Environmental Justice Reporting Grant

Environmental Justice Reporting Grant is sponsored by Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources (IJNR). This grant supports reporting projects in North America that aim to illuminate the environmental realities impacting marginalized people and underserved communities.

Reporting Grant Guidelines — Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources Out There: Updates + Opportunities Reporting Grant Guidelines & Rules: IJNR accepts proposals for grants to help defray the costs of reporting projects that focus on natural resources, the environment, energy, development, climate change, agriculture, environmental justice, and public health.

If you are unsure whether your project meets these qualifications, please contact us prior to applying (contact@ijnr. org). The purpose of these grants is to provide financial support for qualified, professional journalists, in order to allow them to report on important topics that they may not otherwise be able to cover.

Please see individual category listings for allowable grant amounts. PLEASE do not submit requests for more funding than the grant limit. We understand that your total project budget may be higher, which is fine - just show in your proposal how an IJNR grant would cover a portion of it.

Applicants may submit one grant proposal per grant cycle; the same proposal may be submitted in multiple categories, but applicants are only eligible to receive ONE grant per grant cycle . Grant money may be spent on any costs incurred for normal reporting activities: travel, lodging, research, etc. Up to 20% of the full amount of the grant may be used for compensation.

Grants may not be used for general equipment purchase unless by prior IJNR approval. If you have questions, please feel free to be in touch. Reporting projects must be based in or otherwise directly related to North America.

Journalists of color, and journalists from other underrepresented or marginalized communities, are very strongly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to journalists who have not received a reporting grant from IJNR in the past three years. Grants may be given for the full amount requested, or may be given for a percentage of the full amount.

IJNR reserves the right not to issue any grants in a given year, based on the caliber of proposals. Applicants must be working journalists, including freelancers, who have demonstrated a continued commitment to the tenets of fairness, accuracy and journalistic integrity. Applicants may not be lobbyists, public relations personnel, or communications employees writing solely on behalf of an organization, corporation, or government entity.

Grants will not be given directly to journalism nonprofits or reporting organizations; journalists working or freelancing for these types of outfits are welcome to apply as individuals. IJNR pledges to keep confidential all of the applicants’ proposed story-project topics and specific story ideas until the time of publication. IJNR pledges to give grant winners complete control over their work with no editorial interference.

Grant recipients will agree in writing to provide IJNR with a brief progress report at a mutually specified time during the reporting process and to notify IJNR upon publication. Wherever permitted by editor’s approval, or where the grantee has editorial control (personal website, etc.), IJNR asks that grant recipients include acknowledgement of IJNR’s support in or appended to stories resulting from the grant.

Grants must be used within one year of receipt. If reporting schedules change, please contact us regarding further plans. If you do not have a publication commitment from an editor/outlet within one year of receiving the grant, you will be required to return the funds.

Please reach out to us in advance of the one-year mark if you are having trouble placing your story, and we will do what we can to assist. The obligations of the grant are not considered complete until the story has been published. Grant checks must be deposited or cashed within 90 days of receipt; failure to do so will be considered forfeiture of the grant.

If you would prefer to receive your grant as a reimbursement after your reporting is complete, please let us know. Award recipients will agree to provide IJNR with brief progress updates at four, eight and 12 months from receipt of the grant. We will send reminders for each required update.

Grantees can expect to receive a 1099 form for the grant money received. IJNR funding may not be used as reimbursement for reporting that has already occurred. Liability disclaimer: IJNR’s role is solely to provide grants for reporting purposes.

IJNR assumes no liability for the legal or safety risks undertaken during the course of reporting.