Journalism & Media Grant

The Journalism & Media Grant aims to promote inclusive narratives and accurate media that engage communities in democratic processes. It supports U.S.-based nonprofit organizations focused on professional reporting, multimedia storytelling, and civic media. The grant addresses barriers to media participation and fosters innovation in journalism, providing essential infrastructure for a diverse media landscape. While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, organizations can share ideas through a Letter of Inquiry (LOI).

NOTE: While we are not accepting unsolicited proposals at this time, contact us to share new ideas and perspectives. The LOI represents the opportunity to share new ideas with the staff.
The Journalism and Media program seeks to promote and amplify just and inclusive news and narratives, based on the belief that accurate and compelling media plays an important role in informing, engaging, and activating individuals and groups to take part in democratic practices and processes.
To build and strengthen organizations creating and disseminating just, accurate, and inclusive news and narratives, the program supports work in three areas:

• Professional Nonprofit Reporting
• Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling
• Participatory Civic Media
• In each of the three areas, the program pursues the following objectives:

Build strong, independent, and sustainable organizations 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.Address barriers that limit the creation of, access to, or participation in media activities, including the legal, safety, digital security, and technological challenges facing organizations 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.
Our Journalism and Media program supports U.S.-based nonprofit institutions with national reach and influence. In a few cases, we support regional and place-based organizations that are exemplars in their fields and provide a model for others to replicate.
We also support journalism and media in Chicago, where the Foundation is located, and in 2021, in partnership with MacArthur’s Technology in the Public Interest Program, we began supporting a small portfolio of organizations and activities focused on combatting racialized disinformation and conspiracy.

Eligibility

What We Fund:Professional Nonprofit Reporting:We fund the following types of organizations:National nonprofit journalism organizations that pursue explanatory, investigative, and/or international reporting primarily for American audiences.National organizations that work to protect press freedom and address the safety and security challenges facing journalists.Organizations and activities that support the infrastructure for and contribute to learning and innovation in the field of nonprofit journalism.Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling:We fund the following types of organizations:National and regional organizations that fund, produce, and/or disseminate artfully crafted nonfiction storytelling projects on contemporary social issues for broadcast, web, and mobile.
National and regional organizations that provide grants, fellowships, training, mentoring, and support to diversify the talent pipeline for the field of nonfiction multimedia storytelling.
Organizations and activities that support the infrastructure for the nonfiction multimedia sector and contribute to learning and innovation in the field of nonfiction multimedia storytelling.Participatory Civic Media:We fund the following types of organizations:National organizations that mobilize and support grassroots communities to use civic media and narrative change strategies to express and organize themselves for social change.
National organizations that provide civic media-related training and leadership development opportunities to build civic power in grassroots communities.
Organizations and activities that support the infrastructure for and contribute to learning and innovation in the field of civic media.