email protected] with ideas and proposals for quick access to contingency funds.
Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR) Change Fund
The Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR) is a coalition of local and national civil society organisations from the Global South, dedicated to transforming the humanitarian and development aid system into one that is locally driven and owned. NEAR emphasizes genuine local participation at all levels of development and disaster management to ensure effective aid delivery to those in need.
Priorities for Media and Media Support: While NEAR's primary focus is on promoting equitable and dignified partnerships within the aid system, it does not explicitly prioritise media or media support. However, media organisations that function as local or national CSOs and align with NEAR's mission and values may be eligible for membership and support. NEAR's emphasis on local participation and capacity building can indirectly benefit media entities committed to community engagement and development.
Geographical Priorities: NEAR operates globally, with a significant presence in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The network comprises nearly 300 local organisations deeply rooted in their communities, enabling them to respond swiftly and effectively to crises.
Funding: NEAR manages the Change Fund, a locally led and governed pooled fund designed to provide financial resources directly to local organizations. Since its inception, the Change Fund has managed over $5 million in grants focused on emergency response and displacement-related initiatives. The fund offers flexible, trust-based grants to support high-impact programs led by local CSOs.
In response to specific challenges, such as the recent U.S. Government foreign aid suspension, NEAR has launched the Bridge Funding Window. This initiative aims to provide immediate financial support to member organisations significantly impacted by the sudden funding disruption, ensuring the continuity of essential services.
New Democracy Fund
The New Democracy Fund supports new and existing civil society partnerships in regard to strengthening democratic development in the Eastern Neighbourhood Countries.
The organisation has a Flexible Response Mechanism that supports civil society organisations in the Eastern Neighbourhood Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – in a flexible and fast way in a highly unpredictable and turbulent environment.
The total yearly budget for Flexible Response Mechanism is DKK 5,000,000.
The Flexible Response Mechanism strives to support projects that focus on:
Countering restrictions and human rights abuses, to overcome risks and emergencies and reclaim civic space
Using new windows of opportunity and new political openings
Providing emergency assistance to individuals of all genders and groups under threat, where the support is channelled through a civil society organisation
Maximum grant amount awarded: 400.000 DKK. Co-financing is allowed if needed.
Questions may be directed to [email protected]
PEN America
PEN America expanded its long-standing Writers’ Emergency Fund as part of efforts to support the literary community at a time when the health and livelihoods of so many are at risk.
PEN America distributed grants of $500 to $1,000 based on applications that demonstrate an inability to meet an acute financial need, especially one resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"October 15, 2020 Update: The response to the PEN America Writers’ Emergency Fund has been enormous, a reflection of the impact the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis have had on the literary community. We are proud to have mobilized a five-fold increase in funding and distributed grants to more than 500 writers. We have now secured additional funding to resume grant-making for a limited period. The fund is open again on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible applicants who have not previously received a Writers Emergency Fund grant. We will accept applications until our available funds are exhausted."
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Reporters Without Borders is one of the world’s leading NGOs in the defense and promotion of freedom of information.
RSF provides financial assistance and administrative assistance to professional journalists and citizen-journalists to help them defend themselves, and help the families of imprisoned journalists.
Insurance
RSF provide also provides a complete health insurance and repatriation for journalists and reporters for almost any country, war zone included.
Rest and resilience scholarship
Rest and resilience scholarship is a new project run by RSF Germany and taz-Panter-foundation, which is a non-profit organization linked to „die tageszeitung“ (taz), the daily newspaper in Berlin. They invite journalists from countries in crisis or war to stay in Berlin. They offer them a time of refuge and rest up to three months.
The 2024 call for applications is closed.
Rory Peck Trust
Since 1995, the Rory Peck Trust has given support to freelance journalists and their families when they need help. This includes freelancers who have been seriously injured, threatened, imprisoned, detained, forced into exile or killed as a result of their work.
Crisis Fund
The Rory Peck Trust manages a Crisis Fund that provides grants to freelance journalists to help with costs associated with an immediate crisis, either personal or in cases of force majeure such as natural disasters or political and civil unrest.
Applications from freelancers based in Ukraine are encouraged. A grant from the Crisis Fund can help with the costs of temporary relocation and temporary accommodation as well as safety kits including flak jackets and helmets etc. These applications will be treated as a priority.
Please note that this fund is currently closed. Check back soon for updates.
Shomrim - The Center for Media and Democracy in Israel
Shomrim (the Guardians) The Center for Media and Democracy in Israel, is an independent, nonprofit news organization established to strengthen Israeli democracy through investigative journalism.
Shomrim established an Emergency Resilience Fund for Israel’s Frontline Journalists, that will provide grants for mental resilience support to journalists, photographers, videographers, and sound technicians working in combat zones in both southern and northern Israel war zones.
The fund will award a one-time aid in the amount of 8,000 NIS to journalists and news professionals who meet the following requirements:
Citizen/resident of Israel
Holder of a journalist certificate by the Government Press Office
Covered/is covering the "Swords of Iron" war from the combat areas in the Gaza envelope and the northern border of Israel
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
The Urgent Action Fund’s Security grant is available to activists whose safety and security is at risk.
Urgent Action Fund accepts applications in any language using online, text and mobile funding applications 365 days of the year. We respond to applications within 24 hours of submission. Decisions are usually made within 1-10 business days. (Translation needs may increase the time to decide.) Once a grant is approved, funds can be wired within 24 hours to 10 business days, dependent on need. Grant amounts are up to $8,000 USD.
Vital Voices Global Partnerships
Vital Voices Global Partnership is a US-based international, non-profit, non-governmental organization that works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women's political participation, and human rights.
Vital Voices operates three urgent assistance funds. Two of these funds are for women in crisis and are managed by the Crisis Response Team. The third fund, dedicated to survivors of gender-based violence, is managed by their Global Network and Regional Engagement Team.
Freedom of Expression Initiative
The Freedom of Expression Initiative provides immediate, emergency assistance to women exercising their right to freedom of expression. The Initiative provides assistance to journalists, bloggers, activists, and others who are unsafe and subject to gender-based threats and violence. This Initiative is administered as part of the Voices Against Violence initiative.
The Crisis Response Fund
The Crisis Response Fund supports women leaders and activists who have recently experienced a crisis.
The Crisis Response Program supports women leaders with small and short-term emergency funds to cover immediate assistance needs such as legal, relocation, mental health, well-being and more. The Program also provides small grants to organizations that support crisis-affected women and girls.
The program works with women leaders and organizations in the Vital Voices Global Network, but it is also open to other women leaders outside the network.
Voices Against Violence: The Gender-Based Violence Global Initiative
The Voices Against Violence: The Gender-Based Violence Global Initiative provides urgent assistance to survivors of extreme forms of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices. The Fund supports individuals with small, short-term emergency funds.
These are for expenses that include, but are not limited to:
medical expenses
psychosocial support or counseling
emergency shelter or other safe accommodation
temporary relocation expenses
temporary livelihood
dependent support.
Individual survivors of gender-based violence can request emergency assistance directly or through intermediaries such as civil society organizations, services providers, and/or community or faith-based groups. Get in touch with the Global Network and Regional Engagement Team.
Last updated
Was this helpful?