Project Funding stream

The first step of the application process is filling out a short eligibility quiz. If your organization qualifies to apply for the Fund, you can submit an Expression of Interest through the application portal. After an independent review process of the Expression of Interest submissions, a short list of organizations will be invited to submit a detailed proposal. 

Download a PDF of the application questions for the 2026 Project Funding stream here. 

Note: All applications are completed through the application portal.

An independent jury will review the full applications and select 8 to 12 awardees for grants of $15,000 to $150,000 CAD. The total funding available for this round is $500,000 CAD. 

Applicants should request the amount they require for their proposed project; the independent jury’s mandate will include funding projects from a range of budget sizes. 

Please note: Organizations may be awarded less than the total amount of funding requested. For organizations registered as for-profits, any applicable taxes will be included within the total funding amount requested. 

Yes, applications from multiple partners are welcome. See the Funding Guidelines for more information on partnerships. 

Only the main applicant needs to meet this round’s eligibility criteria. Partner organizations involved in proposals are not all required to meet the same criteria. See the Funding Guidelines for more information. 

This is at the discretion of the applicant organizations. 

Awardees with ongoing Journalism Futures Fund funding agreements can be partners but not lead applicants on funding proposals for the current round. 

Yes, existing audience-focused projects are eligible and encouraged, as long as the project meets the round’s objectives of expanding engagement, reach and resilience for the organization.  

On its own, no. Projects exclusively focused on producing journalism without a clearly defined audience development component are ineligible for this round. 

Yes, this would be an eligible cost if clearly justified by the project strategy and goals.  

Yes, funding recipients of the Journalism Futures Fund Project Funding stream will be required to share periodic reporting on their use of this funding, for accountability and learning purposes. This may include financial reporting and written or oral reports outlining activities and milestones achieved. Recipients are expected to participate in Fund evaluation activities. 

We’re here to answer your questions and help make the process as smooth and manageable as possible. For questions and support, please contact jff-fam@inspiritfoundation.org. 

Eligible organizations for this round of the Fund must have been producing journalism for at least a year, and be registered businesses or be incorporated as a for-profit or non-profit in Canada (this includes organizations with Registered Journalism Organization status and sole proprietorships). 

Refers to journalism produced by organizations that are not government outlets — or primarily or majority-owned by a publicly-traded company, advocacy group, religious group, political party, hedge fund or private equity firm. 

A journalism organization’s leadership is made up of the individuals who make decisions about its editorial line, operations and governance. 

This round of the Fund will support practical, audience-centred projects that advance one or both of the following objectives:  

• Engagement: Deepen ongoing conversations and relationships with current or intended audiences.  
• Reach: Expand the number of people who regularly engage with the organization’s journalism, including new and existing audiences.  

Proposed projects should leave organizations better positioned to continue their work going forward.   

Fact-based reports, features, investigations, profiles, interviews, analyses or commentaries that are written, researched, edited and formatted by and for the organization. Original journalism does not include reprints of mostly-unchanged press releases or wire copy. 

The Fund accepts applications from journalism organizations operating on any platform, including digital formats (websites, newsletters, podcasts, social media etc.), print (newspapers, magazines etc.), TV, radio or others. 

The Fund prioritizes communities that are underrepresented in newsroom leadership and underserved in news coverage. To that end, the Fund prioritizes organizations serving and / or led by:  

• Black and other racialized communities;   
• Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis);   
• newcomers, migrant workers, refugees and asylum-seekers;  
• low-income communities;   
• 2SLGBTQIA+ people;   
• people with disabilities; and   
• those located in Northern, rural or remote areas. 

The JFF recognizes that many communities may be underserved, underrepresented or misrepresented in Canadian news media, and that their experiences might intersect and vary depending on context.