SPJ Freelance Community / SPJ Foundation / Grants > Mini-Grants for SPJ Freelancers

Mini-Grants for SPJ Freelancers

The SPJ Freelance Fund’s mini-grants program supports SPJ members seeking to engage in professional activities that advance their careers as independent journalists.

Grants, typically ranging up to $500, will be awarded to selected SPJ members seeking to improve their skills and ability to succeed as freelancers.

The grants may be used for:

freelance- and journalism-related skills training and workshop registration or tuition fees;
travel assistance to attend skills training, workshops and conferences; and
entry fees for contests and prize competitions to showcase work produced on a freelance basis.

Grant funds are not to be used for equipment, subscriptions or other operating expenses of the freelancer’s business, or for expenses related to a specific assignment or client project.

Apply Now

Follow this link to complete the mini-grants application.

Before you apply, prepare all necessary documentation as detailed in the instructions on this page.

Questions and Answers

As a pilot program, we anticipate potential applicants will have questions. In this section we provide some answers.

I am a member of the SPJ Freelance Community’s Facebook group. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, as long as your SPJ membership is up to date. If you are not a paid SPJ member, you are not eligible for a grant. Check here to find out about the benefits of joining SPJ.

Does another journalism organization’s conference qualify as training?

Yes, as long as you will attend training sessions at the conference. You may not use this grant to pay for travel to speak at a conference.

The tuition or fee for the training is more than $500. Can I still apply?

You may apply, but the grant can be at most $500. You’ll need to cover any additional fee on your own.

What should I put in a cover letter?

Tell us about your previous work as an independent journalist and how you expect freelancing to fit into your career. Highlight any specific career- and freelance-related needs or goals you hope to meet by applying for this grant. Finally, tell us about your history of contributions to SPJ and/or the SPJ Freelance Community.

What should I put in the funding request?

Tell us about the opportunity this grant would fund. Include a link to information about the training or contest for which you would use the grant money. Enumerate your costs for participating, as well as any other assistance you are applying for or will receive.

Can I apply for both a workshop fee and travel expenses to attend?

Yes, as long as the total grant request is not more than $500.

I applied for a grant. When can I expect to hear whether my application was successful?

The Freelance Fund steering committee will meet to consider applications every two to three weeks. Applicants will learn the status of their requests soon after each meeting.

I have a different question. How do I contact you?

Email [email protected].

Eligibility

SPJ members who work as independent journalists are eligible to apply for the grants. Applicants do not need a fiscal sponsor or the backing of a non-profit newsroom to receive funding.

Financial need will be considered in awarding these grants, but financial hardship is not necessary to receive a grant. Preference will be given to applicants who are active members of the SPJ Freelance Community.

Members of the SPJ board of directors and the SPJ Foundation board of directors are ineligible, as are members of the SPJ Freelance Fund steering committee.

How to apply

Before you apply, prepare the following documentation required in the application:

Know your SPJ member number, available on your Profile page when you log into the SPJ website.
Write a cover letter introducing yourself as a freelance journalist and explaining how freelance journalism fits into your current and/or future career. Highlight any specific career- and freelance-related needs you hope to meet by applying.
Write a funding request detailing how you intend to use the grant funds.

The funding cycle for this pilot program will close on Dec. 15, 2024, or when all funds set aside for it have been allocated. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Follow this link to complete the mini-grants application.

The SPJ Foundation Freelance Fund was chartered by the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation to support programs that help independent journalists participate in training, education, awards and other opportunities they could not otherwise pursue. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity, and gifts designated for the Freelance Fund are tax-deductible.