2025 Journalism Letter of Inquiry 

OVERVIEW

The Ford Foundation’s journalism program is focused on media equity — the idea that everyone should be able to receive high-quality news; and also that everyone qualified should have a chance at newsroom employment, management, ownership, and board membership. We are deeply invested in journalistic excellence and journalism as a bulwark of civil society. Journalism that strengthens civil society goes hand in hand with journalism created by and for a wide range of Americans, as news which serves the information needs of communities is part of the connective tissue of democracy.

We are looking for innovators — not in the sense of organizations creating shiny new things that often quickly get pushed to the side — but organizations, whether long-standing or start-up, which are successfully adapting to the constantly changing revenue models, distribution and engagement demands of journalism. We fund both networks (which can offer training, support, and community among media makers) and content production.

We are also seeking out organizations that are finding ways to be sustainable long term and that are creating unique pathways toward economic stability.

Although we offer limited project support to entities who cannot legally receive general operating support funds, we typically offer general operating or core support, giving media makers the opportunity to use the money wisely to the best needs of their institutions, audiences and stakeholders.

WHAT WE FUND

Neither a history of past Ford funding nor an invitation to apply in this year's process is a guarantee or assurance of future funding. Through this competitive and democratic process, we plan to award a select number of two-year grants to begin in the calendar year 2025 or, for some, in the calendar year 2026.

We fund both content-producing entities and networks, and are looking for evidence that these organizations meet the information needs of under-served communities, audiences, and/or media producers, as well as rewarding excellence. We are especially interested in journalists and media that is created by or serving people of color; disabled; and LGBTQIA+ communities. In addition, we are interested in leadership development, new approaches to achieving resilient operational models and finding sustainable solutions to the current revenue model, which has proven unreliable.

We look for outlets and networks that bolster the information needs of communities; which have taken into account intersectional diversity, equity and inclusion on their staffs and boards; and which are collaborative in nature — either through direct collaborations or by being of service to the field of journalism more broadly.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Complete LOIs, including supplementary materials, must be submitted through this portal no later than 5:00 PM EST on January 13, 2025. Incomplete LOIs, hard copy submissions, and LOIs received after the deadline will not be considered.

If you have questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below.

We are committed to making the LOI application available in multiple forms to be accessible. Other accessible application formats include: Google Forms, large print, video interview, or phone interview. To obtain and complete an application in an alternative format or to submit questions not already addressed on the FAQ page, please email journalism@fordfoundation.org.

Please do not contact the Journalism Program Officer or the Creativity and Free Expression Director with your LOI inquiries.

The live period to submit opens on December 2, 2024 and the deadline to submit your LOI is on January 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST.

FAQs

Who is allowed to submit an LOI?

If you are an organization or entity that has been invited by the Ford Foundation to apply to this LOI, you are allowed to submit one LOI. Individual journalists are not permitted to apply. We will automatically discard any LOIs we receive from organizations or entities that the Ford Foundation did not invite.

How do I submit an LOI?

Through OpenWater, our online platform, you have access to our Overview page and the LOI form. Go to the bottom of this page and click "Start Application" to begin. You will be prompted to enter a password, which you can find in the email you received inviting you to submit. You only need to enter this password once unless you sign into your account from a new device or browser.

Make sure your submission is complete before you submit your organization’s LOI.

Will I be able to save my LOI before I submit and come back to it?

Yes. You can revise your application as many times as you want before you submit. In order for your responses to be recorded, you must hit “Save” or “Save and Next” at the bottom of the page you are working on. When you arrive at the final page you can hit either “Save” or “Save and Submit”. Please note that once you submit you will no longer be able to edit your responses.

Can other people work with me on the application?

For your convenience, you may allow other individuals to work on this application alongside yourself. To add a collaborator to your application, click the "Manage Collaborators" button at the top of this form and follow the "Add Collaborator" button. 
Please note the following about this feature:

• The individual who starts the application is the "Primary Collaborator" by default.

• Only the Primary Collaborator can submit the completed form.

• If required, you are able to reassign this role to another collaborator.

• Only one person can edit the application at one time in order to avoid overwriting another collaborator's work.

Can I forward this invitation to another organization?

No. This invitation is not a public call and any organization applying that was not invited will not be considered for Ford funding this year.

When is the deadline? When will I hear from Ford about whether I have received a grant award?

The deadline is January 13, 2025. Please notify us ASAP if you need guidance on meeting this deadline. We may contact applicants for more information if we require it during the open LOI period. All applicants will be notified of their status in early 2025. Finalists will be invited to submit a full proposal at that time. Some LOIs will be held for further review and possibly invited to apply later in 2025 or in 2026.

Can I receive funding over multiple years?

For the 2025 - 2026 Journalism LOI process, Ford will consider applicant organizations for two-year awards. 

Who do I contact with problems or questions?

You may reach out to journalism@fordfoundation.org. Please allow up to 3-5 business days for a response. Before you contact us, you may want to see if any of the questions are answered in this FAQ.

ABOUT US

Visit FordFoundation.org to learn more about Ford's Creativity and Free Expression (CFE) program area. Please note that this grant opportunity funds the Journalism portfolio of the CFE program area, not the JustFilms initiative or the Arts and Culture program of CFE.

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this LOI, and for all the work you do.