Special Project 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
We are looking for stories that increase 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.
The application deadline is midnight (AKST) May 1. The maximum grant is $25,000. Grants cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, equipment rental, and specific services such as data analysis and editing. It is ACE-J 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.
Apply
Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant from the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism (ACE-J). Applications will tentatively be open winter of 2023, dates TBD.
ACE-J looks for: stories that increase public understanding of complex, under-reported issues in Alaska. ACE-J encourages collaboration with local news organizations. A majority of the project team must be Alaska-based. To discuss your project prior to application, please contact an ACE-J board member. Their information can be found here: https://www.akjournalism.org/our-team
The maximum grant is $25,000. Grants cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, equipment rental and specific services such as data analysis or editing.
It is ACE-J 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 proposal. Second half grants are not guaranteed if projects are not completed by the agreed-upon deadline.
Letter of Commitment: Before you apply, you must 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. ACE-J 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.
Review: The ACE-J 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.
Disclaimer of Liability: ACE-J’s mission is to assist journalists. ACE-J assumes no liability for the legal and/or safety risks undertaken by journalists in the course of their reporting.
To apply: Please click on the Grant Application button to create a profile and access the application online. If you have technical questions about the application process, please contact Eleanor Huffines at ehuffines@alaskacf.org or 907-249-6617.
Privacy: ACE-J takes the obligation to guard your story ideas seriously. We will not circulate them beyond our review committee. We also realize the contents of your proposal may contain sensitive information. If you are concerned about submitting details, please contact Elizabeth Arnold at earnoldnpr@gmail.com or Eleanor Huffines at ehuffines@alaskacf.org or 907-249-6617.
Conflicts of Interest: ACE-J Board members and members of the grant application review committee may not submit individual 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 Eleanor Huffines, Vice President of Programs and Grants at ehuffines@alaskacf.org or 907-249-6617.