J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism invites United States 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. New Voices is funded by the John F. and James L. Knight Foundation. Proposals from as many as three of the 26 communities where the Knight brothers once owned newspapers will be given special consideration. For more details, please visit the website links below.

Through 2008, New Voices will help fund the start-up of 10 micro-local news projects with grants of US$12,000; support them with an educational website, and help foster their sustainability through US$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.
• Specific plans for sustaining the project after New Voices funding has ended.

Eligibility:

Eligible to apply for funding under the New Voices project are 501(c)3 organisations and education institutions, including civic groups, community organisations, public broadcasters, schools, colleges and universities.

• 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.

Deadline for applications is February 20 2008.

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 Internal Revenue Service, 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 and access to an online application process.

Click here to read about previous grantees.