Foundations
This page contains a comprehensive list of donors and funders for media development. The page is regularly updated with new entries.
Last updated
This page contains a comprehensive list of donors and funders for media development. The page is regularly updated with new entries.
Last updated
For a searchable list of current funding opportunities see the GFMD website.
All description and entries are taken from the sites of the featured agencies or organisations. We endeavour to update the profiles every 6 months. For the most up-to-date information please visit the website of the relevant organisation.
Adessium Foundation is a Dutch grantmaking organisation founded by commodities trader Gerard van Vliet that provides grants to left-leaning organisations across the world. Adessium means “to bring into being.”
Geographical priorities: The foundation supports organisations in the Netherlands, as well as initiatives targeting the European community and the factors that affect it.
Type of funding: Core Funding. In addition to financial contributions, Adessium Foundation provides organisational support focused on strengthening grantees’ capacity.
Funding opportunities: The foundation reaches out to their (potential) beneficiaries themselves and invite them to submit an application. They do not accept unsolicited project proposals but proactively explore the charity sector and make choices based on their strategic framework.
The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organisation committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. The Asia Foundation works through its network of 18 country offices across Asia and the Pacific.
Themes: Good Governance; Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality; Inclusive Economic Growth; Environment and Climate Action; and Regional and International Relations
Through its Strategy 2025, the Foundation continues its work in Technology; Leadership and Exchanges; and Books for Asia/Let’s Read in order to bridge the digital divide, support emerging leaders, increase literacy, and improve access to information.
Asia Foundation Development Fellows
The Asia Foundation Development Fellows programme is a dynamic and multifaceted learning programme designed for highly talented Asian individuals under the age of 40 to enhance their leadership skills, Asian development knowledge, professional networks, and international exposure.
An award of up to US$5,000 is made available to each selected Fellow. This cash award allows Fellows the opportunity to design individualized plans to further their leadership skills and relevant professional experience in areas of particular importance to their career growth.
Luce Scholars Programme
The Luce Scholars Programme promotes and broadens awareness of Asia among young future leaders. Launched in 1974, the program targets highly qualified young Americans – under the age of 29 – across a variety of professional fields, including but not limited to the arts, journalism, law, medicine, science, public health, environmental studies, and international relations.
The Asia Foundation has overseen the programme in Asia since its inception nearly four decades ago.
Applications for the 2023 programme are now closed.
Geographical priorities: Asia and the Pacific
Type of funding: Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships
Funding opportunities: You can find out more about The Asia Foundation Development Fellows Programme here.
Created in 2000 by Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, and his wife Melinda, the foundation in their name works to “help all people lead healthy, productive lives. With a trust endowment of $40.3 billion, it is the world’s largest private foundation.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Since its founding in 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more on media partnerships than almost any other philanthropy organisation.
The Foundation was slated to spend $20 million on media grants in 2018 with additional funding going to an insights team that conducts media research. Much of the budget for media grants is administered by the foundation’s Global Media Partnerships and often directly subsidizes reporting on less frequently covered topics such as health and development.
The foundation focuses primarily on development, sustainable development goals, global health, and gender equality, making it a priority to respond to the market failure of coverage on global health and development issues.
Geographical priorities: The foundation’s grant making is done through four programme divisions, namely the Global Development Program, the Global Health Program, the United States Program and the Global Policy and Advocacy Program.
Type of funding: Programmatic and Core grants.
Funding opportunities: The Global Media Partnership portfolio, where the bulk of media funding resides, is located in the foundation’s Program Advocacy and Communications team with the Global Policy and Advocacy division.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2018)
Bloomberg Philanthropies works to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people by focusing on five key areas: the arts, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, launched in 2014, provides cross-disciplinary education programmes and mid-career fellowships to increase the number of highly-trained business and financial journalists, convene pan-African forums to examine worldwide media best practices and support research to stimulate media innovations.
BMIA has three core programs, namely: Financial Journalism Program, Fellowship Program, and Community Media Fund.
Financial Journalism Training Program
This programme has been primarily developed for mid-career journalists, financial professionals with an interest in financial journalism; government professionals responsible for public policy, communications, and finance portfolios; and development practitioners and civil society professionals with an interest in African development and financial and economic data.
The Initiative also offered technical assistance and training for media editors, to help them become more knowledgeable about the content of business and financial journalism, and contribute to their leadership development.
CMF has awarded 15 grants to organisations in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa that are intended to strengthen citizen journalism, enhance the financial literacy of citizens, improve public access to relevant data and build the capacity of community media to advocate for improved governance and accountability.
The BMIA is part of Bloomberg’s Global Business and Financial Journalism Education Initiative which is offered in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East.
Geographical priorities: Bloomberg Philanthropies works to improve the lives of millions of people in more than 700 cities and 150 countries. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies invested $1.7 billion around the world.
Type of funding: Core grants. Bloomberg Philanthropies works with existing partners on all of their key initiatives and does not make grants outside their focus areas or directly to individuals
Funding opportunities: Grant proposals are by invitation only and news on grants competitions are posted regularly on their website.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2017)
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a leading private philanthropic institution which contributes to a more just and united society preparing citizens of the future. It is committed to full independence and preservation of its heritage, and its main priority is defined as the development of a society that provides equal opportunities and that is sustainable. The Foundation’s main purpose is to improve the quality of life through art, charity, science, and education.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Foundation promotes and manages The European Media and Information Fund (EMIF) in partnership with the European University Institute. The European Media and Information Fund pursues objectives of public interest and provides grants, on a competitive basis, to researchers, fact-checkers, not-for-profits and other public interest-oriented organisations working on disinformation research and strengthening media literacy and fact-checking.
Geographical priorities: Worldwide
Type of funding: Grants, Core grants, Programmatic, Awards, and Scholarships.
Funding opportunities: The EMIF supports fact-checking and media literacy initiatives, as well as fundamental research projects, with a view to addressing the phenomenon of online disinformation in Europe and promoting a more resilient and fact-based digital information ecosystem. The 4 key areas of the projects supported by this fund are:
Media Literacy
Online Disinformation
Fact-checking
Academic research into media, disinformation, and information literacy
Funding is available to organisations based in European countries, including namely the EU, EFTA and UK, and whose focus of activities is on the mentioned countries.
Also, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation promotes and supports programmes that reflect on themes of contemporary society, looking for innovative answers to the problems of the current world, and offers prizes like The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Journalism & Media program aims to support and sustain an independent media landscape. It focuses on investigating institutional actions, examining policy impacts, challenging social norms, and amplifying diverse voices to foster public dialogue and action on important issues.
The program invests in creating and sharing accurate and inclusive news and stories through three key areas: Professional Nonprofit Reporting, Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling, and Participatory Civic Media.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a prominent philanthropic foundation with a longstanding commitment to advancing education, knowledge, and understanding. Among its diverse areas of focus, the Corporation actively supports media and media development initiatives, recognising the crucial role that independent and informed media play in fostering democratic societies.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Corporation has funded public interest journalism for 60 years, and today, the grants run into the millions annually. Some pay for programmes that train journalists or develop long-term sustainability models, but like most foundations, the Corporation primarily supports coverage of topics related to its programme priorities. These include K–16 education, voter access and voting rights, and international peace and security.
Key Areas of Support
The Corporation’s media-related funding primarily aims to strengthen the capacity of independent journalism and support the development of media that enhances public understanding of complex issues. Their funding priorities include:
Journalism Education and Training: The Corporation invests in initiatives that enhance the skills and capacity of journalists, particularly those reporting on international issues, science, and public affairs. This includes funding for journalism schools, fellowships, and training programmes that equip journalists with the tools needed to provide accurate, in-depth reporting.
Independent Media Outlets: Recognising the importance of a free and independent press, the Carnegie Corporation supports media organisations that strive to deliver impartial and trustworthy news. This includes grants to non-profit news organisations and investigative journalism outlets that cover critical issues with rigor and integrity.
Media Literacy: To foster a more informed public, the Corporation also funds programmes aimed at improving media literacy among audiences. These initiatives help people critically assess the information they consume, particularly in the digital age where misinformation is widespread.
Geographic Focus: While the Carnegie Corporation of New York is based in the United States, its media and journalism support often extends to global initiatives, particularly in regions where independent journalism faces significant challenges. The Corporation’s grants have a strong emphasis on advancing media in countries with emerging or fragile democratic institutions.
Type of funding: Grants
Funding opportunities: The Corporation does not accept or review unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Instead, programme staff identify organisations to implement projects that are designed to help the foundation attain its various programmatic goals
For over 50 years, the Compton Foundation has supported work in climate change, progressive foreign policy, and reproductive rights and justice. The foundation supports transformative leadership and courageous storytelling, inspiring action toward a peaceful, just, and sustainable future.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Compton Foundation believes that there is a need for compelling stories about who we are, how we should live, and our purpose on this planet. This moment of global transition requires translation. "How can we imagine a new world without sharing brilliant stories about what the future could be—how it might taste, smell, sound, and feel?" One of two main strategic priorities in their grantmaking is therefore 'courageous storytelling' which aims to:
Disrupt our understanding of the status quo, or give voice to previously unheard narratives.
Use visual art, music, drama, film, writing, and creative social media to amplify critical issues and to blend personal with political, emotional with intellectual.
Geographical priorities: Worldwide
Type of funding: Grants
Funding opportunities: The Compton Foundation’s grantmaking is done by invitation only. They have a commitment to long-term, relationship-based grantmaking, and approximately two-thirds of their grantmaking budget in their final years of activity (end in 2027) will be allocated to sizable, multi-year, general operating support grants to longtime grant partners.
Craig Newmark Philanthropies is a foundation established by Craig Newmark, the founder of the online marketplace, Craigslist.
In 2016, Newmark established Craig Newmark Philanthropies with the purpose of supporting and promoting individuals and grassroots organisations that are making significant contributions in various priority areas.
The core of Newmark's philanthropic work is strengthening American democracy by supporting the values of fairness, opportunity, and respect.
Themes: Military Families and Veterans, Cyber Civil Defense and Cyber Security, Trustworthy Journalism
Funding opportunities: Craig Newmark Philanthropies supports public charities in good standing described under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that further their priorities.
The organisation uses the American Press Institute's guidelines for funding nonprofit journalism to guide them in supporting news organisations.
In the year 2022, Craig Newmark contributed a total of $81 million to various charitable causes through both the Craig Newmark Foundation and the Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund.
Geographical priorities: Craig Newmark Philanthropies mainly funds news initiatives in the United States. However, some funding has also gone to global enterprises, such as the Global Cyber Alliance.
Type of funding: Programmatic
The Democracy and Media Foundation is the successor of Stichting Het Parool, founded in 1944 by the founders of the illegal resistance newspaper Het Parool. After the privatisation of the post-war newspaper in 2003, Stichting Het Parool changed its name to Stichting Democratie en Media (SDM) – in English the Democracy and Media Foundation (DMF).
Priorities related to media development and journalism: DMF supports organisations, projects and other types of initiatives that also invest in critical, independent media and a strong, just constitutional democracy. It achieves this among others through grants, (external) organisational advise and by connecting different initiatives with each other.
Geographical priorities: The foundation is primarily focused on Dutch projects but is open to collaboration with organisations and initiatives outside of the Netherlands, whose objectives fit those of the foundation. For instance, the foundation is one of the initiators of the European Press Prize, a European prize for quality journalism that was launched in 2012.
Type of funding: Programmatic
The Democracy and Media Foundation grants financial support to projects, organisations or individuals that contribute to the realisation of its objectives and includes publications, lectures, documentaries, exhibitions or training programs for journalists. This support may consist of a subsidy, a loan or another form of investment.
Funding opportunities: As DMF is in the process of working out the details of its new strategy, it will not issue its usual Calls for Proposals. The organisation is, however, still open to good ideas that contribute to independent, critical media and/or a strong, just, fair and democratic state. (As of 06/09/2022)
The DOEN Foundation was established more than 30 years ago by the Nationale Postcode Loterij (Dutch Postcode Lottery) to support small, innovative initiatives. Through the Nationale Postcode Loterij and the VriendenLoterij (FriendsLottery), DOEN receives an annual contribution from each lottery. It uses the money to help fund more than 250 pioneers with grants, loans and investment capital (via the investment company DOEN Participaties).
DOEN provides start-up support to green, socially inclusive, and creative pioneers seeking innovative solutions for a better world. Once established, DOEN transfers the initiatives to other parties where possible to increase their impact. By supporting these pioneers, DOEN accelerates the transition to a sustainable, social and creative world.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: In the area of International Media, DOEN has been working through the Media Development Investment Fund since 2014. Free and critical media are indispensable in a pluralistic society. MDIF is an investment fund that provides funding to independent news media in countries where freedom of the press is not self-evident. MDIF focuses on newspapers, radio stations and TV companies in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. These media organisations are strengthened through financial support, training and advice.
Geographical priorities: Worldwide
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: DOEN offers grants to initiatives focused on supporting a green, socially inclusive and creative society. If your organisation works in achieving any of these, you can submit an application for financial support on their website.
All applications must fit the transitions that DOEN wants to accelerate and meet the criteria of the DOEN foundation or related brands. In addition, specific criteria apply to each theme or sub-theme.
An application can be submitted all year round but must reach the DOEN Foundation at least four months before the start of the project.
In principle, an application procedure takes four months.
Established by the US Congress in 1960, the East-West Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. The Center is an independent, public, nonprofit organisation with funding from the US government, and additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the region.
Over nearly 60 years of serving as a US-based institution for public diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region with international governance, staffing, students, and participants, the Center has built a worldwide network of 65,000 alumni and more than 1,100 partner organisations.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Center has been supporting independent journalism in the Indo-Pacific and the United States since 1967. The EWC Alumni network includes more than 4,000 journalists working in the United States, Asia, and the Pacific Islands who have participated in the Center’s prestigious reporting fellowships, dialogue exchanges, collaborative professional development programs, and a flagship International Media Conference held every two years in a major Asia-Pacific hub.
Programme opportunities: The Pacific Islands Development Program, or PIDP, is a distinct entity based at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, that works toward empowering Pacific peoples through programs informed by the voices of the region itself.
It recently launched the Pacific Islands Financial Investigative Reporting and Mentorship Initiative, supporting the establishment and expansion of financial investigative reporting units within local newsrooms committed to public service journalism.
Geographical priorities: Global. The foundation currently maintain a worldwide network with 33 international offices at 32 locations.
Type of funding: Scholarships
The ERSTE Foundation empowers initiatives for change, contributes to civil society development and regional progression. The foundation initiates and acts as an innovative driver, connector, and knowledge disseminator.
ERSTE Foundation is a creative workshop for ideas and innovation, a lab for topics of the future which increases its effectiveness through strategic cooperation with networks. Their activities focus on four strategic goals: :
Empower those who care;
Financial health for all;
Preserve a democratic Europe;
Protect contemporary culture.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The ERSTE Foundation have co-founded a cross-border journalistic platform called Reporting Democracy. Independent journalists research and question the topics, trends and events that are shaping the future of democracy in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Reporting Democracy publishes reports, interviews and analyses by correspondents from 14 countries. Journalists on the ground receive commissions and grants for in-depth reports and research.
Geographical priorities: As the main shareholder of Erste Group ERSTE Foundation secures the independent future of one of the largest financial services providers in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe. As a private Austrian savings banks foundation, the foundation is committed to serving the common good. They invest parts of their dividends into the region in which Erste Group operates.
Type of funding: Grants, Core grants, Programmatic, Awards, and Scholarships.
Funding opportunities: Differents types of opportunities based on their mains focus areas listed above. The foundation provides :
an academy for NGOs with the largest management capacity-building programme for civil society organisations in Central and Eastern Europe,
and many others programs and tools.
Established in Sion in 2011, the Nicolas Puech Foundation is a private foundation under Swiss law.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Foundation supports programmes that encourage enlightened public debate based on reliable, accurate information
Key participants in the public debate often expose themselves to considerable risk and are therefore especially in need of support and protection. The Foundation awards grants to organisations that make it their mission to defend and assist those individuals.
Type of Funding: Programmatic
The Foundation's determines the size of the grant based on the needs, quality and specific nature of each project. The largest grant awarded by the Foundation to date is CHF 50,000.
The Foundation awards grants primarily to organisations, associations, institutions or foundations.
The Foundation does not fund study grants or academic research projects.
The Foundation does not provide direct financial support to individuals.
Funding opportunities: Applications are reviewed throughout the year, with no specific deadline, and can be written in English or French. Applicants will generally hear back within six weeks after the request has been received.
The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the mission of advancing human welfare. It was founded in 1936 with an initial grant from Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s son to be used “for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare.”
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Funding for media development falls under the Freedom of Expression portfolio because “The free flow of information and ideas is essential to healthy, progressive societies. Our work offers space for creative expression and supports efforts to ensure that media systems and policies are open and equitable,” according to the Ford Foundation website.
Geographical priorities: The Ford Foundation has a global scope. It seeks to invest in transformative ideas, individuals and institutions to catalyze leaders and organisations driving social justice and building movements across the globe.
Type of funding: Core Grants. Ford's funding prioritizes initiatives/ideas aimed at fighting inequality.
Funding opportunities: The foundation has an online, searchable grants database that provides good funding information you might need.
The Fred Foundation, founded in 1996 by Fred Matser, supports social initiatives dedicated to living life in harmony – harmony with ourselves and each other, and with nature. The foundation supports a variety of third-party initiatives from large to small, in the Netherlands and elsewhere, choosing initiatives that help make tomorrow’s world a nicer place.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Investigative journalism plays a crucial role in taking care society's well-being. Journalists have a monitoring role in promoting transparency and accountability of the rule of law. The foundation backs initiatives that expose abuses, promotes freedom of the press, and works for the safety of journalists, helping to promote an open society that will benefit everyone.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Core
Funding Opportunities: The foundation does not send out calls for proposals nor does it accept unsolicited proposals.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a non-profit German foundation funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and headquartered in Bonn and Berlin. It was founded in 1925 and is named after Germany's first democratically elected President, Friedrich Ebert. FES is committed to the advancement of both socio-political and economic development in the spirit of social democracy, through civic education, research, and international cooperation. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is the oldest political foundation in Germany.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: FES advocates for social justice, democracy, peace and international solidarity by
Strengthening civil society: Through political educational programs, FES empowers citizens to engage effectively in political, trade union, and civil spheres, enhancing their participation in social discussions and decision-making processes.
Advancing policy discourse: The foundation's think tanks develop strategies on economic, social, and educational policies, fostering public discourse for a just and sustainable economic and social order nationally, in Europe, and globally.
Promoting democratic values internationally: With offices in over 100 countries, FES supports peaceful cooperation, human rights, democratic structures, and free trade unions, actively contributing to the development of a social, democratic, and competitive Europe while fostering global democracy and social justice.
Fesmedia Africa is the media project of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Africa. They believe that a free and open media landscape enables ordinary people to actively take part in, influence and improve their lives, as well as those of the communities and societies they live in. As such, their work seeks to promote the development of a free and open media landscape, safe and inclusive digital spaces and robust access to information environments which enable people to become the driving force for their economic, social and political progress.
Geographical scope: Global
Type of funding: Grants and Scholarships
Funding opportunities: FES is committed to the fundamental values of social democracy - freedom, justice and solidarity. Fair access to educational opportunities is therefore an important concern of their student funding. Without support, many young people find it difficult to assert themselves at university, even though they have talent for it. This is where they make a contribution.
Based on the principles of liberalism, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom offers political education in Germany and abroad. With the events and publications, they help people to become actively involved in political affairs. They support talented young students with scholarships. Since 2007, the addition "for freedom" has become an established part of the foundation's name. They have been doing this since their foundation on May 19th, 1958.
Geographical scope: Global
Type of funding: Scholarships
Funding opportunities: based on the idea of liberalism, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom provides scholarships on political education in Germany and around the world.
The Fritt Ord Foundation is a private non-profit foundation that seeks to promote freedom of expression, public debate, art and culture. The work of a foundation is different from the work of an activist or special interest organisation. They primarily operate by funding the ideas, projects and initiatives of others. Fritt Ord itself also organises events and debates that address timely social issues, the culture of freedom of expression, non-fiction prose, documentary films and journalism/media research.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Fritt Ord Foundation supports journalism on a wide variety of topics that are important for the social debate and the public. Their highest priority is investigative journalism or journalism that calls for extra resources for other reasons. Local journalism and social debates in media all across the country are also important to Fritt Ord, as are criticism and reviews. The foundation supports journalism on all platforms – newspapers, magazines, journals, podcasts, radio and TV. Media debates, media conferences and media research also benefit from some funding. Fritt Ord has a separate annual grant for Norwegian journalists to study at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University in England.
Geographical priorities: The projects that receive funding should benefit the Norwegian public and be accessible to all. For this reason most project funding goes to Norwegian organisations. However, in special cases, the Fritt Ord Foundation can help promote freedom of expression in other countries.
Type of funding: Grants, Study grants, and Awards.
Funding opportunities: There are six rounds of project applications each year, meaning that it does not take long to get an answer. Fritt Ord often contributes support in the early stages of new projects.The projects that receive funding should benefit the Norwegian public and be accessible to all. In special cases, the Fritt Ord Foundation can help promote freedom of expression in other countries.
In addition to grants in response to applications, the Fritt Ord Foundation takes a number of its own initiatives in Norway and abroad. Fritt Ord also offers awards support for projects that help promote freedom of expression, public discourse, art, and culture. The measures supported should contribute to the common good and be available to the public.
The Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation, based in Poland, was established in 2019 to promote media freedom and integrity. The foundation aims to develop independent journalism through broadly understood educational and cultural activities. Projects realised within the Foundation are nationwide and international, and are achieved in collaboration with the biggest media in Europe.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The foundation promotes social initiatives and citizen projects along with all activities aimed at broadening journalistic freedom, upgrading the quality of journalism, developing education and critical thinking.
Their aim is cultural and educational work in journalism, art and culture in Poland and abroad, as well as the integration of the scientific, journalistic, arts and business communities in the most important topics of the modern world – peace, freedom, democracy and civil rights.
Geographical priorities: Poland and Europe
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities:
In the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the spread of disinformation by the occupant, the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation and its partners established a Fund for Ukraine dedicated to direct support of journalists and publishers in the war zone.
The current capital of the Fund amounts to €410.000.
The collected funds are being used to purchase the equipment necessary for journalists working in war zones, financial support for journalists and media organisations in Ukraine, and the relocation of journalists to Poland and other EU countries. To this end, the foundation is cooperating with the media and organisations in Ukraine and other parts of Europe.
The GroundTruth Project is an award-winning, independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organisation dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Their mission is to serve under-covered communities by supporting the next generation of journalists to do on-the-ground reporting and to advance sustainability, innovation and equity in journalism worldwide
Geographical priorities: Worldwide
Type of funding: Fellowship, Grants
Funding opportunities: GroundTruth is building an engaged community around impactful journalism and powerful storytelling by a new generation, while supporting their careers as fellows, corps members and alumni. Since GroundTruth launched, they have supported more than 300 reporting fellows across more than 50 countries, as well as more than 300 Report for America corps members embedded in local newsrooms across the United States. This year, they launched Report for the World in Brazil, India and Nigeria.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation supports projects that aim to foster democracy and uphold human rights, take action to prevent the destruction of the global ecosystem, advance equality between women and men, secure peace through conflict prevention in crisis zones, and defend the freedom of individuals against excessive state and economic power. They maintain close ties to the German Green Party (Alliance 90/The Greens) and, as a think tank for green visions and projects, are part of an international network encompassing partner projects in approximately 60 countries. The Heinrich Böll Foundation works independently and nurtures a spirit of intellectual openness.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Heinrich Böll's encouragement of civil society interference in politics is a model for the work of the foundation. Its primary task is political education in Germany and abroad to promote the democratic will, the socio-political commitment and international understanding. It is guided by the basic political values of ecology, democracy, solidarity, and nonviolence. The foundation is particularly interested in the realization of a democratic immigration society as well as gender democracy as a relationship of the sexes that is free of dependence and domination.
The foundation's Transatlantic Media Fellowships programme has for several years supported well-researched transatlantic journalism. In 2020, the Heinrich Böll Foundation supported a selected number of journalists and publicists from the US and Europe for an independent, minimum five-day, transatlantic trip to research stories relevant to the foundation’s work on policies in 4 fields: energy & climate; transition in agriculture; democracy, human rights and social policy, as well as foreign and security policy. Fellowships are selected annually and are open to journalists and publicists in any medium. Please note that eligibility criteria differ by issue area and may vary between participating regional and national offices.
Geographical priorities: Global. The foundation currently maintain a worldwide network with 33 international offices at 32 locations.
Type of funding: Scholarships and stipends
The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation based in Los Altos and San Francisco, California. The Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The foundation's Journalism portfolio recognises and supports journalism as a critical element of a healthy and multicultural democracy.
Focus areas
Underrepresented Groups and Voices in Media: The Foundation invests in journalism leaders and organisations that help increase coverage, stories, and amplification of voices of underrepresented and misrepresented communities. The American Mosaic Journalism Prize is part of this line of work, in addition to such leading organisations and projects as Futuro Media, TransLash, Truth Be Told, Our Body Politic, The 19th, and Capital B, among others.
Investigative Journalism: The Foundation supports key organisations conducting quality investigative journalism. This type of journalism, critical to holding the powerful accountable, is too often both expensive, time-intensive, and underfunded by newsrooms. Examples of their investigative journalism grantees include ProPublica, Report for America, and FRONTLINE, among others.
Goals
To achieve this goal, Heising-Simons Foundation supports nonprofit journalism organisations across two focus areas: underrepresented groups and voices in media; and investigative journalism.
The Journalism portfolio maximizes its support by funding outstanding leaders and key organisations, and awarding general support as often as possible.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Programmatic, awards
Funding opportunities: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Program staff proactively seek out new opportunities and aligned partners in accordance with their programmatic strategies and initiatives, as well as the Foundation’s values and equity framework. In addition, the foundation believes in preserving nonprofits’ time by soliciting proposals only after the organisation has been invited to apply for a grant.
Program staff look for organisations that are well-aligned with their program strategy. Information about program strategies can be found on the program webpages.
You can find more information about their grant-seeking process here.
The Helsingin Sanomat Foundation is a private, non-profit organisation. Its purpose is to promote and support high-level research and the implementation of freedom of speech.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The purpose of the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation is to secure the future of Finnish media and quality journalism as well as to support freedom of speech.
The Helsingin Sanomat Foundation promotes and supports research in the communications and the communications industry and interdisciplinary futures research.
Geographical priorities: Finland
Type of funding: Grants, Fellowships, and Awards.
Funding opportunities: The foundation finances post-doctoral projects that are linked to the communications industry. In addition, the Foundation awards fellowships to Finnish journalists who are in the middle of their careers to enable them to study at top universities abroad. The Helsingin Sanomat Foundation distributes grants throughout the year. Decisions are made approximately three times a year and the outcome is informed via the grant application system.
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation that advances ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world.
For more than 50 years, they have supported efforts to advance education for all, preserve the environment, improve lives and livelihoods in developing countries, promote the health and economic well-being of women, support vibrant performing arts, strengthen Bay Area communities and make the philanthropy sector more effective.
The foundation was established in 1966 by engineer and entrepreneur William R. Hewlett and his wife, Flora Lamson Hewlett, with their eldest son, Walter Hewlett.
Today, it is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the United States, awarding $465,869,000 in grants in 2020 to organisations across the globe to help people build better lives. Their philanthropic approach, and core areas of grantmaking, remain connected to the ethos and values of their founders.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Global Development and Population Program makes grants to expand women’s reproductive and economic choices, amplify citizen participation, and improve policymaking through evidence. The foundation has made grants ranging from $27,000-1,200,000 to various media and media support organisations over the years.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: The foundation makes grants to a broad range of institutions – from research universities contributing to public knowledge and performing arts centres engaging local diverse communities, to grassroots organisations representing millions of individuals and multilateral groups working on international development.
At any one time, more than 2,250 Hewlett Foundation grants are active. In 2020, the foundation awarded $465,869,000 in grants and disbursed $471,308,000 in grant payments. As of December 31, 2020, the foundation’s assets were approximately $13.3 billion.
Humanity United (HU) is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to cultivating the conditions for enduring peace and freedom. The organisation supports and works alongside partners working to advance human dignity and change the systems that enable violent conflict and human exploitation around the world.
Humanity United is a member of The Omidyar Group, a diverse collection of independent organisations and initiatives that pursue different ways to improve the lives of people and societies.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Within the Public Engagement portfolio, the Independent Journalism and Media (IJAM) program is grounded in the belief that there is a for need for high-quality, independent journalism to help make sense of the world and to shift harmful systems and practices towards peace and freedom. HU supports journalism and media that aligns with their mission, adhering to key principles.
The program focuses on investigative journalism and reporting on issues including emerging conflicts, human trafficking, and exploitation.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Project and core funding. Approximately 40% of HU grantees receive multi-year funding and approximately 50% of grantees receive unrestricted funding.
Funding opportunities: HU does not accept unsolicited proposals. You can read more about their funding process here.
The Independent News Emergency Relief Coordination (INERC) was an effort to help funders willing and able to provide significant financial support for independent news media better understand where the need was greatest and coordinate their efforts to make the greatest possible difference during COVID-19.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: INERC was based on the idea that better information on the need for and supply of emergency funding relief can help ensure this relief is more effectively distributed globally and avoid a situation where a few well-known news media get a lot of support from many different funders while many more equally important but less well known get little or no support.
Geographical priorities: Collecting data to identify areas of greatest need from independent news media across the world, including both for-profit and non-profit, but excluding government-controlled and state-owned media was at the heart of INERC priorities.
Type of funding: INERC did not provide funding per se. It directly connected several major funders, networks organizing independent news media, media development organisations, and research capacity to enable more effective and informed coordinated emergency relief.
Funding opportunities: INERC was a temporary initiative, initially planned for six months, and supplement the important work done by others to coordinate media funding and media development. INERC came to an end on 31 October 2020.
The International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) aims to enable global media markets to work for democracy.
It aims to boost the economic resilience of independent media organisations in crisis, to support experimentation and innovation, and to bring about a new paradigm of sustainability for independent public interest journalism.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The International Fund seeks to support the long-term sustainability and economic resilience of independent media across its focus regions. It does so through providing funding to media organisations in need of immediate financial support and through working across a series of cross-cutting priority areas, three of which are outlined below.
Building inclusive news ecosystems: Through its grant-making and other activities, the International Fund seeks to support greater diversity and inclusion within global news ecosystems and address inequalities in access to information, particularly within historically underrepresented communities.
Engaging young audiences: The International Fund supports independent media outlets innovating across several areas — including scope of editorial coverage, audience engagement models, formats, and newsroom practices — to create public interest media that engages younger generations.
Deploying new technologies effectively and ethically: The International Fund is dedicated to exploring the future landscape of AI and emerging technologies over the next decade, aiming to find solutions that benefit both the financial sustainability of independent media and the public interest. This involves backing newsroom AI experimentation and providing guidance to policymakers shaping regulatory frameworks. Moreover, organisations in the Fund's focus regions require investment in various enabling technologies beyond AI, such as customer relationship and content management systems, which are often financially burdensome to obtain and maintain. To address these needs, the International Fund offers support to newsrooms through dedicated grants and partnerships with technology providers to enhance their technological capabilities.
Geographical priorities: The fund supports media organisations and ecosystem-level interventions across four focus regions: Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.
Type of funding: Grants
Funding Opportunities: Funding decisions are decentralized and led by regional teams with direct experience working in the International Fund’s focus regions. These regional teams engage extensively with media organisations and other sector actors to explore opportunities for grants and other interventions.
The International Fund announced its inaugural open call for grant proposals at World Press Freedom Day in May 2022. That call resulted in more than 200 funding applications, from which the International Fund’s first cohort of 13 grantees was selected.
A second call for proposals has yet to be announced (as of February, 2024).
Expressions of interest: If you are interested in collaborating with or receiving funding from the International Fund you can submit an expression of interest here.
The International Women's Media Foundation, located in Washington, D.C., is an organisation working internationally to elevate the status of women in the media. The IWMF has created programs to help women in the media develop practical solutions to the obstacles they face in their careers and lives.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: IWMF believes that promoting the work and advancing the role of women in the news media across the globe is critical to transparency and a diversity of voices.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: IWMF has a host of funds catering to specific needs and topics.
Journalismfund is the first independent non-profit organisation, established in 1998 with the purpose of stimulating independent investigative journalism in Europe.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Facilitating independent cross-border investigative journalism by connecting donors and journalists in order to promote democracy in Europe.
Geographical priorities: Facilitating independent cross-border investigative journalism by connecting donors and journalists in order to promote democracy in Europe.
Type of funding: Programmatic and core grants
Funding opportunities: Journalismfund provides several funding opportunities related to their priorities including: European Cross-border, modern slavery unveiled, science journalism and journalismfund.eu.
The JX Fund, established in April 2022, 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 organisations, and an extensive donor pool.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The JX Fund cooperates closely with media in exile and develops projects in collaboration with experienced partner organisations in order to close gaps in the funding structure and to come up with dynamic responses to needs which arise.
Geographical priorities: Afghanistan, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, with plans to expand the programme to more countries in future.
Type of funding: The JX Fund pools financial resources and – through its various projects and partnerships – distributes these resources according to current need. In doing this, it utilizes public grants, institutional funding, and private donations. Because of its diverse sources of funding, the JX Fund is able to design flexible and unbureaucratic procedures that efficiently support media in exile.
When journalists and media outlets are forced to leave their home countries due to political persecution or war, the JX Fund supports them in resuming their journalistic work from exile. The goal is to contribute to the emergence of a sustainable exile media landscape. To achieve this, the fund constantly assess the needs of journalists in exile, survey the available resources, and develop projects together with partners that respond to the current challenges and conditions.
Criteria: The JX Fund supports media outlets and journalists who meet the following criteria:
The outlet / journalist is unable to carry out their work in their home country due to political persecution or repression.
The outlet / journalist has published work in their country of origin or their current country of residence within the last six months.
The outlet / journalist has no connection to political parties or institutions.
The support provided would allow the outlet/journalist to resume their journalistic work.
The publishing work of the outlet/journalist is in keeping with the Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists
Funding opportunities: 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.
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.
Headquartered in Brussels, the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) is a European foundation that is active in Belgium, Europe and internationally. The foundation has developed an extensive network across the world as a leading actor in cross-border philanthropy. This network, which is constantly developing, is an essential tool for philanthropists wishing to act for the common good, in their own country and/or abroad.
KBF's activities cover eight programmes that serve the public interest. Each of these programmes is divided into various sub-programmes combining various working methods in order to maximise impact on society.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Social Engagement programme's sub-programme 'Strengthening the NGO Sector' provides structural support to associations to boost their impact, stimulate the digital transformation of the voluntary sector and make effective tools of governance available.
Under its International programme KBF supports philanthropists and donors (citizens, businesses and organisations) that wish to act in support of the public interest internationally on whichever continent(s) and in whichever field(s) of activity. In the countries of the Global South, they support local projects and actors of change who contribute to the development of their country.
Type of funding: Grants
Funding opportunities: Organisations and citizens working for the common good in numerous fields such as health, the fight against poverty, the environment and heritage, in Belgium as well as internationally, can access funding calls on the dedicated KBF Call for Proposals page. The Foundation’s support is generally financial, but may also be in the form of coaching, made-to-measure support and networking.
The King Baudouin Foundation can also provide logistical and practical support for fundraising in Belgium, Europe, and/or internationally (e.g. in the USA, Canada and Asia).
The Knight Foundation, founded by John S. and James L. Knight, originates from a prosperous newspaper enterprise that embraced technology while remaining rooted in local communities. Thriving journalistically and as businessmen, the Knight brothers championed great journalism while adapting to changing times. For years, the foundation supported journalism education, later shifting to fund technological innovation and sustainable models for local news.
In 2019, Knight announced a $300 million commitment over five years to invest in scalable organisations serving communities at the local level. These investments played a role in encouraging developments in local journalism. Recognising the ongoing need for funding, in September 2023, Knight increased its commitment by $150 million over five years as part of the collaborative funding effort, Press Forward. This new funding aligns with Knight’s decades-long focus on informing and engaging communities through robust news ecosystems, adding to the more than $632 million in investments made since 2005.
Priorities related to media development and journalism:
1. Sustainability and Revenue Development
Knight aims to drive the business sustainability of independent publishers. Investments focus on diversifying revenue streams, lowering operational costs, and catalysing repeatable models for producing and distributing news. The goal is to provide newsrooms with the independence needed to effectively serve their communities.
2. Strengthening Talent and Leadership
Success relies on the skills, expertise, and collaborative culture within newsrooms. Knight's efforts include attracting and retaining top talent, fostering an inclusive workforce, and promoting a culture of innovation and continuous learning. This involves comprehensive training and development opportunities to empower journalists and build a dynamic and resilient workforce.
3. Technology and Product Innovation
Knight supports technological innovation in local journalism, including artificial intelligence for quality journalism, visuals as essential storytelling elements, and leveraging data for compelling narratives. The foundation aims to identify key areas driving change and support programs where these technologies can shine.
4. First Amendment and Journalist Safety
Safeguarding journalists is pivotal for upholding a free press. Knight's commitment extends to legal and physical threats, supporting organisations offering litigation aid, assistance with Freedom of Information Act requests, and ensuring a secure environment for journalists to pursue their vital work.
Knight Foundation values align closely with the core tenets of the First Amendment, dedicating efforts to explore innovative approaches that uphold press freedom and free speech.
Geographical priorities: The Knights formed Knight Foundation to promote excellence in journalism and the success of the communities in which they worked, in the words of Jim Knight.
U.S. domestic programs receive the bulk of the foundation’s funding. International funding has receded in recent years, although some foundation support to U.S. organisations has an international component.
Type of funding: Programmatic and core grants.
Funding opportunities: The foundation seeks innovative ideas that advance informed and engaged communities. To apply for funding, you need to submit a brief letter of inquiry.
The letter of inquiry is one way to apply for funding but not the only way. Learn more about challenges and other funding opportunities.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2018)
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is a political foundation committed to peace, freedom and justice through political education, both nationally and internationally.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung supports young journalists in special projects. They have been awarding local journalist award since 1980. Since 2002, the "Social Market Economy Award of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation" has honored personalities who have been outstanding in their commitment to the preservation and further development of the social market economy.
Geographical priorities: Nationally and internationally, the foundation is committed to peace, freedom and justice through political education. The consolidation of democracy, the promotion of European integration, the intensification of transatlantic relations and development cooperation are their particular concerns.
As a think tank and consulting agency, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung develops scientific foundations and up-to-date analyses for political action. The Academy of the Foundation in Berlin is the forum for dialogue on future-relevant issues between politics, business, church, society and science.
Type of funding: Awards, Prizes and Scholarships.
Funding opportunities: Applications for funding to be considered by the Foundation should be forwarded to KAS’s Kenya office no later than September of the year prior to that in which funding is requested.
The Lenfest Institute was founded in 2016 by the late cable television entrepreneur H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest. Lenfest gifted to the Institute an initial endowment of $20 million, which has since been supplemented by other donors, for investment in innovative news initiatives, new technology, and new models for sustainable journalism. Lenfest also gifted his ownership of The Philadelphia Inquirer to the Institute.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Quality, in-depth reporting remains the fundamental value proposition between local news organisations and their audiences. The Lenfest Institute invests in indispensable, public-benefit journalism for the communities it serves. Key priorities include:
High-Impact Journalism;
News Technology & Innovation;
Diverse, Growing Audiences;
Geographical priorities: The Lenfest Institute is an innovator and a change agent developing scalable solutions across Philadelphia’s news ecosystem that apply nationwide. Starting at home, The Lenfest Institute is building viable, replicable models for sustainable local news enterprises across the US.
Type of funding: Grants
Funding opportunities: The Lenfest Institute supports both the digital transformation of heritage news organisations and entrepreneurial news innovators. Its venture-inspired investment strategy is hands-on, kindling experimentation and entrepreneurship in news enterprises large and small. Sign up for the Institute’s email newsletter to receive updates on grant calls.
The Limelight Foundation was founded in 2021 by John Caspers. Caspers is an internet entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of payment platform Adyen. The organisation is an independent philanthropic foundation, based in the Netherlands.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The foundation supports a strong and free information ecosystem in the digital age by helping journalism and civil society organisations that are independent of vested interests.
Geographical priorities: Worldwide
Type of funding: Grants, Core grants, and Programmatic.
Funding opportunities: The foundation provides different types and sizes of funding and support, depending on what is needed. They proactively look for funding opportunities that are in line with their mission and do not accept unsolicited proposals. Limelight Foundation funds and supports journalism and civil society organisations that are committed to: ● the production of independent quality information; ● the development of supporting technologies; ● an enabling environment for pluriform and independent information in the public interest.
Established in 2018 by the Omidyar Network, Luminate is a global philanthropic organisation with the goal of empowering people and institutions to work together to build just and fair societies.
Luminate does this by funding and supporting non-profit and for-profit organisations and advocating for policies and actions that will help people participate in and shape the issues affecting their lives, and make those in power more transparent, responsive, and accountable.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Luminate prioritises delivering impact in four connected areas that underpin strong societies: Civic Empowerment, Data & Digital Rights, Financial Transparency, and Independent Media. The organisation seeks to defend a vibrant, free press that uncovers the truth and holds power to account.
Through its International Fund for Public Interest Media Programme, Luminate calls on international donors and policy makers to recognise the urgency to increase funding to public interest media.
Geographical priorities: Based around the world, Luminate's partners range from pioneering entrepreneurs to courageous global campaigners.
Type of funding: Programmatic and grants
Funding opportunities: Luminate does not accept unsolicited applications. The Foundation identifies potential partners through its own research and diligence, plus its extensive global network.
View the Omidyar profile on CIMA's website (Last updated March 2018)
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Foundation's Journalism & Media programme seeks to strengthen and sustain an independent media ecosystem that investigates the actions of institutions, explores the implications of policies, challenges social norms, amplifies diverse perspectives, and creates opportunities for public conversations and individual and collective action on urgent contemporary issues.
The Journalism and Media program invests in the creation, dissemination, and amplification of accurate, just, and inclusive news and narratives across three areas of media: Professional Non-profit Reporting, Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling, and Participatory Civic Media, pursuing the following approaches:
Building strong, independent, and sustainable organisations and networks that exemplify leadership and innovation in a rapidly changing media ecosystem and comprise the media infrastructure required to meet the democratic ideals of a multiracial, multiethnic America.
Addressing barriers that limit the creation of, access to, or participation in media activities, including the legal, safety, digital security, and technological challenges facing organisations and individuals.
Promoting learning, leadership, innovation, and field-building opportunities that explore timely and emerging issues related to the production, dissemination, and engagement with journalism and media.
Geographical priorities: The MacArthur Foundation supports media and media development initiatives with a focus on several key areas:
Africa: The Foundation funds media and media development projects in countries such as Nigeria and South Africa. These projects often focus on strengthening journalism and improving media sustainability.
United States: The Foundation provides funding to various media organisations and initiatives within the U.S. that promote investigative journalism, media innovation, and media literacy.
Mexico: The Foundation supports media projects in Mexico aimed at enhancing press freedom and promoting independent journalism.
India: Funding includes projects that support investigative journalism and media development efforts.
Type of funding: Programmatic and grants
Funding opportunities: The Foundation awards the majority of its grants to organisations identified by their staff. Each year they also award grants to individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program, which does not accept applications or nominations. The Journalism and Media programme is not currently accepting unsolicited proposals but can be contacted to share new ideas and perspectives:
Media Democracy Fund is a project of the New Venture Fund, a US-based 501(c)3 public charity. MDF’s annual grantmaking cycle supports their grantees’ general operations and projects, and maintains the ability to rapidly fund projects that address opportunities or threats as they arise throughout the year.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: MDF is one of the first philanthropies that supports media and technology policy organisations working to advance the public interest and human rights in the digital age.
Geographical priorities: MDF has a global scope. It works closely with funding partners to ensure their funding makes the greatest impact and protects the public's fundamental rights to freely express opinions, mobilize marginalized communities and promote equity for all.
Type of funding: Core grants
Funding opportunities: MDF promotes the work of journalists and public media. But it does not fund journalism training or provide direct assistance or funding to journalism outlets. As an intermediary funder, it rather funds policies that have major impact on digital media.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2018)
With its headquarters in New York City, MDIF is a registered not-for-profit corporation with public charity status.
MDIF provides affordable debt and equity financing to independent news and information businesses in countries where access to free and independent media is under threat. The organisation's capital and technical assistance help independent companies to compete with media that represent the interests of governments and the powerful, enabling them to build robust businesses around the values of fact-based news, informed opinion and open debate. They invest in companies from early to growth-stage and operate investments through a fund structure.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: MDIF invests in independent media around the world providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies. The organisation works with businesses from early-stage ventures to established players seeking to expand audience or revenues, and with companies that lack access to investment capital.
The organisation's Media Advisory Services equips clients with the information they need to make critical decisions about the direction of their business.
MDIF is also partnering with a consortium of other media development organisations in the Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIMED) programme to support the provision of public interest media in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.
Geographical priorities: Since its inception in 1996, MDIF has invested more than $240 million in 128 independent news businesses in 44 countries. MDIF only provides financing in countries that have been approved by their Board of Directors. On receiving an application from a news outlet in a country in which they have not worked, the Board will decide whether it is a country they can work in after analysing its media, legal and business environments. Global (Asia 40%, Europe 35%, Latin A 20%, Africa 5%)
Type of funding: Loans and equity for Business Development
Funding opportunities: The purpose of MDIF funding is mostly business development which ranges from financing the launch of new products to working capital.
Applying for financing is a detailed process - it is a major commitment for a news company and for MDIF. They select clients based on three broad criteria: mission impact in relation to investment; potential for long-term viability; and editorial integrity.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2018)
Meedan is a global technology not-for-profit that builds software and programmatic initiatives to strengthen journalism, digital literacy, and accessibility of information online and off.
The organisation develops open-source tools for creating and sharing context on digital media through annotation, verification, archival, and translation.
Themes: Journalism, digital literacy, and accessibility of information online and offline
Working with civil society, educators, media, and human rights workers, Meedan supports efforts to ensure that quality, credible information reaches all people, including the historically underserved.
Check Global
Meedan’s Check Global program supports independent journalism, media literacy, and human rights efforts by providing software, training, and networking opportunities to independent media organisations, journalism schools, and human rights activists in the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, North Africa/Western Asia and Sub Saharan Africa regions.
Geographical priorities: North Africa Western Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia Pacific region
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: The Independent Media Response Fund makes available micro-grants of up to $5,000 for individuals, and up to $15,000 for collectives and organisations. Each year, Meedan looks at one global challenge, and how it affects hyperlocal communities. The focus for 2022-23 is climate misinformation.
NewsMatch is the largest grassroots campaign to support nonprofit news in the U.S. Since 2016, the campaign has helped raise over $150 million to jumpstart emerging newsrooms and support independent media outlets that produce fact-based, nonpartisan news and information.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The organisation's long-term vision is to ensure relevant and reliable news for every community across the U.S. by strengthening the financial sustainability of nonprofit news outlets that serve them. NewsMatch has four intersecting strategic priorities to achieve this goal:
Dramatically increase the number of people that support nonprofit journalism
Grow local and regional investments from large donors and philanthropic institutions
Develop and strengthen sustainable fundraising capabilities within newsrooms
Increase awareness and public support for nonprofit journalism.
Geographical Priorities: USA only
Type of Funding: Programmatic and Core
Funding Opportunities: NewsMatch is open to nonprofit news organisations that are active members of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) (Please note: US news organisations only). The deadline to apply for INN membership in time to apply for NewsMatch 2021 is July 7, 2021. Explore INN membership.
Both active, prospective, and pending INN members must apply to participate in NewsMatch 2021 by the application deadline. The NewsMatch application window will open in June 2021. Subscribe to INN’s INNovation newsletter to receive notification of the NewsMatch application process and deadline when it is announced.
In 2021, NewsMatch will concentrate the distribution of dollar-for-dollar match funds amongst newsrooms that have operating expenses below $1 million in the prior calendar year (January 1 to December 31, 2020).
The Nieman Foundation began as a fellowship for select journalists who were invited to spend an academic year at Harvard in pursuit of individual study plans to strengthen their knowledge and leadership skills. Its primary goal is to promote and elevate the standards of journalism. Since 1938, the program has awarded Nieman fellowships to more than 1,500 journalists from nearly 100 countries.
Geographical Scope: Global
Type of funding: Fellowships
Fellowships at Neiman Foundation: Each year, the Nieman Foundation awards paid fellowships to up to 24 journalists working in print, broadcast, digital and audiovisual media with at least five years of full-time media experience. Furthermore, Neiman fellows receive a stipend of $80,000 paid over a nine-month period to cover living costs.
Funding opportunities: The Nieman Visiting Fellowships at Harvard offer both long-term and short-term research opportunities to individuals interested in working on special projects designed to advance journalism. Since this initiative’s inception in 2012, the program has awarded 69 visiting fellowships. In response to the coronavirus pandemic and the movement for racial justice, the Nieman Foundation dedicated the 2021 fellowships to projects that advance racial justice and public health journalism in the U.S.
North Base Media (NBM) is a global venture investment firm that has pioneered in digital media investment over the last decade.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: North Base Media specializes in independently owned media or technologies that enable consumers to participate in their countries’ civic, cultural and economic life.
Geographical priorities: The capital firm supports digital startups focused on news, business information, sports and gaming, entertainment media, and other digital-driven opportunities in growth markets around the world.
Their portfolio includes Rappler, a Philippines-based digital media company founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and Taiwanese independent news and commentary site The News Lens.
Type of funding: Core funding
The Oak Foundation is a Non-governmental organisations committed to social justice. In all its work Oak pursues rights-based approaches, gender equality, and partnership with the organisations they fund. The foundation supports civil society as a pillar of democracy & justice and nurtures innovation and visionary leadership within it.
Through its grant-making, Oak Foundation supports others to make the world a safer, fairer, and more sustainable place to live. The Foundation seeks to support innovation, visionary leaders and organisations. committed to social justice.
Geographical priorities: With offices in Europe, India, and North America, the Foundation makes grants to organisations in approximately 40 countries worldwide.
Type of funding: Programmatic and Core grants.
Funding opportunities: Since Oak Foundation was founded in 1983, they have made over 4,650 grants to not-for-profits across the globe. Oak Foundation partner with organisations that work to advance the foundation’s overall mission and the strategic goals within programmes. Each programme has its own funding criteria, geographic scope, and requirements. The Foundation has an invitation-only application process. Therefore, if an organisation believes that strong alignment exists with Oak Foundation’s funding priorities, they encourage the organisation to submit an unsolicited letter of enquiry. Oak Foundation will invite the organisation to apply for a grant if they also find alignment with their funding priorities and if there is an available budget.
They occasionally develop or join initiatives in our areas of interest by issuing calls for proposals on their website or convening policymakers and practitioners to explore solutions to critical issues.
The Open Society Foundations (OSF) are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working or justice, democratic governance, and human rights.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Open Society Foundations recognise that independent journalism serves as a check on abuses of power and corruption, and fuels and informs public debates and critical thinking in societies.
The OSF's Program on Independent Journalism (PIJ) works directly with journalists, media outlets, media associations, and media freedom groups “to promote independent and viable media and professional, quality journalism in countries undergoing a process of democratization, and building functioning media markets.
Geographical priorities: Open Society Foundations support independent investigative reporting outlets as well as international networks of investigative journalists across the world.
Type of funding: Programmatic and Core
Funding opportunities: The vast majority of grants are awarded to organisations they approach directly. Other funding opportunities are available through Open Society’s network of national and regional foundations.
The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) is one of the largest Ukrainian charitable foundations that has been developing an open society in Ukraine since 1990 where everybody has a sense of dignity, citizens are involved in the formation of the state, and the authorities are transparent and responsible. They work on the development of Ukraine in which human rights are securely protected and positive changes work for the benefit of the citizens. The foundation was founded by the philanthropist George Soros and is part of the Open Society Foundations international network.
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on March 2018)
The Francophonie refers to men and women who share a common language: French. We estimate over 300 million French speakers across five continents. The Francophonie is also an institution, dedicated since 1970 to promoting the French language and political, educational, economic and cultural cooperation among the 88 member countries of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) [International Organisation of La Francophonie].
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The OIF implements multilateral francophone cooperation projects alongside the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie [Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie] and four operating agencies: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie [Association of Francophone Universities], TV5MONDE, Association internationale des maires francophones [International Association of Francophone Mayors], and Université Senghor [Senghor University] in Alexandria.
The OIF’s mission mandates are:
To promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity;
To promote peace, democracy and human rights;
To support education, training, higher education and research;
To foster economic cooperation to bolster sustainable development
Geographical priorities: To support projects in francophone countries around the world is the main focus of this organisation.
Type of funding: The financing of projects and the provision of capital goods are among the main types of funding the organisation offer. The programs deployed by the OIF are, for the most part, similar to incubators for development projects, with the support of donors. Made possible by a solid multi-partner approach and by the ownership of member states and governments, they have significant impacts on the ground for the benefit of Francophone populations.
Funding opportunities: Public calls for projects, applications or initiatives are announced by the OIF one or more times a year, within the framework of funds or programs financed by the organisation's budget.
The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) aims to create equal opportunities for all in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their goal is to strengthen the region by promoting health, peace, justice, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability for both present and future generations.
Over the past 60 years, PADF has focused on supporting the most vulnerable communities and investing resources throughout the hemisphere. They collaborate with civil society, governments, and the private sector to advance the collective well-being of the region.
Themes: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights (Access to Information and Citizen, Oversight, Advocacy for Accountability, Citizen Participation, Electoral Processes, and Journalism and Freedom of Expression)
Through their Governance, Democracy, and Human Rights programme PADF supports national and local governments, civil society, and the private sector to identify, promote, and implement reforms and policies to enhance transparency, separation of powers, and protections for democratic processes and human rights.
Program Focuses
Access to Information and Citizen Oversight
Advocacy for Accountability
Citizen Participation
Electoral Processes
Journalism and Freedom of Expression
Funding opportunities: PADF works with journalists, media organisations, and civil society organisations to facilitate the free flow of independent information to ensure an informed citizenry and to hold government accountable for its responsibilities.
Geographical Priorities: Latin America and the Caribbean
Type of funding: Programmatic
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on the world's most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector.
Themes: The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation catalyses the transformative potential of technology to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. In partnership with leading social change organisations, innovators, and fellow philanthropies, their work has spanned the application of these technologies in digital health, climate change, information technology, neuroscience, educating future generations of technologists, and empowering vulnerable communities.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: In late 2023 the foundation announced that it was partnering with more than 148 organisations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to address the world’s most urgent and complex challenges. You can find the list of 13 media and journalism-related organisations receiving funding here.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation periodically issues public calls for proposals. Keep an eye on the foundation's website.
The Park Foundation was formed in 1966. Its original focus was on education and grant-making in communities where Park Communications had interests. When he died in 1993, Mr. Park bequeathed more than 70 percent of his holdings to the Foundation.
The Foundation is dedicated to the aid and support of education, public broadcasting, environment, and other selected areas of interest to the Park family. Public broadcasting is a particularly meaningful recipient of funding because the Foundation had its origin in the world of communications. More recently, the Foundation’s interest in environmental causes has been refined to focus on issues of freshwater and energy.
Type of funding: Grants and Awards
Funding opportunities: Here you can see the list of all grants made during the 2nd quarter of 2021.
The Porticus Foundation is the international organisation that manages and develops the philanthropic programmes of charitable entities established by Brenninkmeijer family entrepreneurs. Through their work in education, society, faith, and climate they enable changemakers to create societies and systems that work for everyone.
Geographical priorities: Worldwide; Porticus collaborates with partners around the globe to foster human dignity, social justice, and sustainability.
Type of funding: Grants, Core grants, Programmatic, Awards, and Scholarships.
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is an American news media organisation established in 2006 that sponsors independent reporting on global issues that other media outlets are less willing or able to undertake on their own. The center's goal is to raise the standard of coverage of international systemic crises, and to do so in a way that engages both the broad public and government policymakers.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Pulitzer Center raises awareness of underreported global issues through direct support for quality journalism across all media platforms and a unique program of education and public outreach.
Geographical priorities: Global
Type of funding: Programmatic
Grant amounts for journalists depend on the project and range from $3,000 to $20,000. It also brings journalists to schools, colleges and universities around the United States to engage students with global issues. In 2015, it launched an online lesson builder that allows educators use Pulitzer Center journalism in original lessons.
Funding opportunities: The Pulitzer Center partners with individual journalists and news organisations to support in-depth, high-impact reporting on topics of global importance. The Center provides grants to cover the hard costs of reporting projects. Grants are open to all journalists: writers, photographers, radio producers, and filmmakers; staff journalists as well as freelancers.
For more information about current grants, see here.
Reset is a non-profit, philanthropic organisation that both provides grants and contracts, and works programmatically alongside partners with shared policy, technology and advocacy goals. Through Open Calls, Reset supports the individuals, organisations, and communities working around the world to address the damage inflicted by surveillance capitalism on human rights, democracy, and open societies.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Reset wants to change the way the internet prioritises the spread of news and information so that Big Tech's business model serves the public good instead of purely corporate interests. They believe there is a need to restore the critical connection between media and democracy in order to sustain a polity that is more informed and less divided. They seek to neutralise the threats posed to democracy by digital media monopolies and re-establish the power of information technology as a force for effective self-government.
Type of funding: Funds and Fellowships
Funding opportunities: With their funds and fellowships, Reset helps enable new ideas to surface and flourish by providing funding to projects operating within their core areas of work. The hope is that the technology-focused interventions developed through Open Calls will ultimately help change the way information spreads online and enable the internet to once again serve the public good over corporate interests.
You can find more about open calls in this 2020 article published by GFMD entitled "Open calls: New standards in grant-making."
The Reva and David Logan Foundation is a Chicago-based family foundation that provides strategic grants to support social justice, the arts and investigative journalism both in Chicago and around the world.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Logan Foundation believes that investigative journalism, informed by a diversity of opinion and uncompromising in the accuracy of its reported fact, is essential for the health and vitality of civic participation and debate, and consequently the surest protection of freedom and democracy.
The foundation encourages the development of the investigative drive by offering teaching, workshops, and symposiums. It also promotes active engagement of the public as collaborators in the journalistic journey and experimentation with different formats and methods of delivery.
Geographical priorities: USA and global
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: The Reva and David Logan Foundation only funds 501(c)3 organisations, fiscally-sponsored individuals or organisations, or international applicants with a U.S. based fiscal sponsor or Equivalency Determination Certificate. See more about how to apply here.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) advances social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.
Through grantmaking, convening, mission-aligned investing, and leadership, the RBF supports the people and organisations building lasting solutions to the challenges facing today’s increasingly interdependent world.
Priorities related to media development and journalism:
RBF has a number of geographical programmes with similar strategies and priorities:
Enhance transparency, accountability, and the rule of law for democratic governance.
Empower democratic culture and civic participation.
Promote transitional justice, reconciliation, and conflict transformation.
Advance sustainable development, including renewable energy and environmental health.
Geographical priorities: US and global, with special focus on Central America, Western Balkans, and China.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) has been engaged in grantmaking in the Western Balkans since 2001, following 20 years of experience supporting transition processes and EU accession in Central and Eastern Europe. RBF grantmaking in the Western Balkans has aimed to nurture healthy democratic processes, support regional initiatives to debunk persistent myths and prejudices, and encourage development of indigenous philanthropy and a vibrant civil society.
The Fund supports efforts of civil society groups, governmental institutions, and other partners to strengthen democratic practice, advance reconciliation and durable peace, enable sustainable development, and promote a European future for the region.
The persistent and growing impacts of corruption, impunity, and climate change in Central America undermine its citizens’ efforts to secure justice, peace, and sustainable futures. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund believes the region’s diverse cultural traditions and ecosystems, its proven resilience, and its young and creative population are a strong basis for constructing a future of peace and shared prosperity.
The Fund focuses on Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, a subregion that shares an interdependent history and ecosystem and that will benefit by taking a regional approach to its most pressing issues and important international engagements.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund established its China-focused grantmaking program in 2005 with an emphasis on southern China, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions of the world.
China’s rapid development has been accompanied by profound challenges including environmental degradation and growing disparities between rich and poor, urban and rural which, if not addressed, threaten the sustainability of development in the region, the country, and the world. The Chinese government and people have been responding vigorously to these complex challenges. The RBF’s grantmaking seeks to assist these efforts.
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: For more information about the grant-seeking process, see here.
If you believe that your project is a good fit for the RBF's support, you can submit a grant request. You will be prompted to create an account on the online portal and then respond to questions about your organisation and the work for which you are seeking support. While the review process is generally completed within three months, the exact timeline may vary. The RBF rarely funds unsolicited grant requests.
The Rudolf Augstein Foundation is a non-profit and independent foundation under civil law.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The organisation commemorates one of the most important German journalists of the 20th century; through the foundation’s work, the concerns that motivated their namesake and thought leader Rudolf Augstein can continue to be addressed into the future.
They do this by encouraging critical and independent journalism, improving the starting and development opportunities of disadvantaged children and young people, and enabling artistic experiments.
Geographical priorities: The philanthropic initiative Civitates grants almost 2.5 million euros to 11 independent public-interest journalism organisations in 8 European countries.
Type of funding: Programmatic
Funding opportunities: The foundation does not use calls for application, encouraging unsolicited proposals. Funding opportunities are published on the philanthropic initiative Civitates.
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), based in Japan, is a leading organisation dedicated to fostering international peace, security, and sustainability. Established in 1986, the Foundation supports projects that address pressing global challenges, including international diplomacy, regional stability, and environmental conservation. As part of its broader mission, SPF also recognises the critical role of media and journalism in promoting informed public discourse and enhancing mutual understanding across cultures.
Priorities Related to Media Development and Journalism: SPF views media and journalism as vital tools for peacebuilding and international collaboration. Its priorities in this area include:
Promoting Freedom of Expression and Media Independence: SPF funds initiatives that protect press freedom and foster independent journalism, especially in regions with limited access to reliable information.
Facilitating Cross-Cultural Understanding: Through media and storytelling projects, SPF seeks to build bridges between different cultures, with a focus on fostering dialogue between Japan, Asia, and the Islamic world.
Addressing Global Challenges Through Media: SPF supports media projects that bring attention to critical issues such as climate change, ocean conservation, and social inequality, ensuring these topics are communicated effectively to diverse audiences.
Geographical Priorities: SPF’s media-related initiatives align with its broader geographical focus areas:
Asia: Strengthening media capacity in developing Asian nations to address local and regional challenges.
Middle East and Islamic World: Enhancing understanding of Islamic cultures through media projects and facilitating dialogue between Islamic and non-Islamic communities.
Global: Supporting projects with global reach, particularly those related to climate change, maritime issues, and cross-border cooperation.
Funding Type: SPF primarily provides programmatic funding, focused on supporting specific projects or initiatives that align with its thematic priorities. While the Foundation does not subsidize general operating expenses, its grants may indirectly bolster grantees by funding:
Capacity-building activities like training or workshops.
Project-specific costs such as content creation, research, or publication. This approach ensures that funding is directed toward achieving concrete objectives while strengthening the capacity of organizations to deliver impactful work.
Funding Opportunities: SPF has transitioned from traditional grant submissions to an “idea submission” approach, where prospective grantees can propose innovative concepts that align with the Foundation’s goals. This shift underscores SPF’s openness to creative and impactful projects while maintaining its commitment to fostering international dialogue and addressing critical issues.
Key opportunities include:
Project Grants: Open to organisations and individuals proposing initiatives in line with SPF’s objectives, including media-related projects fostering international dialogue or addressing social and environmental issues.
Collaborative Opportunities: SPF actively partners with other institutions, media outlets, and non-profits to co-develop impactful projects.
Emerging Focus Areas: Recent priorities include advancing storytelling about the ocean and addressing cross-cultural misperceptions through journalism.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to explore the Foundation’s website for detailed information on the submission process and funding priorities.
Established in 2006 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, The Schmidt Family Foundation focuses on promoting climate resilience, sustainable energy, and community empowerment. With Wendy Schmidt’s journalism background, the foundation also prioritises the dissemination of clear, accurate information to drive action on critical social and environmental issues. A cornerstone of their work in media and journalism has been supporting innovative, independent journalism that bridges the gap between expert knowledge and public understanding, particularly in climate and environmental reporting.
Priorities Related to Media Development and Journalism: The Schmidt Family Foundation views journalism as an essential tool for societal change, particularly in addressing climate change and environmental challenges.
Key priorities include:
Supporting Climate Journalism: The Foundation funds initiatives that enhance reporting on climate solutions, technological innovations, and the environmental impact of policies and industries.
Investigative Reporting: Grants are directed toward independent outlets and journalists investigating underreported issues such as corporate greenwashing, extractive industries, and human rights abuses.
Empowering Nonprofit Media: The Foundation supports nonprofit journalism start-ups like Climate Central, Civil Eats, and the Food and Environment Reporting Network, which focus on climate, food systems, and social equity.
Documentary Films: Funding is also provided for impactful environmental documentaries like Gasland and Virunga, which have influenced public narratives and policies.
The Foundation encourages cross-sector collaboration by connecting media grantees with other partners in renewable energy, agroecology, and nature-based solutions to foster nuanced and impactful storytelling.
Geographical Priorities: While the Schmidt Family Foundation is headquartered in the United States, its journalism funding has both domestic and global reach. Key areas of focus include:
United States: Strengthening investigative reporting on environmental and social issues at the national and local levels.
Africa: Funding African-led journalism to address issues like extractive industries, energy, and agriculture. Grantees such as The Fourth Estate in Ghana and Africa Is a Country emphasise independent reporting and amplify local voices.
Global Climate Journalism: Supporting worldwide reporting on climate resilience and the impacts of climate change, often through partnerships with international organisations.
Funding Type: The Foundation offers a mix of core support and programmatic funding to grantees:
Core Support: Enables nonprofit journalism outlets to maintain operational independence and long-term viability.
Programmatic Grants: Focused on specific projects, such as investigative series, data-driven reporting, and documentary film production.
Funding decisions are made by a centralized, cross-functional team within the Foundation, ensuring alignment with broader programmatic goals.
Funding Opportunities: The Schmidt Family Foundation does not have an open call for proposals; instead, it identifies potential grantees through proactive research and collaboration. However, prospective partners can engage with the Foundation’s team through networking events or by demonstrating alignment with its focus areas.
Key Grantees: Climate Central, Capital B, Civil Eats, The Fuller Project, and FERN are among its flagship partners.
Film Projects: Filmmakers working on environmental and climate documentaries are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through the Foundation’s media initiatives.
Emerging Focus Areas: African-led journalism and collaborations between nonprofit media outlets are growing priorities for the Foundation.
The Foundation also supports capacity-building efforts, such as training sessions that connect journalists with climate experts, helping to produce more nuanced and impactful reporting.
The Schöpflin Foundation is committed to helping young people and future generations create a self-reliant life for themselves. The foundation uses social venture capital to allow young people to experiment and spread these ideas throughout civil society.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Schöpflin Foundation recognises that Media diversity is under threat. They believe it is a necessary addition to state-funded and commercial journalism because a free press is a prerequisite for an open society and a vibrant democracy.
Through its various charitable funding activities, the Schöpflin Foundation supports and promotes the building of a sense of critical awareness in children, young people and young adults; equally it supports and promotes strong democracy and its further development.
Geographical priorities: As well as supporting actual journalism projects and initiatives, they also want to support all those business activities that are vitally important for the further development of non-profit journalism in Lörrach in southern Germany and throughout Europe.
Type of funding: Programmatic and Grants
Funding opportunities: Grants are awarded through the Foundation's different funding programme, which can be found below:
The Sidney Hillman Foundation is an American charitable foundation that awards prizes to journalists who investigate issues related to social justice and progressive public policy. Established in honour of Sidney Hillman, a labor leader and President of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, who championed workers' rights and social justice, the foundation focuses on supporting media that addresses social and economic justice, democracy, and workers' rights.
The Sidney Hillman Foundation has sought to illuminate the great issues of the day—from the search for a basis for lasting peace, to the need for better housing, medical care, and employment security for all people, the promotion of civil liberties and the battle against discrimination based on race, nationality, or religion.
Deeply concerned with the responsibilities of a free press, the foundation launched the Hillman Prize program in 1950, and it continues today. The program aims to honour and foster investigative reporting and deep storytelling in service of the common good. Since 1950, the Hillman Prize program has honoured contributors to the daily, periodical, and labor press, as well as authors and broadcasters.
Geographical Priorities: United States and Canada
Type of funding: Awards
Funding opportunities: The Sidney Hillman Foundation offers several awards, see here for more information. Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honoured journalists who pursue investigative reporting and deep storytelling in service of the common good. Recipients exemplify reportorial excellence, storytelling skill, and social justice impact. In 2011, the Sidney Hillman Foundation inaugurated the Canadian Hillman Prize, honouring journalists who seek out stories that change lives, whose work exposes important social and economic injustices in Canada and helps bring about change for the better.
The Sigrid Rausing Trust (SRT) is a prominent UK-based grant-making foundation that focuses on supporting human rights, open societies, and environmental initiatives globally. Established in 1995, the Trust emphasises freedom of expression and the strengthening of civil society as integral to its mission. Its Open Societies program prominently features funding for public interest media and journalism.
Priorities Related to Media Development and Journalism: The Trust prioritises freedom of expression and public interest media under its Open Societies program. It supports initiatives that promote independent journalism, counter disinformation, and ensure transparency in governance. Specific grants have been directed to organisations such as the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), which builds media capacity in conflict zones, and other grantees working to foster investigative journalism and media innovation in challenging environments.
Geographical Priorities: While the SRT is active globally, it has a particular focus on regions where democratic norms are under threat, specifically Central and Eastern Europe. This focus aligns with its commitment to addressing issues such as press freedom, civic participation, and corruption in areas where independent media is vital but under-resourced.
Funding Type: The Sigrid Rausing Trust primarily provides programmatic funding for specific initiatives and projects. While it supports operational costs for activities like capacity building or investigative reporting, it does not typically subsidise general organisational expenses. Grants are structured to maximize impact on defined objectives, especially in fostering free expression and supporting independent media.
Funding Opportunities: The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, it identifies potential grantees through its networks and partnerships. Organisations working in public interest journalism, combating corruption, or advancing freedom of speech are often considered for funding. For example, its grantees include media outlets that expose human rights abuses or create platforms for marginalized voices in regions of political or social instability.
For further information on their programs and partnerships, visit their website.
The Skoll Foundation gives grants to social entrepreneurs – change makers who use innovative approaches to address difficult social problems. The Foundation’s work is organised around six priority issue areas: environmental sustainability, education, economic opportunity, health, peace and human rights, and sustainable markets.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The bulk of Skoll’s support goes to entrepreneurs, and thus does not focus on the news media as a sector or on building institutions. However, the foundation gives some support to journalists with the express aim of improving the public’s understanding of entrepreneurship.
Geographical priorities: The Skoll Foundation is a global organisation without regional focus. Over the past 12 years, the foundation has invested approximately $800 million worldwide, including the Skoll Award to 144 social entrepreneurs and 116 organisations on five continents.
Type of funding: Grants, Awards and Scholarships
Funding opportunities: In 2020, the Skoll Foundation and the Skoll Fund awarded a total of $173 million in grants and disbursed $170 million in grant payments. Funding opportunities are published on the organisation's website. Information on how and when to apply can be found below:
View profile on CIMA website (Last updated on February 2022)
Stiftung Mercator is a private and independent foundation. Through its work, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse society.
Stiftung Mercator wants:
to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Europe,
address the impact of digitization on democracy and society,
drive forward climate change mitigation.
Geographical priorities: Activities in Germany, Europe and worldwide; it has a particular affinity with the Ruhr area, the home of its founding family and of the foundation’s headquarters.
Type of funding: Programmatic and core grants.
Funding opportunities: Stiftung Mercator selects projects to fund that help to achieve the sociopolitical objectives set in their thematic clusters and fields of activity.
The United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) is a non-profit organisation based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to supporting the United Nations' mission and its work worldwide. Established in 1998 through a historic $1 billion gift from philanthropist Ted Turner, the Foundation has become a vital partner in advancing the UN’s priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a focus on mobilising resources, partnerships, and public support, the UN Foundation works on a wide range of issues such as climate change, public health, gender equality, technology, peace, and humanitarian assistance.
Priorities Related to Media Development and Journalism: The UN Foundation recognises the importance of informed societies and the role of media in fostering transparency, accountability, and public engagement on critical global issues. While not a core funder of journalism, it supports initiatives that intersect with its broader goals, particularly in areas like:
Promoting accurate and ethical reporting on global health, climate, and development issues.
Strengthening the use of data and digital tools in journalism to combat misinformation and raise awareness about the UN’s agenda.
Advocating for media's role in advancing democracy, human rights, and public access to credible information.
The Foundation often collaborates with partners in the media and technology sectors to amplify its messaging and encourage innovation in journalism practices.
Geographical Priorities: The UN Foundation’s funding and programmes are global in scope, reflecting the worldwide mandate of the United Nations. Its initiatives focus on both developed and developing countries, with particular emphasis on:
Low- and middle-income countries where the UN’s development goals are most urgently needed.
Regions experiencing conflict or humanitarian crises, where independent media and reliable information are critical.
Countries with significant challenges related to public health, climate change, or access to technology and digital tools.
Funding Type: The UN Foundation’s funding is largely programmatic, supporting specific initiatives that align with its strategic goals and the priorities of the UN system. While it doesn’t typically provide unrestricted core funding, it works with grantees and partners to co-design programmes that advance shared objectives. Occasionally, the Foundation channels funds to other organisations through grants or partnerships, depending on the scope and focus of the project.
Funding Opportunities: While the UN Foundation itself doesn’t run open funding calls specific to media development, there are several avenues for collaboration:
Project-based partnerships: Organisations working on media-related initiatives that align with the Foundation’s focus areas—such as public health communication, climate reporting, or combating misinformation—may find partnership opportunities through UN Foundation programmes.
Collaborative initiatives: The Foundation frequently works with NGOs, media organisations, and tech platforms on campaigns and projects that advance the SDGs. For example, it has partnered on campaigns to amplify credible climate and health reporting.
Thematic grants: Funding is sometimes available as part of broader UN-aligned initiatives, particularly for projects with measurable impacts in public awareness or behaviour change.
Organisations interested in potential collaboration are encouraged to monitor the Foundation’s website and stay connected through its newsletters and events. Building relationships through shared programmatic goals is often key to unlocking opportunities.
Recognised as a public utility since 1988, the Varenne Foundation works to support and promote the press and communication professions among journalists, schools and researchers, following in the footsteps of Alexandre Varenne, a lawyer, journalist and major politician of the 20th century.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: The Varenne Foundation encourages and promotes the profession of journalism in all media through the national Varenne Prizes, awarded annually to professional journalists in the print, radio and television media, and to press photographers, by juries made up of the great names in the profession.
Geographical priorities: France (open to foreign journalists in some specific cases)
Type of funding: Awards
Funding opportunities: Awards are given by a jury of professionals. You can find out more about the awards and how to enter here.
Vital Voices Global Partnership is a US-based international, non-profit, non-governmental organisation that works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women's political participation, and human rights.
Their mission is to create a more equitable and sustainable world by investing in women leaders who are taking on the world’s greatest challenges. They have directly invested in more than 20,000 changemakers across 184 countries and territories for the past 25 years. Serving as a “venture catalyst, ” Vital Voices identifies leaders "with a daring vision for change and partners with them to make that vision a reality."
Vital Voices also hosts the annual Global Leadership Awards honouring women leaders working in the areas of human rights, economic empowerment, or political reform.
Priorities related to media development and journalism: Vital Voices does not have a journalism or media development programme but has provided support for women working in media through their fellowships. Their programmes focus on empowering women leaders, social entrepreneurship, and providing crisis support to women exercising their freedom of expression.
They provide connections, increased capacity, a peer network, financial support, skills training, and increased visibility for their work, which ranges from gender-based violence and climate justice to economic inequities and political disempowerment, and more.
Geographical priorities: Vital Voices works in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on the business, political and civil society sectors.
Type of Funding: Fellowships and mentoring. Emergency grants.
Funding Opportunities: Vital Voices Global Investment Portfolio connects women leaders from the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network to financial resources so that they can bring their vision for change to life and amplify the solutions they have created to scale. Through their Investment Portfolio, the organisation provides grant awards, capacity building and grant oversight to support leaders in achieving impact.
You can see more about the Vital Voices Crisis Response funds, including their Freedom of Expression Urgent Assistance Fund here.
The Walkley Foundation was established by Sir William Gaston Walkley and the first awards were handed out in 1956. The foundation's objectives are to recognise great Australian journalism and lift the craft of journalism through professional development.
The Foundation’s scholarship, fellowship and leadership programs, coupled with Awards programs like the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year, have supported early and mid-career journalists, lowered barriers to entry to the profession for a more diverse group of journalists, and helped ensure that the future of the industry is in good hands.
Type of funding: Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships
Funding opportunities: Grants are funded by the Walkley Foundation’s Public Fund. You can find out more about the fund, what they support, and how to donate here.
Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism: The grant offers up to $10,000 to assist an Australian journalist to produce a significant work of journalism in any medium that gives voice to Pacific island perspectives on an under-reported issue or development of importance to Australia and the region. Find more information and apply here.
Walkley Grants for Freelance Journalism on Regional Australia: Grants worth a total of $89,000 were awarded to seven freelance journalists in 2020. For more information click here.
Judith Neilson Institute Freelance Grants for Asian Journalism: This grant aims to encourage more and better reporting on Asia by Australian media professionals and news outlets. Three grants worth a total of $25,000 were awarded to three freelance journalists in 2020. For more information click here.
ZEIT-Stiftung, also known as the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, is a prominent German private, non-profit foundation headquartered in Hamburg. Established in 1971, the foundation is dedicated to advancing education, culture, research, and politics and society initiatives. Its 'Bucerius Lab' examines the 'effects of digitization' in public discussions and at conferences.
With a commitment to fostering critical thinking, democratic values, and societal progress, ZEIT-Stiftung plays a pivotal role in supporting projects that promote informed public discourse and media excellence.
Priorities Related to Media Development and Journalism: The foundation's goal is to stimulate public discourse surrounding contemporary matters and encourage thoughtful examination of contentious political and societal subjects. Through initiatives such as the 'Bucerius Summer School' and the 'Asian Forum,' the foundation facilitates networking opportunities for emerging leaders. Additionally, it invests in bolstering independent journalism in Eastern Europe.
Projects aimed at advancing digital innovation in journalism, fostering cross-border collaboration, and addressing emerging challenges in media freedom are also of significant interest.
With “Publix”, the foundation supports a project for quality journalism that is unique in Germany: a house for journalists, editorial teams and NGOs with office and event rooms, etc. is being built on 6,000 square meters in Berlin-Neukölln -Working spaces and studios in which – designed as a competence center – journalistic knowledge and resources are brought together. The aim of the project and the pooling of expertise in one place is to promote journalistic innovations, develop strategies against disinformation and strengthen a diverse, independent media landscape in Germany and Europe.
Free Media Awards
In many Eastern European countries, the media is under enormous pressure. Many journalists work under the most difficult conditions, some risk life and limb for free journalism and independent reporting. With the Free Media Awards, the ZEIT-Stiftung and the Norwegian Stiftelsen Fritt Ord want to encourage these journalists and media to continue their work despite threats and violent repression. The two foundations present the awards annually to outstanding journalists, editorial teams and media companies from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Armenia who tirelessly stand up for an independent press against all odds.
Geographical Priorities: While ZEIT-Stiftung primarily focuses on supporting initiatives within Germany, it also extends its reach to projects with broader European and international dimensions. The foundation values cross-cultural exchange and collaboration, and therefore, it considers funding opportunities beyond national borders, particularly in regions where media freedom and quality journalism are under threat.
Types of Funding: Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships
Funding Opportunities: The ZEIT-Stiftung provides funding primarily for its own initiatives. The foundation also welcomes applications for funding provided that the proposed projects conform to its statutes and aims. The key criteria for approval are the innovative potential and sustainability of the project as well as collaborative efforts to create synergies - ideally across national boundaries, and the originality of the proposal. The foundation attaches great importance to the investment made by the applicant and to his endeavours to find other partners. No funding is granted to cover budgetary deficits.
The foundation's application form can be found here.
For a searchable list of current funding opportunities see the GFMD website.
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