OVERVIEW: The International Center for Journalists runs fellowship, awards and accelerator programs with a strong focus on developing nations and investigative journalism.
IP TAKE: The International Center for Journalists is better understood as a journalism nonprofit and funding intermediary than as a traditional grantmaking foundation. It runs a large and frequently changing portfolio of donor-supported programs, some of which provide reporting grants, newsroom grants, fellowships, prizes or other financial support. Individual journalists will find the most open opportunities here, while nonprofit newsrooms and journalism organizations are more likely to receive funding through a specific initiative, accelerator, subgrant or program partnership than through a general unsolicited proposal.
Programs change quickly, and eligibility varies considerably by geography, subject area and type of applicant. Grantseekers should monitor ICFJ’s programs database for open calls rather than assume that an older fellowship or grant program is still accepting applications. ICFJ does not appear to maintain a general open application process for nonprofit organizations, but many individual programs use competitive open calls.
PROFILE: The International Center for Journalists was established in 1984 by publishing and journalism veterans Tom Winship, Jim Ewing and George Krimsky. Based in Washington, D.C., the center runs a broad range of programs that aim to “enable a global network of journalists to provide the trustworthy news essential to free and strong societies.”
Grants for Journalism and Media
Its current funding opportunities include, but are not limited to:
The Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling “honors up-and-coming journalists in Africa who strives to strengthen people’s voices and illuminate the transformational change taking place on the continent.”
Entry for consideration is open to African journalists working in print, broadcast or online journalism in English and who have had their work published or broadcast over the past year.
The prize seeks to recognize “impactful investigative or explanatory pieces, especially those that illuminate transformational change in Africa.”
In recent years, the award has been given in the amount of $5,000. See the program page for the latest application information and due dates.
The annual Aurthur F. Burns Fellowship offers journalists under the age of 40 from Canada, Germany or the U.S. the opportunity to work in one of the three countries at leading newsrooms including CNN, Reuters and Deutsche Welle, among others.
Participants also participate in a weeklong orientation in Washington, D.C., in July of the fellowship year.
Fellows receive stipends of $5,500 for travel and living expenses.
- The program runs an annual application cycle with a due date that usually falls on March 1. See the program page for current details.
- The Hans Staiger Investigative Reporting Award supports investigative journalism by members of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project network. Applicants may seek $5,000 for expenses related to an investigative project, including travel, equipment, software and expert or mentoring support. One project is selected annually. This opportunity is restricted to journalists affiliated with the OCCRP network.
- Boost: Reporting Grants for Journalists is a newer ICFJ initiative providing individual reporting grants for projects that may fall outside the organization’s other programs. Its inaugural call offered grants of $2,000 to $3,000 and focused on climate reporting in the Global South. The first cohort, announced in 2025, included journalists from Bangladesh, Ecuador and Gambia.
- The Newscorp Media Fellowship for International Journalists “offers international reporters and editors an immersive, hands-on experience in some of the world’s most digitally advanced newsrooms.”
Fellowships bring journalists from various regions of the world to either the New York offices of the Wall Street Journal or the London headquarters of the Times of London.
Fellowships are open to English-speaking journalists, with target geographical areas changing from year to year. Travel expenses are paid by the fellowship.
This program’s application due date usually falls in late April, but check the program page for current details about how to apply.
ICFJ Knight Fellowships aim to “instill a culture of news innovation and experimentation worldwide” with many recent fellowships involving “new technologies” that “enhance news gathering, storytelling, editorial workflows, audience engagement and business models.” The program concluded in 2025 after more than three decades.
For additional opportunities search the programs database.
Important Grant Details:
The International Center for Journalists’ grants tend to be awarded in set amounts specific to its individual programs, with a significant portion of its grantmaking going to developing news and media organizations around the world.
- Funding typically consists of stipends for travel and living expenses while fellows participate in one of ICFJ’s journalism programs.
- This funder offers different programs every year. To keep up with the latest, follow ICFJ on social media using links provided at the bottom of the website or sign up for the email newsletter.
- Contact the organization by email at communications@icfj.org or call (202) 737-3700.
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