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Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc

The organization provides critical support to independent journalists to investigate news stories regarding corruption, malfeasance, exploitation, misappropriation of funds in the public and private sectors.

$621k
Granted FY2024still arriving
9
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$735kPublic Benefit$148kEducation$60kCivil Rights$37kEnvironment$30kHealth$10kCommunity Improvement$6k
02FY2024 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 9 grants below total $91,221, the rows itemized in this filing. The $621,161 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $529,940 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k4 grants · $31k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $60k
$10,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$2.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UC BERKELEY$14,994
GRIST$14,750
IN THEIR HANDS LLC$10,000
INVESTIGATEWEST$10,000
CALMATTERS$10,000
THE UTAH INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECT$8,500
BANGOR DAILY NEWS$8,027
INVISIBLE INSTITUTE$7,500
THE ADVOCATE$7,450
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–20, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Fostering Media Connections: $9k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
NH
WA
ID
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
WY
IA
PA
CT
CA
UT
CO
KY
VA
AZ
NC
DC
HI
LA
MS
GA
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

56%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$572k · 17 repeat orgs$453k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +73% since the first grant, against +25% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
46

Total granted

$572k
$397k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+73%
+25%

Still filing today

82%
74%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 38% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $56k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureEducationPublic BenefitCivil RightsEnvironmentCommunity ImprovementOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • I
    InvestigateWest
    6× · 2017–2024 · $65k · revenue +40%
  • WI
    WCIJ INC
    3× · 2021–2023 · $62k · revenue +105%
  • SF
    SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS
    4× · 2017–2023 · $44k · revenue +116%

Funded once

  • SF
    SOUTH FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA GROUP INC
    one grant, 2023 · $13k · revenue +12%
  • AL
    Arizona Local Postgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $11k · revenue +65%
  • TC
    The Center for Investigative Reporting formrly Foundation for National Progressgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +64%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Press Watch

To educate journalists and the public, and foster public debate, about improving political journalism to reflect public needs and hold the powerful accountable.

—
2
Institute for Public Accuracy

To teach and disseminate educational materials to the public.

Arts & Culture
3
Trusting News Inc

Trusting News improves the quality of news reporting by studying trust in news and training and coaching journalists to demonstrate credibility and actively earn trust. Their work equips thousands of journalists every year to better…

Arts & Culture
4
City Report Inc

CITY REPORT, INC. serves the people of New York through independent journalism that answers their information needs and holds the powerful to account.

Arts & Culture
5
Canary Media Inc

Canary Media is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy.

Environment
6
Institute for the Advancement of Journalistic Clarity

To provide credible reporting and commentary on its website (counterpunch.org) and through its podcast, helping readers make informed and balanced assessments - vital for a healthy democratic society - on the public issues of the day.

Arts & Culture
7
Citizens News Guild Inc

Citizens news guild educates the public by publishing non-partisan state and local news.

Community Improvement
8
Independent Media Institute

IMI amplifies the reach and impact of the work produced by our partner journalists,public intellectuals and editorial teams on the leading issues of our times. The goal is to educate, inspire, and collaborate with movements and visionaries…

Arts & Culture
9
Springfield Daily Citizen Inc

The mission of the springfield daily citizen is to inform our community and be a catalyst for good.

Arts & Culture
10
America's Newspapers

Providing research, education and practical information all aimed at optimizing newspapers' business operations, deepening their community engagement and enhancing the quality of their journalism.

Employment
11
Foundation for Investigative Journalism

Mission:To provide ideology-free media platforms representing balanced news and educational forums to inform and increase critical thinking and engagement.

Public Benefit
12
States Newsroom

States newsroom is the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporting from every capital. every newsroom is led by a veteran local journalist with deep knowledge of the state's political history and media…

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Florida Center for Government Accountability Inc; the most unlike its peers is American University. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

53 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 53 of the 69 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
17
Early backer (in before they grew)
51/53
Grantees still filing
42/53
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

InvestigateWest: $64,655 · Arts & CultureInvestigateWestWCIJ INC: $61,947 · Arts & CultureWCIJ INCARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING: $41,400 · Arts & CultureARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTINGHonolulu Civil Beat Inc: $40,000 · Arts & CultureHonolulu Civil Beat IncMISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INC: $30,497 · Arts & CultureMISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INCCAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS INC: $30,280 · Arts & CultureCAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS INCTHE TEXAS DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION: $30,000 · Arts & CultureTHE TEXAS DEMOCRACY FOUNDATIONCAPITAL & MAIN: $22,750 · Arts & Culture+16 more: $145,424 · Arts & Culture+16 moreREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY: $64,926 · OtherREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALI…The Center for Investigative Reporting Inc: $27,500 · OtherThe Center for Investigative Repo…SHAW SUBURBAN MEDIA GROUP: $13,000 · OtherSOUTH FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA GROUP INC: $12,500 · Other+21 more: $183,520 · Other+21 moreSAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS: $44,000 · EducationSAN FRANC…INVESTIGATIVE NEWSOURCE: $20,000 · EducationINVESTIGA…Informed California Foundation DBA - Open Vallejo: $10,000 · EducationInformed …TEXAS TRIBUNE INC: $8,000 · EducationTEXAS TRI…AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: $5,550 · EducationAMERICAN …The Center for Investigative Reporting formrly Foundation for National Progress: $10,000 · Public BenefitTHE CENTER FOR MICHIGAN: $10,000 · Public BenefitTHE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY: $10,000 · Public BenefitUTAH INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECT: $8,500 · Public BenefitFORT WORTH REPORT: $7,100 · Public BenefitCalMatters: $20,000 · Civil RightsFUNDAMEDIOS INC: $9,500 · Civil RightsInvisible Institute: $7,500 · Civil RightsMUCKROCK FOUNDATION INC: $6,250 · Civil RightsGREY MATTERS PROJECT INC: $34,603 · Community ImprovementIDAHO EDUCATION NEWS INC: $5,500 · Community ImprovementGrist Magazine Inc: $14,750 · EnvironmentHIGH COUNTRY NEWS: $9,650 · EnvironmentEarth Island Institute Inc: $8,000 · EnvironmentOO PROJECT: $7,500 · Environment
Arts & Culture$466,953Other$301,446Education$87,550Public Benefit$45,600Civil Rights$43,250Community Improvement$40,103Environment$39,900

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetInvestigateWest: $64,655 over 6y, 4.4% of budgetWCIJ INC: $61,947 over 3y, 2.5% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS: $44,000 over 4y, 3.5% of budgetARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING: $41,400 over 2y, 13% of budgetHonolulu Civil Beat Inc: $40,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetGREY MATTERS PROJECT INC: $34,603 over 3y, 7.8% of budgetMISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INC: $30,497 over 3y, 3.5% of budgetCAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS INC: $30,280 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetTHE TEXAS DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetThe Center for Investigative Reporting Inc: $27,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCAPITAL & MAIN: $22,750 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCalMatters: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetINVESTIGATIVE NEWSOURCE: $20,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetGrist Magazine Inc: $14,750 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE INC: $13,250 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetVOICE OF SAN DIEGO: $13,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetSOUTH FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA GROUP INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetArizona Local Post: $11,164 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetThe Center for Investigative Reporting formrly Foundation for National Progress: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPARTICIPATORY POLITICS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 7.6% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR MICHIGAN: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWYOFILE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetIOWA NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMIDWEST CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INC: $9,925 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetFUNDAMEDIOS INC: $9,500 over 1y, 16% of budgetFOSTERING MEDIA CONNECTIONS: $9,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetNATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC: $8,912 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY: $8,900 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONNECTICUT NEWS PROJECT INC: $8,850 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetNEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO INC: $8,750 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUTAH INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECT: $8,500 over 1y, 7.2% of budgetKENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO INC: $8,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFLORIDA CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC: $8,400 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetPUBLICSOURCE: $8,200 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTEXAS TRIBUNE INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEarth Island Institute Inc: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetInvisible Institute: $7,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetOO PROJECT: $7,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMASSACHUSETTS MEDIA FUND INC: $7,450 over 1y, 5.0% of budgetFORT WORTH REPORT: $7,100 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPITTSBURGH FILMMAKERS INC: $6,750 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO: $6,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMUCKROCK FOUNDATION INC: $6,250 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetPITTSBURGH COMMUNITY BROADCASTING CORPORATION: $6,173 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN UNIVERSITY: $5,550 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetIDAHO EDUCATION NEWS INC: $5,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Institute for Nonprof…The Miami Foundation …The Groundtruth Proje…Local Independent Onl…Pro Publica IncInasmuch FoundationReva and David Logan …The Lenfest Institute…Solutions Journalism …American Journalism P…John S and James L Kn…John D and Catherine …
Institute for Nonprofit NewsCA60.3× affinity27 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Institute for Nonprofit News · The Miami Foundation Inc · The Groundtruth Project Inc · Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc · Pro Publica Inc · Inasmuch Foundation · Reva and David Logan Foundation · The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Special Asset Fund of Tpf · Solutions Journalism Network Inc · American Journalism Project Inc · John S and James L Knight Foundation · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Fund for Investigative Journalism Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 50%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →median 12%
  • Trustees of Boston University: 12% of income from government
  • The Center for Independent Documentary Inc: 6% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
5get no government money at all
4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 69 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Fund for Investigative Journalism’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home