Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting work primarily in the United States or have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor. (Note: Awards will be made to organizations, not individuals.)

A science partner should be an organization that has science as its core focus, including civil society organizations, universities, standalone research institutes, etc. The science partner should be committed to advancing a culture in which science is strengthened through collaboration with people across diverse issues and experiences, or an organization working to ensure that science, evidence, and public engagement help to inform solutions to society’s most pressing problems. This includes NGOs, universities, civic tech, and arts organizations, among others. For example, staff at the Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit environmental organization, were brought into the storytelling process early on with collaborators Outlier Media and Planet Detroit. This unusual arrangement in the media-creation process led to more community-directed stories about Detroit’s air quality problems and potential solutions.

A media partner should be a media-making organization that regularly produces original news content, either digitally, in print or broadcast. The media partner should ideally not be a startup and should have a track record of producing high-quality, accurate, and ethical reporting. This may include news outlets, media organizations, or other entities that are dedicated to informing the public about current events and issues of public interest.

Please note that a collaboration is required for these awards. The Center defines a collaboration as a partnership where 2 or more entities share the work in a relatively equitable fashion. At least one partner should represent science, and one should represent media or journalism.

Credentials may be required if you are selected for an award and we cannot independently verify your identity. If you have questions about eligibility, contact Catherine Devine at [email protected].

I’m a freelancer. Can I be a partner?

Yes, as long as you have an affiliation with a civic science and/or media organization that is documented.

What can I use the money for?

The awards are intended to cover the cost of the applicant’s and co-collaborator’s time, project materials, equipment, and associated production/editing costs to complete the project. Audience participation incentives are also encouraged; applicants should ensure they are not being extractive when it comes to involving members of the public.

The funding opportunity is meant to support United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting work primarily in the United States. Excluded purposes include, but are not limited to, lobbying activities.

How much money can I apply for?

The opportunity will allow for awards of up to $15,000 per project. The collaborators need to decide amongst themselves how to allocate the award between each other. One award will be made to the lead organization, and the lead organization will be responsible for disseminating the money among the partners as needed. The lead organization must be a United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization conducting work primarily in the United States or have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

I would like to apply, but I don’t have a collaborator in mind.

We strongly encourage applicants to seek their own collaborators when possible. However, the Center will do its best to connect collaborators as well. Email Catherine Devine at [email protected].

When will I be notified of my application status?

As soon as you apply, you’ll get a confirmation email that includes a copy of your application.

The window to apply will close on Aug. 31, 2025. Applicants will be notified on Sept. 30, 2025.

What is the award period?

The period for all awards will be from November 2025 to November 2026 or February 2027, depending on the newness of the partnership. Projects have 9-12 months in the field (15 months if composed of a new partnership). Projects must be completed and funds spent within this timeframe.

What paperwork will you need from me to disburse the award?

Award recipients will work directly with the Center to arrange disbursement of the award and to complete award reporting at the end of the term.

Required financial documents for 501(c)(3) applicant and/or fiscal sponsor:

— Project budget (showing how the award funds will be spent).
— Properly completed W-9 for the organization.
— A supplier information form with banking information for fund disbursement (Montclair State University will provide this).

After documentation has been submitted and verified, funds are typically disbursed within 30 days.

Can I apply for more than one project?

Yes, you can, but we encourage you to focus on one project to make it the best it can be.

What if I need more money than the maximum amount?

To be able to support a range of projects, the maximum is $15,000 per project. If you need help figuring out how to rein in the cost of your effort so it’s more affordable, the Center is happy to help. Email Catherine Devine at [email protected].

How will you judge applications?

A review committee of external judges will read all applications and rate them based on the following questions:

— Does the proposed project involve collaboration?
— Is there a science organization involved?
— Is there a media organization involved?
— Is there an engagement component?
— Have collaborators worked together before?
— Does the project have a clearly defined audience?
— Does the project address issues and questions relevant to the specific community it serves?
— Does the project encourage and enable multidirectional communication between scientists, journalists, and the community?
— Does the project assess its impact on the community and iterate based on feedback?
— Does the project center on climate science, neuroscience, or artificial intelligence?
— Is the proposal right-sized for the requested amount?
— Are the project costs clear, credible and realistic?

The review committee is (repeated for context within FAQs, also listed in "About the Awards"):

— Ousman Cheek, Civic Science Fellow, Climate Central
— Devon Collins, Director, Dana Frontiers Program
— Catherine Devine, Civic Science Fellow, Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University
— Alex Jakana, Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation
— Stefanie Murray, Director, Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University
— Lauren Pabst, Senior Program Officer, Journalism and Media, MacArthur Foundation
— Meaghan Parker, Executive Director, The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
— Karen Rundlet, Executive Director and CEO, Institute for Nonprofit News

What are my reporting responsibilities if I am awarded, and accept, an award?

Awardees will be asked to take a short pre-project survey and an end-of-project survey. You will be asked to submit a final report on how the project went, its outcomes and lessons learned. Last, the Center may interview select recipients for a final report to be published publicly about this overall effort.