FIJ Regular Grants Program

FIJ Regular Grants Program

Funder: Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc (DC, US)

Website: fij.org

Overview

The Fund for Investigative Journalism is an independent, non-profit organization that has supported investigative reporting projects since 1969. The organization awards grants to cover travel and other reporting expenses for investigative stories.

Focus Areas

• Investigative journalism by independent reporters
• Local, regional, and international investigations
• Abuse of power and corruption
• Environmental degradation and accountability
• State and local community reporting
• Ethnic media investigations
• Multi-media and emerging media projects
• Nonprofit investigative journalism centers

Geographic Scope

• United States (domestic focus on state and local reporting)
• International projects (Asia, Africa, South America, Europe)

Eligibility

• Independent journalists and reporters
• Reporters working for ethnic media
• Multimedia journalists and video/website producers
• Nonprofit investigative journalism centers
• Freelance writers and authors

Support Provided

• Funding: Grants to cover out-of-pocket reporting expenses
• Editorial Guidance: Mentorship through partnership with Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

Contact Information

Washington Office: 1100 13th St., NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-481-1218 (or 202-391-0206) Email: [email protected]

New York Office:
Old Chelsea Station
P.O. Box 1205
New York, NY 10113

Background

The Fund was founded by Philip Stern, a progressive philanthropist who believed that by providing small amounts of money to aggressive reporters, they would generate stories helping to "balance the scales of justice." Since 1969, the Fund has supported hundreds of public service reporting projects. Notable past support includes Seymour Hersh's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the My Lai massacre.