Media and Communications Grants for Nonprofits

An impartial, objective media is essential for a functioning democracy. And yet much of the current media landscape is run entirely for profit, which skews this objective agenda. It is up to nonprofits to try to fill this gap of independent media. This can include supporting media across all kinds of mediums, from print to radio to online. 

However, media projects don’t come free. Even a single journalist with a laptop needs a salary. This is why media grants exist. These grants can be used to fund all sorts of journalistic initiatives. These can help produce the content itself, pay for salaries and equipment costs, start awareness campaigns and provide quality journalistic training.

There are a variety of organizations that are involved in providing media grants. These traditionally included federal agencies such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. There are also many private foundations involved in this space, such as the Knight Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. 

When drafting a media grant draft proposal, it's essential to use data to back up your case. You need to demonstrate that there is a gap that your nonprofit is able to fill. In this case, you should try to assemble information that proves there is an audience for your media project, and that you have the methods to reach that audience. If you’re looking for information on current media trends, the Pew Research Center and Nielsen are good places to get started. 

If you need further information on how to write great grant proposals, make sure to check out our full overview of the topic. You can also start browsing an excellent selection of media grants right here.