Best Grants for Journalism in Virginia

Ocean State Media Scholarship

The scholarship offers awards to residents of Ocean State Media’s demographic market area who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of journalism and/or media.

Scholarship Award Details

Established by Rhode Island PBS in 2017, the Ocean State Media Scholarship offers awards to residents of the station’s demographic market area who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of journalism and/or media. Awards of up to $15,000 will be awarded annually and are renewable for an additional three years.

Columbus Matrix Foundation Scholarship

Since the early days of print journalism, The Association for Women in Communications has evolved to become the overarching professional organization to unite communicators across a vast spectrum of disciplines-from print and broadcast journalism, to graphic design, photography, public relations, advertising, marketing, new media, and much more.

Award Amount:

• Up to four scholarships of $10,000 payable over four years at $2,500 per academic year.

Alpha Chapter Controlling Corp. of the Delta Theta Sigma Fraternity Scholarship Fund

The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarship awards to deserving high school students who plan to attend an accredited college or university and undertake studies in marketing, communications, journalism, or advertising.

Award Amount:

• The Gene “Duke” Perry Scholarship - $3,000.00
• The Founders Scholarship - $1,500.00
• The Founders Scholarship - $1,500.00

We are about helping children, right here in Marietta!

Kiwanis Club of Marietta members participate in service projects, hold fundraisers, and change children’s lives in our community. In addition, club members contribute to Kiwanis International initiatives helping clubs around the world assist children with education, basic needs, and medical care.

The Kiwanis Club of Marietta was chartered March 3, 1930 - Marietta, GA.

The Kiwanis Club of Marietta has proudly established and contributed to several scholarship endowments over the years to support deserving college students in our community. These scholarships are made possible through our club's Flag Project, which places over 1,300 American flags in front of homes and businesses five times each year.

Bill “Scoop” Kinney Journalism Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2006 by the Marietta Kiwanis Foundation in honor of Mr. Bill Kinney, the Senior Associate Editor of the Marietta Daily Journal. 

Selection emphasis will be placed on academic performance with priority given to current or former Cobb or Marietta.

Awards

• $2500

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

The Congressman Mark Foley Scholarship for Journalism Education Fund

Must be enrolled in a program with a major in Journalism.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools planning to enroll, or currently enrolled, at an accredited college or university to pursue further education in the following fields: History, Writing (not limited to, English, Journalism, Language Arts, Communications and programs in Mass Media), Graphic Arts, Music (which shall include but not limited to, vocal music, instrumental music, music history, music education, and music performance) and any other program or field of study approved by the Selection Committee. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in journalism, communication, literature, or related fields can receive need-based tuition support for full-time study at accredited U.S. institutions. Focused on higher education, Native Forward Scholars Fund invites eligible students, including descendants with verified Tribal affiliation, from Virginia and nationwide to apply for the Katrin Lamon Fellowship.

Virginia journalism-focused 501(c)(3) organizations connected to the Seventh-day Adventist church can seek funding for investigative reporting, ethical storytelling, and related media projects through Versacare’s Journalism for Adventist Solutions grants. Awards of US $5,000 - US $15,000 support Adventist publications, educational institutions, and independent organizations reporting on issues affecting the Adventist community.

Journalism organizations and freelance reporters producing U.S. health care affordability stories can receive US $20,000 through the National Institute for Health Care Management’s Television and Audio Journalism Award. Grants from The National Institute for Health Care Management help Virginia journalism projects that inform health plans, policymakers, and consumers about health care costs, access, and quality.

Local journalism outlets covering health care affordability and access in the U.S., including those in Virginia, can apply for the National Institute for Health Care Management Local Media Award, which provides a US $15,000 prize. Eligible entries are locally focused newspaper, magazine, or nonprofit news stories or series published in 2025.

Journalists and news organizations producing investigative or general reporting on U.S. health care affordability can compete for a US $20,000 prize, including outlets serving Virginia. The National Institute for Health Care Management honors work from national newspapers, magazines, websites, and nonprofit newsrooms that offers original insights to improve health care access, costs, and quality.

Journalism outlets and writers producing trade reporting on U.S. health care affordability can receive US $15,000 for work originally published in 2025. The National Institute for Health Care Management honors specialty-audience stories or series that offer original insights for health plans, policymakers, and health care stakeholders, so Virginia-based trade journalists may be eligible.

Journalists covering forestry and natural resources in print, television, or radio can receive more than US $500 plus convention support through the Outstanding Forestry Journalism Award, available nationally including Virginia. Society of American Foresters honors impactful storytelling, clear explanation of complex topics, and coverage that advances forestry science, management, and education for the public.

Virginia students with a clear interest in journalism can access funding through the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region’s Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship to support higher education. Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to journalism by submitting samples of their journalistic work, and apply through the foundation’s universal scholarship application system.

High school seniors interested in journalism can apply for the Michael Hurewitz Scholarship, which supports students from the Greater Capital Region with financial need. While based in New York, this Community Foundation opportunity may benefit Virginia students who have ties to that region and plan to pursue journalism-related studies.

Journalism organizations and individual reporters producing investigative or social-justice-focused work can receive US $1,000 monthly awards, including those based in Virginia. Focused on journalism, the Sidney Hillman Foundation invites nominations for outstanding pieces from any medium that appeared in the prior month and serve the common good.

Virginia journalists covering technology and society can access funding through Omidyar Network’s Tech Journalism Fund for intensive, single reporting projects. U.S.-based freelancers, staff reporters, editors, and teams may receive US $5,000 - US $25,000 for travel, research, fact-checking, data access, multimedia, and reporting time, especially on AI, policy, industry, labor, or youth impacts.

Organizations and leaders serving K-12 students and educators in Virginia can receive up to US $1,500 to run global health education projects using journalism as a core resource. The Pulitzer Center supports journalism-focused initiatives that reach at least 500 learners and explore media’s role in global public health across schools and community institutions.

Virginia students pursuing journalism or closely related media fields can receive renewable academic scholarships through the Maine Community Foundation, with awards ranging from US $1,000 - US $60,000. Applicants must be graduates of Maine high schools or home-schooled in a Maine community and demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and strong commitment to journalism.

High school and postsecondary students pursuing creative writing or journalism from Chelan or Douglas County can receive scholarship support for their education. The Community Foundation of North Central Washington supports aspiring writers through the Kathryn Lodge Mhatre Creative Writing Scholarship, which may benefit Virginia journalism students considering national opportunities.

Virginia journalism and communications students can access funding through the Express-News Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund to cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other educational expenses. Administered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, this renewable scholarship supports full-time associate, bachelor’s, or graduate students at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who meet the fund’s South Texas residency and high school graduation requirements.

Muslim undergraduate and graduate students in journalism, media studies, or related writing fields in Virginia can receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 for their studies through the ISF Media Scholarship Program. Islamic Scholarship Fund provides U.S.-based students with tuition support plus mentorship to advance American Muslim representation in media and journalism careers.

Journalism students pursuing junior, senior, graduate, or PhD studies who need scholarship support may be eligible for this award, including those in Virginia. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee honors Robert Sr. and Mary Churchwell by supporting aspiring journalists with strong GPAs, financial need, essays on journalism’s role, and samples of their work.

Students pursuing journalism or communications who meet the residency and school-location requirements can receive tuition and fee support through the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists Scholarship Fund. With a mission to build community, San Antonio Area Foundation provides this scholarship to full-time bachelor’s students, including those whose journalism studies may connect to Virginia-based media or programs.

Grants for Research About Urban Communication Issues

Since our launch in 2005, the Urban Communication Foundation has provided awards and grants to dozens of distinguished scholars, researchers, and journalists to recognize and support provocative work that contributes in significant ways to the discourse around urban communication issues.

While most of our recipients hail from academia and journalism, we also encourage submissions from other practitioners whose work will lend new insights into the discipline, raise broader awareness of related socio-political, economic, and cultural concerns, or influence public policy.

Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication has partnered with the Urban Communication Foundation to create the Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies. The purpose of this annual grant is to stimulate research that explains, enlightens, inspires, and improves the practice and study of journalism and communication in order to advance our understanding of journalism in urban environments.

The Baugh Foundation supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ by providing assistance to those in need, enriching the lives of children and youth, keeping faith communities informed and engaged, and guarding the wall of separation between church and state.We welcome applications from progressive, faith-based organizations. At this time, the vast majority of our funding goes to progressive Baptist organizations or initiatives, and organizations that work to guard the separation of church and state. We believe that a free church in a free state is dependent upon a functioning democracy.Funding Priorities: 

• Social justice and advocacy
• Progressive faith-based journalism
• Meeting basic human needs
• Progressive faith-based post-secondary education
• Inclusivity initiatives
• Arts and enrichment

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

Prize Summary

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established by the AACR in 2015 to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research.

Funded by a major bequest to the AACR from cancer research pioneer Dr. June L. Biedler, a scientist, mentor, and former member of the AACR Board of Directors, this prize showcases outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognizes individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy.

The prize provides an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 and a commemorative award.

Categories

Each submission may be considered for only one category, as selected by the candidate on the application form.

Applicants may submit in any of the following categories:

Prize Acceptance

Awardees will be able to accept the prize during the AACR Annual Meeting 2027 in Orlando, April 2-7, 2027.