Best Grants for Journalism in Illinois

Illinois journalism organizations, especially nonprofits, can access funding through the Joyce Foundation to support independent, nonpartisan investigative reporting and related projects. Eligible efforts focus on issues affecting the Great Lakes region, strengthen local and community news, build the nonprofit journalism network, or support early-career journalists, particularly journalists of color.

Illinois journalism and voting-rights organizations can access funding through the Joyce Foundation to support research, policy development, litigation, and public engagement on democracy issues. Grants of US $25,000 - US $125,000 back work on voting rights and elections, census data accuracy, and fair representation, with an emphasis on Great Lakes states and communities of color and young voters.

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.

RFP: Press Forward Chicago – Education Journalism 2026

Chicago needs more education-focused reporters. With school board elections in November 2026, and recent drastic changes to education funding, the timing is critical to increase education reporting, and to amplify that work to those who need it. Press Forward Chicago is seeking to create a playbook around coverage areas that have seen a steep decline in reporters in recent years. These include education, immigration, healthcare, housing, the criminal legal system, and the environment.

In 2025, Press Forward Chicago and a group of funders came together to create a funding pool specifically for increased education coverage. This coalition of funders includes Press Forward Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust, Crown Family Philanthropies, IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation and the Leading from the Front fund.

Together, we have raised funds to launch a three-year education journalism plan that will start in 2026 with an editorial collaboration led by Chalkbeat Chicago.

Need/Opportunity Statement 

This first phase of the collaboration will focus on the Chicago Board of Education election in November 2026, which will, for the first time, elect civilians in all 21 districts across the city.

This project will take place from June to November 2026. Chalkbeat Chicago will lead collaborative efforts to cover the election across media outlets, including amplification of the work across marketing platforms, partnering with existing education reporters, supporting freelance and staff reporters who are new to education reporting, and laying the foundation for expanded collaboration in future years.

Media organizations are invited to apply for $10,000 to $40,000 in grants for education journalism coverage in 2026.

Goals & Outcomes 

Press Forward Chicago is based at The Chicago Community Trust and is part of a network of more than forty Press Forward chapters across the U.S. focused on supporting sustainable local news and information models. 

While a lot of emphasis for Press Forward Chicago is on shared services, new revenue and audience growth models, we are also leaning heavily into topic-based funding of media organizations. We believe that through the lens of specific subject matter, we can engage new funders and strengthen coverage areas that are critical to civic life and democracy. At the same time, we will create a healthier media network. 

The goal of this particular collaboration/grant program is to inform Chicagoans about the upcoming Chicago Board of Education election in November 2026. The main outcomes of this project will be a voter guide, distributed digitally and in print, and profiles of all candidates across 21 districts, in addition to ongoing coverage about the races.

In the application, we ask that you report back on outcomes using Measures of Progress. Please limit the total number of Measures of Progress and indicators to five maximum to minimize the reporting burden. 

These are the types of grants available for this opportunity:

• Tier 1: There will be up to six grants of $40,000 to Chicago-based independent media organizations with a proven record of covering education, school board races, or similar policy issues in Chicago.
• Tier 2: There will be up to two grants of $15,000 each to media organization(s) with a proven record of training youth in media, to involve youth in covering the school board elections.
• Tier 3: There will be up to eight grants of $10,000-$15,000 for media organizations with limited education coverage experience but a willingness to attend trainings and cover these issues and the elections.

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.

Illinois students pursuing journalism or related writing, media, history, music, or graphic arts degrees may be eligible if they are graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools and demonstrate financial need. Stark Community Foundation’s Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund offers renewable awards of more than US $500 for accredited college or university study.

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 through the Katrin Lamon Fellowship. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help Illinois and other U.S. students with tuition and academic expenses when they demonstrate Tribal affiliation via a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Journalism-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Illinois and across North America can receive US $5,000 - US $15,000 to support Adventist-related reporting and media projects. Versacare provides funding for investigative stories, innovative communication, training, technology, travel, and recognition programs that strengthen ethical Adventist journalism and storytelling; grants are awarded annually in March and September.

Journalism organizations and freelance reporters producing U.S. health care television, audio, or streaming stories may be eligible for this NIHCM Foundation award, including those based in Illinois. With a mission to recognize impactful reporting, the National Institute for Health Care Management provides a US $20,000 prize for work on health care affordability, access, and quality.

Journalism organizations producing local reporting on U.S. health care affordability in Illinois can compete for a US $15,000 Local Media Award, recognizing excellence in coverage that informs health plans, policymakers, and consumers. The National Institute for Health Care Management honors newspaper, magazine, and nonprofit news outlets whose 2025 work offers impactful insights on costs, access, and quality.

Journalism outlets and nonprofit news organizations in Illinois and nationwide producing investigative or general reporting on U.S. health care affordability can apply for this award, which offers a US $20,000 prize. Grants from the National Institute for Health Care Management help support high-quality reporting that informs health plans, policymakers, providers, and health care consumers.

Journalists and specialty publications in Illinois covering U.S. health care affordability and access can apply for the National Institute for Health Care Management’s Trade Journalism Award; awards US $15,000 for outstanding reporting. Eligible entries are 2025 stories or series for specialty audiences that inform health plans, policymakers, and related stakeholders.

Journalists and media outlets in Illinois covering forestry and natural resources can receive recognition and support through the Outstanding Forestry Journalism Award, which includes more than US $500 plus convention and travel benefits. Society of American Foresters honors impactful print, television, or radio work that strengthens public understanding of forestry issues.

Students in Illinois with a demonstrated interest in journalism can receive support for higher education through the Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship, which funds academic study in journalism. The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region uses a universal application so applicants can be considered for this and other journalism-related scholarship opportunities.

High school seniors with financial need and a demonstrated interest in journalism can receive scholarship support through the Michael Hurewitz Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. With a mission to empower meaningful giving, the foundation helps students pursue higher education in journalism and related fields, which may benefit future Illinois-focused reporting careers.

Journalists producing investigative or commentary work that advances social justice can receive monthly recognition and US $1,000 awards from the Sidney Hillman Foundation. Focused on journalism, the foundation invites Illinois reporters and media outlets to submit outstanding pieces from any medium that appeared in the prior month for Sidney Award consideration.

Illinois journalists and newsroom teams covering technology’s impact on society can access funding through Omidyar Network Fund for intensive reporting projects. U.S.-based freelancers, staff reporters, editors, and teams may receive US $5,000 - US $25,000 for travel, research, data access, multimedia, fact-checking, and reporting time on AI, tech policy, industry investigations, or workplace and family impacts.

Illinois K-12 institutions and organizations serving at least 500 students and/or educators can apply for Pulitzer Center’s K-12 Education Grant Program on Global Health, offering up to US $1,500 for journalism-based projects. Schools, libraries, museums, community centers, bookstores, and afterschool organizations using Pulitzer-supported reporting on global health may be eligible.

Illinois journalism students can access funding through Maine Community Foundation’s Guy P. Gannett Journalism Scholarship, which supports graduates of Maine high schools or Maine home-schoolers studying journalism or related media fields. Awards range from US $1,000 - US $60,000 and are renewable through post-secondary and graduate education for students committed to journalism careers.

High school and postsecondary students interested in creative writing from Chelan or Douglas County can receive scholarship support to pursue studies in areas like novels, poetry, or journalism. Grants from Community Foundation of North Central Washington help aspiring writers with at least a 3.0 GPA who submit a brief original writing sample; Illinois journalism students may find similar opportunities elsewhere.

Students pursuing full-time journalism or communications degrees can receive scholarship support for tuition and educational expenses through the Express-News Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund. With a mission to build community, San Antonio Area Foundation provides U.S. higher-education funding for South Texas residents; Illinois journalism students may not be eligible unless they meet this residency requirement.

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

Journalism students pursuing junior, senior, graduate, or PhD studies who need financial aid can receive scholarship support for higher education, including students from Illinois. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Robert Sr. and Mary Churchwell Scholarship Fund backs those committed to journalism careers, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA, an essay, work samples, and service activities.