Apply
Our funding lines
Our funding lines are divided into a general funding line and a thematic funding line.
Currently, we are exclusively offering one thematic funding line: "Science and Data Journalism." In the future, additional thematic funding lines are planned, including climate, environmental, and health journalism.
General Funding Line
In light of increasing social polarization, the existential crisis facing journalism and the ongoing expansion of so-called news deserts, we are committed to supporting independent journalism outlets that have viable business models, publish outstanding, trustworthy content and can sustainably finance themselves over the long term.
Strong democracies depend on everyone having access to reliable and credible information so they can actively participate in the public debate.
For this reason, we support media organizations that are focused on the common good and are seeking to expand their financial sustainability with a specific project. In doing so, they are closing a gap in reporting and are ideally relying on approaches that differ from existing practices in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and/or in their own market. We have a particular focus on media organizations reporting for target audiences that have thus far been underserved by the news media.
Funding Line for Science and Data Journalism - Launch Grants
Science journalism, which reports on the impact of research on society, politics and the economy in an informative, educational and critical manner, has a critical role to play. The same is true for data journalism, which can shed light on correlations and contexts in an increasingly networked society through the (participatory) collection, analysis and interpretation of original data and through (interactive) visualizations.
In cooperation with the Wissenschaftspressekonferenz e.V. (WPK), the largest association of science journalists in Germany, the Media Forward Fund is initially calling for applications for two funding rounds. This call will award one-year “Launch Grants” for media oriented towards the common good, generally in the amount of 75,000 euros. In 2026, two-year organizational grants and project funding will be awarded, generally in the amount of 200,000 euros and 400,000 euros respectively.
With the “Launch Grants” (project financing), the Media Forward Fund this year is supporting media organizations oriented towards the common good with the market launch of an untested, and thus new, offering, format, distribution channel or revenue source in order to validate or refine their respective business model. These projects close a gap in science or data journalism reporting and ideally rely on approaches that differ from existing methods commonly used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH region) and/or in their own market. A particular focus here is on the participatory or interactive involvement or reaching of target groups that have thus far been underserved by the news media.
Comparative overview of the funding lines:
| General Funding Line | Funding Line for Science and Data Journalism - Launch Grants | |
|---|---|---|
| Journalistic work focus | no limitations | limited to science and data journalism |
| Funding period | max. 24 months | max. 12 months |
| Funding sum | max. 400,000,- or 200,000,- € | max. 75,000 € |
| Organization size | ≥ 30 FTE: Project funding ≤ 30 FTE: Organizational funding | ≤ 30 FTE |
| Proof of Concept | established | in prospect |
| Product Market Fit | established | aimed to be established during the course of the funding |
| Business model | further development of an existing business model | validation or refinement of the respective business model |
| Objective for use of the funding | growth of an existing offering, format, distribution channel or revenue source | launch and market validation of an offering, format, distribution channel, or revenue source that is untested in the market for the applying organization, but for which a previously identified user need exists |
| Type of funding | organizational funding* or project funding for a specific undertaking *for OF, non-project-related (overhead) costs can be submitted | exclusively project funding for a specific launch project |