Best Grants for Journalism in Missouri

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.

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.

Missouri journalism and media arts students can access funding for college studies through the Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by Stark Community Foundation. Graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools pursuing journalism, writing, history, music, graphic or media arts at accredited colleges may be eligible; awards start at more than US $500 and are renewable.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in journalism, literature, communication, or related fields studying full-time in the U.S. can receive need-based support for tuition and educational costs. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help Missouri and other U.S. students who can document Tribal affiliation or qualifying descent pursue advanced degrees in these disciplines.

Qualified 501(c)(3) Adventist publications, universities, academies, and independent media organizations in North America can receive US $5,000 - US $15,000 for journalism projects and related activities. Versacare provides Missouri journalism organizations within these categories with funding for investigative reporting, ethical storytelling, training, technology, travel, and recognition programs focused on Adventist issues.

Journalism organizations and freelance reporters producing television, radio, streaming, or podcast stories on U.S. health care affordability can apply for this US $20,000 prize, including those based in Missouri. With a mission to improve health care, the National Institute for Health Care Management honors impactful reporting that offers new insights for health plans, policymakers, and related stakeholders.

Journalism outlets and nonprofit news organizations covering local health care affordability and access in Missouri can compete for a US $15,000 Local Media Award. The National Institute for Health Care Management honors original local reporting from newspapers, magazines, and their websites that informs health plans, policymakers, and consumers about improving U.S. health care.

Journalists and news organizations producing investigative or general reporting on U.S. health care affordability can apply for this national award, which offers a US $20,000 prize. Grants from the National Institute for Health Care Management help Missouri and other U.S. journalism outlets recognize high-impact work that informs health plans, policymakers, and health care stakeholders.

Journalists and specialty publications in Missouri covering U.S. health care affordability and access can apply for the National Institute for Health Care Management’s Trade Journalism Award, which offers US $15,000 for outstanding reporting. Eligible entries are 2025 articles or series written for specialty audiences, producing new insights for health plans, policymakers, and related stakeholders.

Society of American Foresters provides Missouri journalism professionals with recognition and financial support for outstanding coverage of forestry and natural resources topics. This national award honors impactful print, television, or radio work and includes more than US $500, convention registration, and travel assistance; nominees are submitted by SAF state, multistate, or intrastate societies.

Students interested in journalism in Missouri and beyond can receive scholarship support for higher education and journalism studies, including recognition of journalistic work. The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region offers the Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship through its universal application, supporting those with a clearly demonstrated interest in journalism and samples of their work.

High school seniors interested in journalism and needing financial assistance can receive scholarship support through the Michael Hurewitz Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. With a mission to empower generous people with meaningful giving opportunities, the Community Foundation provides academic scholarship funding that may benefit aspiring journalism students, including those from Missouri pursuing higher education.

Journalists producing investigative or commentary work that fosters social justice can apply for the Sidney Awards, which provide US $1,000 honoraria for outstanding pieces. Focused on journalism, the Sidney Hillman Foundation invites Missouri reporters and media outlets to submit monthly nominations across all mediums for work serving the common good.

Missouri journalists working on in-depth reporting about technology’s impact on society can access funding through Omidyar Network Fund for singular, time- and resource-intensive 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 stipends.

Missouri K-12 institutions and organizations serving at least 500 students and/or educators can access funding through the Pulitzer Center’s K-12 Education Grant Program on Global Health; awards up to US $1,500 support projects using Pulitzer-backed journalism. Eligible hosts include schools, libraries, museums, community centers, bookstores, and afterschool organizations engaging learners with global health reporting.

Missouri journalism students can access funding through Maine Community Foundation’s Guy P. Gannett Journalism Scholarship to pursue post-secondary or graduate studies in journalism or related media fields. Applicants must be graduates of Maine high schools or home-schooled in a Maine community, with awards ranging from US $1,000 - US $60,000 based on need and achievement.

High school and postsecondary students from Chelan or Douglas County pursuing journalism or other writing fields can receive scholarship support for their education; awards come from the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. Grants from Community Foundation of North Central Washington help Missouri journalism organizations spot student-focused opportunities that may inspire similar support models.

Students pursuing journalism or communications degrees can receive funding for tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses through the Express-News Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund, available at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. With a mission to build community, San Antonio Area Foundation supports aspiring journalists, including those from Missouri who meet the South Texas residency and high school graduation requirements.

Muslim undergraduate and graduate students in journalism, media studies, or related writing fields in the U.S., including Missouri, can receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 for their studies through the ISF Media Scholarship Program. Islamic Scholarship Fund provides funding, mentorship, and career support to increase American Muslim representation in media and journalism.

Journalism students can receive scholarship support for higher education, including juniors, seniors, graduate, and PhD candidates committed to careers in the field. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee supports journalism education by funding students who meet GPA and financial-need criteria, submit an essay on journalism’s role today, and provide samples of their work; recipients may reapply once.

The U.S. Hillman Prize for Newspaper Journalism, awarded by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, recognizes outstanding journalism that serves the common good. Open to global journalists, entries must be published in English and accessible to U.S. audiences within the last year. Winners receive a $5,000 honorarium and a certificate at a New York City ceremony. The foundation also honors work related to racial and economic justice through additional awards. Entries should focus on impactful stories.

About

Building a community of journalists committed to better health care reporting.

We believe accurate, contextual and balanced health care reporting is more important than ever.

People depend on health care stories to make life-altering decisions every day.

Awards, Grants, & Fellowships

Ambitious freelancers who want to tackle an in-depth reporting project often find that the fee from a potential publisher doesn’t come close to covering their costs and time. Grants and fellowships can fill that gap, but freelancers have to know about them in order to apply. In this section, the Freelance Center is compiling a list of non-AHCJ grants, fellowships and awards (for when the hard work is done).

Sunshine Award

Presented by AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee

AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee established the Sunshine Award at Health Journalism 2026 as a way to elevate the work of journalists like STAT’s Bob Herman who fight for government transparency. We plan to continue this tradition annually from now on. Award winners receive free registration and a one-night hotel stay for our annual conference, a free year of AHCJ membership, a trophy and a certificate.

About

Building a community of journalists committed to better health care reporting.

We believe accurate, contextual and balanced health care reporting is more important than ever.

People depend on health care stories to make life-altering decisions every day.

AHCJ U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship

This opportunity is for U.S.-based journalists.

Issues with the U.S. health care system are often obvious — from large swaths of uninsured residents and junk insurance plans, to high maternal mortality rates and preventable medical errors. But what is at the root of issues like these? What could an equitable health care system look like? 

Through the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a significant reporting project related to the U.S. health care system at the local, regional and/or national level.

This fellowship allows mid-career journalists to maintain their regular employment while working on a major project over a 12-month calendar year. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work.

We believe that issues of health equity impact every facet of the health care system, which is why we’re specifically interested in projects focused on health equity. This might include racial disparities within a community, gaps in public health inclusion, unstable housing, insurance access, food insecurity, violence as a health issue, how health care institutions or systems are applying a racial equity lens to their policies and practices or otherwise addressing inequities or disparities, or other examinations of systemic problems that have become so apparent over the last few years.

Guidance is provided by AHCJ mentors through customized seminars on health care systems, conference calls and email consultations. The fellowship covers the cost of attending the seminars and the annual AHCJ conference, as well as a $2,500 project allowance to defray the cost of field reporting, health data analysis and other project-related research. In addition, you will receive a $5,000 fellowship award upon the successful completion of the project.

About

Building a community of journalists committed to better health care reporting.

We believe accurate, contextual and balanced health care reporting is more important than ever.

People depend on health care stories to make life-altering decisions every day.

AHCJ International Health Study Fellowships

A fellowship for experienced journalists with a focus on international health.

In comparing the U.S. health care system to its global counterparts, journalists traveling to different countries as part of the AHCJ International Fellowship program can produce projects that provide valuable insights that can help inform policy decisions, improve health care outcomes and contribute to the ongoing evolution of health care systems worldwide.

Through the AHCJ International Health Study Fellowships, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a story or project comparing a facet of the U.S. health care system to that of another country. 

For 2027, the focus will be on the U.K. and France in comparison with the U.S. health care system. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work.

This fellowship allows highly experienced journalists to maintain their regular employment while working to evaluate a key component of the health care system, a health outcome, access, performance, providers, efficiency or other focal point over a six-month period.

That period allows for preparatory time, a site visit to the chosen European country, interviews and information gathering, as well as follow-up and writing time. Guidance is provided through seminars, conference calls and consultations with AHCJ fellowship leaders, a mentor and exposure to various topic experts.