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Our funding lines
Our funding lines are divided into a general funding line and a thematic funding line.
Currently, we are exclusively offering the general funding line. Applications for the funding line "Science and Data Journalism" will be possible again from September 2026.
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.
Overview:
| General Funding Line | |
|---|---|
| Journalistic work focus | no limitations |
| Funding period | max. 24 months |
| Funding sum | max. € 400,000 or € 200,000 |
| Organization size | ≥ 30 FTE: Project funding ≤ 30 FTE: Organizational funding |
| Proof of Concept | established |
| Product Market Fit | established |
| Business model | further development of an existing business model |
| Objective for use of the funding | growth of an existing offering, format, distribution channel or revenue source |
| Type of funding | organizational funding* or project funding for a specific undertaking *for OF, non-project-related (overhead) costs can be submitted |
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, Media Forward Fund awarded in the first call in 2025. one-year “Launch Grants” to media oriented towards the common good in the amount of up to 100,000 euros. These grants support the selected media organizations with the launch of an untested, and thus new offering, format, distribution channel, or revenue source in order to validate or refine their respective business models. In 2026, this funding line will award two-year organizational grants and project funding, generally in the amount of 200,000 euros and 400,000 euros respectively.
