NJCIC General Grant Funding

NJCIC General Grant Funding

Funder: New Jersey Civic Information Consortium

Overview: The Consortium awards grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen local news, support civic engagement, and build the journalism pipeline across New Jersey.

Award Details

• Maximum Award: Up to $100,000 per project
• Geographic Scope: New Jersey statewide
• Funding Distribution: New grantees receive 50% of funding upfront, with the remaining 50% distributed after a three-month progress review

Focus Areas

The Consortium invests in projects organized around three core priority areas:

1. Civic News & Information - High-quality news reporting and dissemination of accurate, timely, verifiable information for New Jersey communities
2. The Journalism Pipeline - Training students, professionals, and community members to produce news and civic information as community storytellers
3. Civic Engagement - Supporting civic engagement in historically marginalized and underserved communities with limited access to news

Types of Projects Funded

• Address information gaps in underserved communities
• Promote civic participation
• Bolster local journalism through innovative and sustainable news models

Guiding Principles

The Consortium seeks projects that embody the following principles:

1. Public Service - Projects that perform a meaningful public service for New Jersey communities
2. Community Centered - Work that centers community information needs and amplifies local voices
3. Diverse & Inclusive Media - Support for diverse and inclusive representation in all forms
4. By, With, and For - Promoting media by, with, and for the communities being served
5. Training & Education - Providing training and education to build capacity in local news ecosystems
6. Networks & Infrastructure - Strengthening networks and infrastructure for sustainable local journalism

Eligibility Requirements

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or fiscal sponsor arrangement required
• University Partnership: Must establish a partnership with a Consortium member university (six member universities available)
• Media Liability Insurance: Mandatory as of January 1, 2026
• Project Leadership: Project leaders cannot be serving in or running for public office
• Reporting Requirements: Grantees must participate in impact tracking and submit progress and final reports

Application Deadlines

• Letter of Interest (LOI): April 1, June 15, September 15, December 15
• Full Grant Application: May 1, August 1, November 1, February 1
• Board Review: Quarterly (March, June, September, December)

Contact Information

Email: info@njcivicinfo.org Address: 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043

Additional Resources

• Grantee Map available to explore impact across the state
• Frequently Asked Questions page available