Best Grants for Journalism in Missouri

Washington County Community Foundation

The Washington County Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in Washington County by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. We accomplish this by assuming four philanthropic roles of Grantmaker, Donor Service Organization, Fundraiser, and Community Leader. Fostering philanthropy by offering charitable gifting opportunities to donors on an individualized basis and at reasonable fees, we make charitable giving easier, more satisfying, and more effective. 

The Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania, which is registered with the Pennsylvania Charities Bureau and annually files the Federal Form 990.

Scholarships for Post-Secondary (Undergraduate) School

The Foundation provides both need-based and merit-based scholarships to students in Washington County, with a few scholarships also available to students in Greene County. All scholarships are made payable to the educational institution the student is attending. 

Curtis Wachter Scholarship Fund

For a current year graduating senior who resides within the boundaries of any Washington County or Greene County school district, who intends to study photography, photojournalism, or a related discipline.

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.

Journalism and communications students needing tuition and fee support in Missouri and beyond can receive scholarships for full-time bachelor’s study through the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists Scholarship Fund. San Antonio Area Foundation supports aspiring communicators meeting specific residency or school-location criteria, financial-need requirements, and a clear intent to pursue communications-related careers.

The Liz Colantuono & Mark Sanz Endowment Scholarship, offered by the United Negro College Fund, provides need-based financial support to Native American students and adult refugees enrolled or accepted at accredited U.S. four-year institutions. With a focus on those facing financial challenges, this scholarship aims to empower students who demonstrate a commitment to education in STEM, education, accounting, or journalism, thereby fostering future leaders in these fields.

The Rhoden Fellowship, supported by ESPN and administered by the United Negro College Fund, is a year-long program designed to empower students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Participants will serve as correspondents, creating multimedia content for Andscape, covering major sports events, and producing a bi-weekly podcast. This opportunity not only fosters journalistic skills but also promotes engagement with the HBCU community, paving the way for future leaders in journalism.

Journalism and communication students pursuing full-time higher education, including those in Missouri, can access scholarship support through the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. Grants from Marshfield Area Community Foundation help students entering junior or senior undergraduate years or graduate programs, with a renewable award available to one recipient per year for up to four years.

About Us

Making a Difference, Together

The Community Foundation of Monroe County (CFMC) builds a thriving, inclusive community through the power of philanthropy. By connecting generous donors with local causes, we help ensure Monroe County remains a place where everyone can thrive. Since our founding, we’ve been a trusted steward of community resources, fostering impactful collaborations and sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, poverty, and community development.

Scholarship Opportunities

Whether you’re heading to college, pursuing a technical career, or furthering your education as an adult, there’s a scholarship for you.

Grattan and Stephen T. Gray Scholarship

Awarded to Monroe County high school graduates entering the field of journalism.

The Scripps Howard Fund, a public charity established by The E.W. Scripps Company is dedicated to creating informed and engaged communities through journalism education, childhood literacy and local causes. At the crossroads of the classroom and the newsroom, the Fund is a leader in supporting journalism through scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards stand as one of the industry’s top honors for outstanding journalism.

Students with internship experiences are more likely to find employment upon graduation than those without, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. During the past decade, more than 500 students have honed their skills in newsrooms across the country, thanks to Scripps Howard internships. The Scripps Howard Fund created the internship program in 2023, in partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), aimed at giving students an equal opportunity for high-quality, hands-on experience. INN leads a network of more than 500 independent newsrooms across North America. 

U.S. Civil Society Microgrants

We seek to support projects that engage Pulitzer Center journalism to amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement with our focus areas.

Audience engagement has been at the core of the Pulitzer Center’s work since its founding in 2006. In addition to grants and fellowships that facilitate breakthrough journalism, we support initiatives that connect the reporting to the audiences that need it the most. Our goal is pursuing real-world impact: engaging and mobilizing communities, increasing understanding and connection, and influencing decisions locally and globally. 

This microgrant aims to support civil society organizations and groups in the United States to utilize Pulitzer Center-supported reporting as part of projects that contribute to a more informed and empowered community.

 For this grant cycle, we are seeking grant proposals for civic engagement projects to be completed by early December 2026 that focus on one of the following issues:

• Climate and the environment, with a focus on U.S fisheries and fishing communities or climate and labor
• Information and Artificial Intelligence
• Global health, with specific focus on mental well-being or connections to the Global South

The objective is to use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism as the inspiration for the projects supported by this civil society microgrant. By leveraging this reporting, we expect to build projects that amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement that will lead to impactful conversations in communities in the U.S. and beyond.

Grants range from US$2,000 to US$4,000. Project proposals can support existing activities or support the launch of new activities.