Rolling deadlineIn-kind support

Reporters Shield (membership / mutual defense fund)

A resource program from Institute for Nonprofit News

This is not a grant

Institute for Nonprofit News provides donated goods or services here, not funding. Nonprofits receive items or support directly rather than money, so there is no award to spend. If you're looking for cash funding, this program won't provide it.

Application deadline

Rolling — no fixed deadline

Estimated value

Membership-based access to pooled legal defense funds; specific coverage amounts depend on membership and nominated cases.

Value of goods or services, not a cash award.

Geographic focus

Global network (mentions US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK for pre-publication assessments)

About this program

A membership program (Reporters Shield, a 501(c)(3)) that provides a three-pronged legal strategy for newsrooms: pre-publication risk assessments, responses to legal threats, and robust legal defense by specialist media lawyers drawn from a global network. Members contribute to a mutual defense fund (text notes a $15 million mutual defense fund already raised).

Legal defense for journalismPre-publication legal reviewLegal threat response

Who can apply

Newsrooms (eligibility and annual fee based on outlet size, lawsuit history, and number of stories published).

How to request support

Request support on the funder's site

We last checked this link on April 28, 2026.

About the organization

Institute for Nonprofit News · BEVERLY HILLS, CA

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