Grants available for fact-checking programs [Worldwide]

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the nonprofit Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalistic excellence, announced a partnership with Google and YouTube on November 29, 2022 to support fact-checking initiatives worldwide and reduce the harm of misinformation.

The Global Fact Check Fund will award grants in an open competition for one or a series of programs to support third-party organizations in strengthening the capabilities of fact-checking organizations across the world. The Fund will be administered by the IFCN with the guidance of a Global Fact Check Fund Steering Committee. 

Applications are open from April 14 to May 15, 2023 for grants from the Fund’s first phase, called BUILD. On this page, you can find an overview of the Fund’s grant phases, criteria for the BUILD grant, and a link to apply.

The Fund will support Verified Signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles fact-checking organizations, as well as proposed partner organizations, over a three-year period. As of April 2023, there were 154 IFCN Verified Signatories from more than 60 countries. Through multiple grant opportunities, this new initiative will offer up to $12 million USD in funding to recipients, in three tiers: up to $25,000 USD, up to $50,000 USD, and up to $100,000 USD. 

The mission of the Fund is to strengthen and develop the operational, production and engagement capacities of local and regional media organizations to increase the quality, volume, frequency, scale and impact of fact checking abilities and activities. This Fund will support eligible organizations to increase the level of professionalism in fact-checking associated with media outlets, as well as improve target audiences’ ability to critically assess mass media and social media. 

Global Fact Check Fund Grant Categories 

BUILD

Applicants for the BUILD grant opportunity: Applicants will seek to materially scale and upgrade their media outlets’ online presence, including improving website development, domain hosting, content management systems, publishing tools, or improving security and resilience against hacking and other threats.  Other considerations include staffing and professional development that invests in human capital, expanding recruitment processes, and formal mentoring and coaching programs that help their staff members develop their skills, receive feedback, and grow professionally.

GROW

Applicants for the GROW grant opportunity: Applicants will be seeking to obtain an infusion of funding support for the development of their institutional capacity, competitiveness, and sustainability in local and regional spaces. This may include increasing staffing, expanding or creating programs designed to boost content visibility, training, launching fundraising initiatives, diversifying revenue streams, expanding data analytic tools, and growing partnerships and collaborations to leverage and expand resources.

ENGAGE

Applicants for the ENGAGE grant opportunity: Applicants will be seeking to obtain funding support in order to invest in scaling audience engagement in local and regional spaces. This may include increasing staffing, expanding or creating programs designed to boost content visibility, training, cross-pollination across technology channels, exploration of new target markets, audience research, metrics, and analytics, digital media, community engagement, innovation and experimentation to develop tools for fact-checking.

Who Can Apply 

All grant opportunities of the Fund (BUILD, GROW, ENGAGE) will be made available by 2024. 

BUILD, GROW and ENGAGE: Verified signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles 

GROW and ENGAGE grant opportunities only: Eligibility extends to organizations partnered with a verified signatory to include not-for-profit organizations, NGOs, for-profit organizations, research organizations, and academic institutes  

BUILD Opportunity Now Open!

IMPORTANT AWARD INFORMATION  

• Award amounts: Up to $1,000,000 total for BUILD phase one, up to $25,000 per recipient, disbursed in two equal payments.
• There is no limit to the number of applications an organization may submit across all categories (BUILD, GROW and ENGAGE). However, each successful applicant may not be granted more than one award per year.
• Should the BUILD category fund not be exhausted through the standard award process, the Selection Committee will present recommendations for redistribution of the fund to the Steering Committee for consideration.
• Program performance period: Proposed programs should be completed in 9-12 months.
• The decision of awards will be made by an eight-member selection committee comprised of professionals in the media space who bring diverse skills, experiences, perspectives, and expertise.
• For the complete application guidelines, click here.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The grant program is subject to full Terms and Conditions are available here.