About First Look Institute
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.
Focus Areas
Investigative journalismDocumentary/nonfiction filmmakingPress freedomLegal support for journalists
Funding Style
general operating supportunrestricted supportorganizational capacity / core operations
About First Look Institute
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.
What First Look Institute Funds
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.
How First Look Institute Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$26.2M
Total Assets
$1.8M
Total Revenue
$1.5M
Total Expenses
$721K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $987K and $10.7M, with a median of $5.2M.
25th Percentile
$987K
Median
$5.2M
75th Percentile
$10.7M
Geographic Reach
Regional2 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Michael Bloom
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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