J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism invites U.S. non-profit groups and education organisations to apply for funding to launch new community news ventures and to cooperate with J-Lab in spotlighting best practices and lessons learned. Funding is available for start-up news initiatives only. Ongoing efforts are not eligible to apply unless they are proposing a new venture. Successful applicants will be ventures that benefit a defined geographic or special-interest community, and foster an open exchange of journalistically sound ideas, information, news and opinion in those communities. Through 2006, New Voices will help fund the start-up of 10 micro-local news projects with $12,000 grants; support them with an educational website, and help foster their sustainability through $5,000 second-year matching grants.


Projects will be selected on:

• The level of communications innovation.
• Plans for effectively serving an identified community with fact-based news, information and dialogue.
• Usefulness as a prototype for others.
• Realistic prospects for sustaining the project after New Voices funding as ended.

Eligibility

• Funding is available for start-up news initiatives only. Ongoing efforts are not eligible to apply unless they are proposing a new venture.
• Funding may be used only for news and information projects. Advocacy and government projects are not eligible.
• Funding is available for print or electronic news initiatives, including online, cable, broadcast, narrowcast, satellite and mobile efforts.
• Collaborative ventures are eligible as long as the funded party is a nonprofit or education institution.
• Religious organisations may receive grants for non-sectarian purposes only. Proposals to proselytise or to promote the tenets of a particular religious belief will not be considered.
• Funded applicants must have plans to launch their initiative within 10 months of receiving funding.
• Applicants must specifically outline a realistic vision for sustaining the project after start-up funding is spent.
• Only projects based in the United States may apply.
• Projects using a language other than English will be permitted as long as translated samples of the project are made available monthly for educational purposes and all reports are made in English.

To apply, submit all of the following:

• Fill out the Project Summary.
• Fill out the Funding Application.
• If you are partnering with a fiscal agent, fill out the Fiscal Agent Form available online.
• Attach a budget showing how you propose to spend the grant money.
• Provide a letter from the IRS, documenting your 501(c)3 status.
• Include letters of support from any proposed partners.
• Complete all submissions in English only.

Click here for more information about how to apply and to download forms.

Click here to read about previous grantees.