Fund created to pursue excellence in journalism.
Mission
We provide support for in-depth, high-impact journalism in Alaska. We encourage ethical coverage of complex, underreported issues, journalism that inspires action improves lives, and protects democratic values. We support professional training and provide grants to individual projects and collaborative efforts between all forms of media in Alaska.
Goals
We aim to inspire and support quality journalism across all media platforms in Alaska to engage, inform, and empower Alaska citizens.
Grants:
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Alaska Arts Reporting Initiative:
We are accepting applications from newsrooms and freelancers for coverage of the arts in Alaska. We encourage collaboration with, and among local news organizations. A majority of the project team must be Alaska-based. Grants up to $20,000.
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Alaska Impact Reporting Initiative Small Grants
We are accepting applications for coverage that increases public understanding of complex, underreported issues in Alaska. We encourage collaboration with local news organizations. A majority of the project team must be Alaska-based. See some of our past funded projects here. Grants up to $25,000.
Apply
Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant from the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism (ACEJ).
The application period closes Sept. 15, 2023.
Grants: Grants cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, equipment rental and specific services such data analysis and editing. Wages of up to 50% are an acceptable expense. It is ACEJ policy to pay the first half of approved grants to successful applicants, with the second half of the grant paid on publication or broadcast of a finished project in accordance with the original purpose. Second-half grants are not guaranteed if projects are not completed by the agreed-upon deadline.
Letter of Commitment: Before you apply, you need to obtain a “Letter of Commitment” from an editor or manager who can pledge in writing that the news outlet will publish or air the project you propose – as long as it meets the publication’s expectations and standards. ACEJ requires this commitment before a grant application can be considered. The letter must be on letterhead that includes contact information for the news outlet and the individual signing it.
Budget Guidelines: Your estimated budget must identify all other sources of funding and itemize expenses such as travel, document fees, equipment rentals and services. Be specific. Soliciting other sources of funding is encouraged.
Ethics: Grantees are required to abide by the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics.
Selection: The ACEJ grant application review committee will review and vote on all eligible proposals. Applicants will be notified by email of the status of the application four weeks after the application deadline has passed.
To apply: Scroll down and click on apply. You will be directed to the Alaska Community Foundation portal where you need to create an account.
Important: You do not need to give your social security number. Simply type NA in the prompt box. You only need to fill in fields marked with an asterisk. You may save your work and come back to the application, but once you hit APPLY on the final page you will not be able to make changes.
Disclaimer of Liability: ACEJ’s mission is to support the work of Alaska journalists. ACEJ assumes no liability for the legal and/or safety risks undertaken by journalists in the course of their reporting.
Privacy: We take the obligation to guard your story ideas seriously. We will not circulate them beyond our three-member review committee and program administrator. We also realize the contents of your proposal may contain sensitive information. If you are concerned about submitting details by email, please contact us at akjournalismcenter@gmail.com.
Conflicts of Interest: ACEJ Board members and grant review committee members may not submit grant applications. Members of the grant application review committee must disclose to the other committee members any conflicts of interest with grant applicants or grant applications.
Preview our Forms Here
Please note: These forms are for your draft work ONLY; any submissions must be completed within our online grants management portal.
For grantee convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of the grant application and final report forms for this grant opportunity. Click the links below to download the .doc version of the form you’d like to work with. Play with the character counts in your draft, and when ready, copy/paste those words into the online version of the form in our system. The character count (not word count) in your .doc version will align with the character count in our system. The forms are provided here for your PREPARATION convenience. You CANNOT use these forms for your actual submission – that must be done online within our portal.
If you have questions or concerns about the application process, please contact Jessie Lavoie, Director of Programs and Grants at jlavoie@alaskacf.org or 907-249-6616.