About Journalism Refugees Education Fund
JREF provides financial support for education and training in the United States and Canada for refugees and their family members who worked in journalism or supported news organizations, helping them earn degrees, certificates or other training to achieve economic mobility and thrive in their new countries.
Focus Areas
education/scholarshipsrefugee assistancejournalism and media workerscollege access and pathway programsEnglish language instruction
Who They Fund
students / individuals receiving tuition aideducational institutions (schools, colleges, training programs)nonprofit organizations (recipients of general support)
Funding Style
general operating support (unrestricted)
About Journalism Refugees Education Fund
Journalism Refugees Education Fund directs its giving toward education and training for refugees and family members of people who worked in journalism or supported news organizations. The stated goal is economic mobility in the United States and Canada through degrees, certificates, English study, and other training. In the latest grants, the largest award went to Chatham University for general support, followed by tuition support for Champlain College. Those grants show the funder working with colleges and universities as well as education-related organizations, with support flowing to both institutional operating needs and student costs. The public charity’s grantmaking also includes direct scholarship support through its JREF Scholarship program, which is open to refugees and family members of journalists or media workers whose lives were disrupted by war, violence, oppression, or service to news organizations in their home countries. This is a narrow, occupationally defined refugee education fund rather than a broad scholarship provider, and its recent awards reflect that focus across higher education and training settings.
What Journalism Refugees Education Fund Funds
Education access is the center of the funder’s work. A 2025 grant of $29,418 to Champlain College was tagged tuition support, while Northern Virginia Community College received $28,163 for general support, indicating attention to pathway programs and institutional capacity. The funder also supports university-based study: the University of Pittsburgh received $14,005 for tuition support. Beyond colleges, the funder awarded $9,266 to Jcc Pittsburgh for general support, showing that educational or community-based organizations can also receive unrestricted aid. The active JREF Scholarship program extends this pattern to refugees and family members of journalists or media workers, with support for study in journalism and other fields, English courses, and college pathway programs in the United States and Canada.
How Journalism Refugees Education Fund Gives
The recent grant list shows a wide spread of award sizes, from $7,581 to $70,808. Several grants are framed as general support, while others are tuition support, which points to a mix of institutional operating help and direct education funding. The organization is a public charity, not a private foundation, and it funds organizations rather than individuals directly, even though its scholarship program supports eligible refugees through educational institutions and training settings. The recipient roster in the latest year includes multiple colleges and universities, suggesting recurring use of higher-education partners within a structured scholarship model.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$0
Total Assets
$304K
Total Revenue
$426K
Total Expenses
$222K
Geographic Reach
National6 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in PA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Journalism Refugees Education Fund?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime