Best Grants for Journalism in Kentucky

About Us

The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU

We want to educate those who agree. Opportunities abound in the media world, but at NYU Journalism, the opportunity to do compelling work that informs, engages, and matters to the societies in which we live drives our faculty, motivates our students, and shapes our approach.

Those who find this their calling will discover encouragement, support, and an endless amount to learn at NYU. Our graduates are able to work anywhere their talents take them, and they do. Students come here not only to gain competence in the journalist’s craft but also the tools to make it better than it is. And those two things are the essence of what we teach.

Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award

Matthew Power was an award-winning journalist who reported empathetically on the human condition. He died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

About the Award

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award is a grant of $15,000 to support the work of a promising early-career nonfiction journalist on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition.

Offered for the first time in 2015, the Award has been endowed by individuals and organizations touched by the life and work of Matthew Power, a wide-roving and award-winning journalist who sought to live and share the experience of the individuals and places on which he was reporting. Power, a longtime friend of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

The award proceeds from the recognition that many important stories need to be reported from afar, and that publications do not always have the resources to send a journalist where the story is. The money need not be used exclusively for travel, but we expect that most successful applications will include such expenses. A panel of NYU journalism professors, outside writers, and editors will review the proposals. Finalists will be asked to take part in an interview online.

The judges will be interested in perpetuating Power’s legacy, as his former editor Roger Hodge put it, of “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scenes and lyrical description.” Power was always open to the absurdity that often attends politics and international affairs; he was always searching, as he put it, for “the human truth beneath the sorry facts.” Power’s ultimate ambition, he added, was literary beauty.

That said, judges will be looking for a journalist as singular in his or her own approach as Power was in his. In addition to longform print projects, we will consider audio projects involving substantial reporting and running over 20 minutes in length. The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. The winner will normally receive visiting scholar privileges at NYU, including library access.

About Us

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Our Promise

To help you help others through the most effective philanthropy possible.

Mary M. Yost Journalism Scholarship

As a journalist, Mary M. Yost proudly served her hometown community for more than 25 years with her thoughtful, balanced and thorough reporting and writing. She was the epitome of a talented journalist, with a keen interest in the community she covered. Her sense of fairness and her compassion and caring for others and for the issues she covered came through clearly in her interactions with the public and in her reporting and writing. As one of few women in the newsroom when she started out, she was a pioneer who gladly offered advice and mentorship to those who followed. She served the community as a long-time journalist and editor on The Columbus Dispatch and as a senior member of the Ohio Hospital Association and on a variety of community boards and commissions.

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.

Kentucky students pursuing journalism or related writing and media studies can access scholarship funding through the Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by Stark Community Foundation. Awards of more than US $500, renewable, support graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools with financial need attending accredited colleges or universities.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in journalism, communication, literature, or related fields in Kentucky and nationwide can receive need-based tuition support through the Katrin Lamon Fellowship. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help full-time students at accredited U.S. institutions who can document Tribal affiliation or eligible descent pursue advanced journalism and communications studies.

Journalism-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Kentucky and across North America can receive US $5,000 - US $15,000 to advance Adventist-related reporting and storytelling projects. Versacare supports Seventh-day Adventist publications, universities, academies, and independent media exploring systemic issues, major stories, training, and ethical communication within Adventism.

Journalism organizations and freelance reporters producing U.S. health care affordability stories can receive US $20,000 for outstanding television or audio work, including streaming and podcasts. With a mission to highlight impactful health reporting, the National Institute for Health Care Management honors high-quality, original journalism that informs health plans, policymakers, and consumers; Kentucky-based outlets may be eligible.

Journalism outlets in Kentucky covering local U.S. health care affordability, access, and quality can compete for the National Institute for Health Care Management’s Local Media Award, which offers a US $15,000 prize. Eligible entries are locally focused stories or series from newspapers, magazines, their websites, or nonprofit news organizations 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 those serving Kentucky audiences. Grants from the NIHCM Foundation help journalism outlets publish original work that informs health plans, policymakers, health care delivery, and consumers about costs, access, and quality.

Journalists and specialty publications in Kentucky 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 work. Eligible entries are 2025 articles or series for specialty audiences that inform health plans, policymakers, and related stakeholders.

Journalists and media outlets in Kentucky covering forestry and natural resources can receive more than US $500 through the Outstanding Forestry Journalism Award for impactful reporting. Society of American Foresters offers a $500 honorarium, convention registration, and travel support for print, television, or radio work that advances public understanding of forestry issues.

Students interested in journalism in Kentucky and beyond can receive support for higher education costs through the Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship, which funds those with a demonstrated commitment to journalism and samples of journalistic work. The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region uses a universal application for this and other academic scholarship programs.

High school seniors interested in journalism and needing financial assistance can use this scholarship to pursue higher education, though it is limited to the Greater Capital Region rather than Kentucky. With a mission to empower generous people, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region provides this academic scholarship opportunity for aspiring journalists.

Journalists and media outlets producing investigative or social-justice reporting in Kentucky and across the U.S. can apply for monthly Sidney Awards, which provide US $1,000 honoraria. Focused on journalism in service of the common good, the Sidney Hillman Foundation recognizes outstanding work in any medium that appeared in the prior month.

Kentucky journalists working on in-depth reporting about technology’s impact on society can access funding through Omidyar Network’s Tech Journalism Fund. U.S.-based freelancers, staff reporters, editors, and teams may apply for US $5,000 - US $25,000 to cover travel, research, fact-checking, data access, multimedia, and reporting time on AI and tech-related projects.

Kentucky K-12 institutions and journalism educators can access funding through Pulitzer Center’s K-12 Education Grant Program on Global Health to run projects using Pulitzer-supported reporting. Eligible libraries, schools, museums, and community organizations in the U.S. must reach at least 500 students and/or educators, deepening understanding of global health and media’s role while inspiring sustained community action. Awards are Up to US $1,500.

Kentucky journalism students can access funding through Maine Community Foundation for undergraduate or graduate studies in journalism or closely related media fields. Awards of US $1,000 - US $60,000 support graduates of Maine high schools or Maine home-schooled students whose coursework and activities show a strong commitment to a journalism career.

Students pursuing creative writing or journalism from Chelan or Douglas County in Washington can apply for the Kathryn Lodge Mhatre Creative Writing Scholarship to support postsecondary education. Grants from Community Foundation of North Central Washington help writers studying areas like novels, poetry, or journalism, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA and a short original writing sample.

Students pursuing journalism or communications who are residents and high school graduates of designated South Texas counties can receive renewable support for tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses at accredited U.S. colleges. With a mission to build community, San Antonio Area Foundation provides scholarships that Kentucky-based programs may reference as a model for journalism-focused student aid.

Muslim undergraduate and graduate students in journalism, media studies, or related writing fields in the U.S., including Kentucky, can receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 for their studies and career development. Islamic Scholarship Fund provides media scholarships that include funding, mentorship, and professional experience to strengthen American Muslim representation in media and journalism.

College juniors, seniors, and graduate or PhD students in journalism seeking scholarship support may be eligible for this fund, which can benefit students from Kentucky and across the U.S. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Robert Sr. and Mary Churchwell Scholarship Fund supports aspiring journalists who demonstrate financial need, strong academics, community service, and a commitment to professional journalism.

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