About Fund for Investigative Journalism
The Fund for Investigative Journalism concentrates its giving on nonprofit investigative journalism, with an emphasis on state and regional newsrooms, university investigative programs, and fellowship/support awards that enable deep-reporting projects. Grant recipients are typically mission-driven news organizations and journalism labs (including public radio outlets) rather than general operating charities, and awards tend to fund specific investigative projects, fellowships, or reporting initiatives. The foundation’s portfolio shows a clear commitment to sustaining local accountability journalism across a wide geographic spread of U.S. states.
Focus Areas
Support for state and regional investigative newsrooms (e.g., Wisconsin Watch, Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, Carolina Public Press)University-based investigative reporting programs and training (e.g., UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program)Fellowships and project awards for investigative reporters (e.g., Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting fellowship grants)Nonprofit public-interest outlets and public radio investigative units (e.g., San Francisco Public Press, NPR affiliates)Thematic investigative reporting (environmental and public integrity investigations, e.g., Grist, Center for Public Integrity)
About Fund for Investigative Journalism
Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc. is built around project support for investigative reporting, including full investigations, seed money for preliminary reporting, and follow-up coverage tied to work it has already funded. Its recent grants show a strong pattern of backing newsroom-led accountability work and university-based reporting programs, with awards that often sit in the five-figure range. That mix suggests a funder focused less on general operations and more on specific stories, reporting phases, and time-limited investigations. University programs are part of that picture. The funder gave $19,982 to Uc Berkeley - the Investigative Reporting Program in 2024 and $14,994 to Uc Berkeley in 2025, reinforcing a recurring relationship with Berkeley-based investigative training and reporting. It also supported public-interest newsrooms such as Wisconsin Watch with $35,000 in fellowship support in 2023 and $9,724 in 2024 for investigative journalism. These awards fit a broader portfolio that includes state and regional outlets, public radio, and nonprofit media organizations working on in-depth reporting. The foundation’s grants also reach thematic investigative work, including reporting on public integrity, corruption, and threats to democracy. Across the recent grant list, the recipients range from local newsroom brands to national and university-affiliated outlets, all tied to specific investigative projects or reporting capacity.
What Fund for Investigative Journalism Funds
A major theme is support for state and regional investigative newsrooms. The funder gave $21,115 to Investigate West in 2023, $14,935 to The Current in 2023, and $11,780 to Carolina Public Press in 2023, all for investigative journalism. These awards point to a consistent interest in outlets that produce public-interest reporting outside the largest national brands. University-linked training and reporting is another clear area. In 2024, it gave $19,982 to Uc Berkeley - the Investigative Reporting Program, and in 2025 it awarded $14,994 to Uc Berkeley for investigative journalism. That pattern shows support for academic programs that produce reporting and train journalists. The foundation also backs thematic public-accountability work. It granted $10,000 to The Texas Democracy Foundation in 2024, with the grant described as investigative journalism, and $10,000 to Center for Public Integrity in 2023 for investigative journalism. These grants align with its stated emphasis on corruption, malfeasance, misuse of power, and threats to democracy.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$468K
Total Assets
$2.4M
Total Revenue
$1.5M
Total Expenses
$970K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $14K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$14K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
About 10% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ERIC FERRERO
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