First Look Institute supports fearless investigative journalism, innovative and cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, and press freedom initiatives to protect the right to a free and open society and press.
First Look Institute Inc’s recent giving is defined by very large, unrestricted operating support for journalism and nonfiction film. In 2024, the foundation gave $14,770,250 to NewCoNews Inc in New York for general support of the grantee’s operations, and $9,372,941 to Field of Vision Inc in New York for the same purpose. Those awards show a funding style built around sustaining organizations rather than underwriting one-off projects. The foundation’s public profile centers on investigative journalism, cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, press freedom, and legal support for journalists. Its active programs include Journalism & Nonfiction Filmmaking Support, Support for The Intercept, Field of Vision, and the Press Freedom Defense Fund. That mix points to a funder working across reporting, film, and media-defense infrastructure. Recent grants also extend into legal and academic support connected to journalism. The University of Maryland College Park Foundation received $997,000 for general support of the grantee’s operations, and The Association of the Bar of the City Of NY Fund (dba The Vance Center) received $957,000 for general support of its operations. Across those grants, the common thread is institutional support for entities that help protect and produce public-interest information.
Investigative journalism is one of the clearest themes in the grant record. The foundation’s active programs include Support for The Intercept, which is described as institutional support for investigative journalism and related nonprofit news operations. Nonfiction filmmaking is another core area. Field of Vision, an active program focused on innovative and cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, aligns with the large operational grant to Field of Vision Inc in New York for general support of the grantee’s operations. The grant list also shows support for press freedom-related legal work. The Association of the Bar of the City Of NY Fund (dba The Vance Center) received $957,000 for general support of its operations, fitting the foundation’s Press Freedom Defense Fund and its focus on protecting the right to a free and open society and press. The University of Maryland College Park Foundation received $997,000 for general support of the grantee’s operations, adding an academic support dimension to the foundation’s journalism-related giving.
$26.1M
$9.8M
$8.9M
$27M
Most grants fall between $987K and $10.7M, with a median of $5.2M.
25th Percentile
$987K
Median
$5.2M
75th Percentile
$10.7M
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MD.
Michael Bloom
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The typical grant size is substantial: p25 is $987,000, the median is $5,184,970, and p75 is $10,722,268. The 2024 grants shown are all operating-support awards, and the recent record points to large institutional grants rather than small project checks. The largest listed grant is more than 14 million dollars, while the smaller awards in the sample are still near or above one million dollars. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its active programs indicate an established structure around journalism, nonfiction filmmaking, and press freedom, with no sign of unsolicited application channels in the data provided.
The recipient map is concentrated in the United States, and all of the listed recent grants go to U.S. organizations. New York, NY appears twice among the top grants, while College Park, MD and a New York legal fund also appear in the recent list. Maryland is the top state by grant count, even though the headquarters is in California. The recipient country distribution shows 4 grants, or 100%, in the U.S., underscoring a regional giving footprint rather than a global one.
It supports investigative journalism, innovative and cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, press freedom initiatives, and legal support for journalists. The active programs include Journalism & Nonfiction Filmmaking Support, Support for The Intercept, Field of Vision, and the Press Freedom Defense Fund.
The grant-size distribution is very large: the 25th percentile is $987,000, the median is $5,184,970, and the 75th percentile is $10,722,268. The recent grants shown are all operating-support awards.
The active program entries shown do not list unsolicited access, and the grant record centers on institutional support for named organizations and programs. The data provided does not show an open application process.
Maryland is the top state by grant count. The recent grant list includes College Park, MD, while the other listed recipients are in New York, NY.
The data points to recurring institutional support. The foundation gives through ongoing programs such as Support for The Intercept, Field of Vision, and the Press Freedom Defense Fund, and the recent grants are framed as general support for operations.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NewCoNews Inc | New York, NY | $14,770,250 | 2024 | General support for the Grantee's Operations. |
| Field of Vision Inc | New York, NY | $9,372,941 | 2024 | General support for the Grantee's Operations. |
| University of Maryland College Park Foundation | College Park, MD | $997,000 | 2024 | General support for the Grantee's Operations. |
| The Association of the Bar of the City Of NY Fund (dba The Vance Center) | New York, NY | $957,000 | 2024 | General support for the Grantee's Operations. |
NewCoNews Inc
$14,770,250General support for the Grantee's Operations.
Field of Vision Inc
$9,372,941General support for the Grantee's Operations.
University of Maryland College Park Foundation
$997,000General support for the Grantee's Operations.
The Association of the Bar of the City Of NY Fund (dba The Vance Center)
$957,000General support for the Grantee's Operations.