Apply now for 2027 Fund for Investigative Journalism United States of America (USA), The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) supports journalists and media organizations in producing high-quality, independent, nonpartisan investigative journalism that can create meaningful public impact.

The program is open to freelance journalists, staff reporters, and media organizations. Supported investigations may be developed for a variety of formats, including print and online publications, broadcast media, books, documentaries, and podcasts.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.

Last Date of Submission: 29^th January 2027

Apply now for 2027 Fund for Investigative Journalism United States of America (USA)

Overview

The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) provides grants and other forms of support to journalists working on high-quality, independent, unbiased, and nonpartisan investigative stories. The program aims to support reporting that can create a meaningful public impact, including investigations that uncover wrongdoing, corruption, misuse of power, or other forms of misconduct in both the public and private sectors.

Budget and Eligible Costs

FIJ grants may help cover reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with investigative reporting. Eligible costs may include:

• Travel expenses
• Costs related to obtaining or collecting documents
• Equipment rental
• Reporting time, where permitted under the specific grant program

Applicants are expected to follow FIJ’s budget requirements and provide appropriate explanations or justifications for proposed expenses as part of the application process.

Apply now for 2027 Fund for Investigative Journalism United States of America (USA)

Types of Grants

Regular Grants

FIJ reviews regular grant applications three to four times each year. Eligible applicants can request funding of up to $10,000 to support investigative reporting projects.

The next application deadline is January 29, 2027.

Seed Funding

Seed grants provide up to $2,500 for preliminary reporting that may develop into a larger investigative project. Funding can be used for early-stage reporting expenses, such as open-records requests and initial reporting trips.

The next application deadline is January 29, 2027.

Follow-Up Grants

FIJ offers follow-up grants for timely reporting based on investigations that were originally supported by an FIJ grant. Eligible applicants may request expedited consideration for follow-up grants of up to $2,500.

Regular Grants for Previous Seed Grantees

Journalists who have previously received Seed funding from FIJ may apply for regular grants of up to $10,000 on a rolling basis. Applicants generally receive a decision within approximately two to four weeks.

Alicia Patterson Fellowships

The Alicia Patterson Fellowships support journalists undertaking in-depth reporting and research on specific topics. Fellows spend either six or 12 months traveling, researching, reporting, and writing stories for publication through news outlets.

The fellowship provides:

• $40,000 for a 12-month fellowship
• $20,000 for a six-month fellowship

The next application deadline is October 1, 2026.

Who Is Eligible?

FIJ accepts applications from a range of journalism professionals and organizations, including:

• Freelance journalists
• Staff reporters
• Media outlets

Eligibility may vary depending on the type of grant being requested.

Grant-Specific Eligibility

• Regular Grants and Seed Funding: Applications for these programs are submitted through separate application forms.
• Follow-Up Grants: These grants support timely follow-up reporting based on investigations that were previously produced with FIJ funding.
• Regular Grants for Previous Seed Recipients: Journalists who have previously received Seed funding from FIJ may apply for regular grants under the applicable program.
• Alicia Patterson Fellowships: The fellowship supports journalists who spend six or 12 months traveling, researching, reporting, and writing stories on specific topics for publication. Applicants should review the fellowship requirements for any additional eligibility conditions.

International Reporting Grants

FIJ may consider proposals involving reporting outside the United States when they have a strong U.S. connection. International reporting proposals must meet the following conditions:

• The investigation must have a strong U.S. angle involving American citizens, the U.S. government, or U.S. businesses.
• The resulting story must be published in English.
• The applicant must have a U.S.-based media outlet for publication.

Resubmissions and Multiple Proposals

FIJ generally does not accept proposals that were previously rejected unless the organization specifically invites the applicant to resubmit.

Applicants are also generally limited to one proposal per grant cycle. Multiple proposals from the same applicant may be considered only in rare circumstances. Applicants seeking an exception should contact FIJ directly.

Eligible Activities and Priority Areas

FIJ supports investigative journalism across a wide range of formats, including:

• Print publications
• Online journalism
• Broadcast reporting
• Books
• Documentaries
• Podcasts

Areas of Interest

FIJ’s Board of Directors considers proposals that:

• Break new ground through original investigative reporting
• Investigate wrongdoing, including corruption, malfeasance, or misuse of power
• Address important issues affecting both the public and private sectors

FIJ also encourages applications for investigations intended for ethnic media and welcomes proposals from journalists of color.

Why This Grant Opportunity Is Important

The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) provides financial support for journalists who are pursuing in-depth investigations that may require significant time and reporting expenses. The funding can help cover costs such as travel, document collection, equipment rental, and, for some grant programs, reporting time.

The opportunity is particularly useful for journalists investigating issues involving corruption, misuse of power, misconduct, or other matters affecting the public interest. FIJ also supports investigations across multiple formats, including print, online, broadcast, books, documentaries, and podcasts.

For international reporting, the program can also provide support when an investigation has a strong U.S. connection and meets the specified publication requirements.

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

A strong FIJ proposal should clearly demonstrate the importance and investigative potential of the proposed story. Applicants should consider the following:

• Clear investigative focus: Explain what you intend to investigate and why the issue deserves deeper reporting.
• Public interest: Show how the investigation could expose wrongdoing, corruption, misuse of power, or other significant issues.
• Original reporting: Demonstrate how the project will break new ground or uncover information that is not already widely known.
• Strong reporting plan: Clearly describe the methods, sources, documents, travel, and other reporting activities needed to complete the investigation.
• Realistic budget: Provide a detailed budget that explains how each requested expense will contribute to the reporting.
• Publication plan: Identify the intended media outlet or format and explain how the completed investigation will reach its audience.
• Relevant experience: Highlight your journalism background and any previous investigative work that demonstrates your ability to complete the proposed project.

Application Information

Regular Grants, Follow-Up Grants, Seed Funding, and Regular Grants for previous Seed recipients each have separate application forms. Alicia Patterson Fellowships are awarded annually through their own application process.

Applicants should note that FIJ generally does not accept previously rejected proposals for resubmission unless the organization specifically invites the applicant to submit the proposal again.

Applicants are also generally limited to one proposal per grant cycle. Multiple submissions may be considered only in exceptional circumstances. Applicants seeking an exception should contact FIJ at grants@fij.org.

Additional information about FIJ’s grant programs and resources for preparing applications is available through the organization’s grant information materials.

Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below

Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for FIJ grants?

Freelance journalists, staff reporters, and media outlets are eligible to apply, subject to the requirements of the specific grant program.

2. What expenses can FIJ grants cover?

Depending on the grant type, funding may cover expenses such as travel, document collection, equipment rental, and reporting time.

3. Does FIJ support international investigative reporting?

Yes. International proposals may be considered when they have a strong U.S. connection involving American citizens, the U.S. government, or U.S. businesses. The resulting story must be published in English through a U.S. media outlet.

4. Can I submit a proposal that FIJ previously rejected?

Generally, no. FIJ does not accept previously declined proposals unless the organization specifically invites the applicant to resubmit.

5. Can I submit more than one proposal during the same grant cycle?

Generally, applicants may submit only one proposal per grant cycle. Exceptions may be considered in rare circumstances, and applicants should contact FIJ to request an exception.

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