Please continue to check this page in case new information has been added.

1. My media outlet is not yet registered in a host country, or the registration process is still ongoing. Are we still eligible to apply?

We recognize the unique challenges faced by independent media in exile and remain committed to providing support under these difficult circumstances. To ensure eligibility for this call, we offer two options:

●. Option 1: You are eligible for this call if you have applied for registration in your host country and are awaiting a decision and you are confident that the registration will be completed by the beginning of September 2025 (as we expect to make funding decisions by then, and we need a legal entity to contract with). Registration must be finalized before a grant agreement with the International Fund can be signed. As part of your application, please explain the plan you have in place to register as a legal entity with adequate financial management by that date.

●. Option 2: It is also possible to apply through a partner organization – registered either in your host country or another safe country – that is willing and able to sign the contract on your behalf and channel the funds to your outlet (for instance through a fiscal sponsorship or an umbrella / hosting foundation). Such partnership arrangements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and we are happy to answer any further questions about this process. Please explain the nature of the relationship between your media outlet and the partner organization in your application.

2. Our media outlet operates in partnership with another organization (e.g., a fiscal sponsor or an umbrella / hosting organization) that will serve as the contracting entity if we were awarded a grant. What information will be required and evaluated in the application?

The application evaluation will focus primarily on your media outlet, based on the criteria set out for this call and the information required in the eligibility and application forms.
However, we will also need to ensure your partner organization is in compliance with specific eligibility criteria and diligence requirements. For these purposes, we will require administrative documentation including proof of legal registration and financial statements. The list of required information is included in the application form.

Please note that the annual turnover of the partner organization in the last fiscal year must not exceed EUR 10M for your application to be eligible.

The application form includes guidance for those organizations who work through fiscal sponsors or umbrella organizations.

If you are unsure which figures and/or documents you should provide at any point, do not hesitate to reach out to the Fund’s team at [email protected].

3. Why are you asking for a minimum turnover of over EUR 200,000? Why are you not supporting smaller organizations ?

We acknowledge the value of pluralism and diversity in media ecosystems, which are among the core values of the Fund. We strive to provide support that aligns with our goal of fostering the operational resilience and long-term sustainability of public interest media in the regions where we operate, while addressing gaps in the media funding landscape.

For this call for proposals – the International Fund’s first call in support of exiled media – we are directing our support toward established organisations with a demonstrated track record in reaching large audiences in their home countries. In light of the recent funding cuts affecting the sector and broader market dynamics, we have identified support for these organisations as critical for the information ecosystem in Belarus and Azerbaijan, and as one area where the International Fund can be most complementary to existing efforts by other funders supporting media.

We are coordinating closely with other funders active in this space, who are best positioned to provide flexible assistance to smaller media organizations. For example, Belarusian outlets are eligible to apply to the parallel call for smaller exiled Belarusian media issued by JX Fund. Please see: https://jx-fund.org/newsroom/news/open-calls-for-exiled-media-from-belarus/.

Both outlets from Belarus and Azerbaijan can also apply to the JX Fund’s Newsroom Pivot Program: https://jx-fund.org/newsroom/news/open-call-newsroom-pivot-program/.

We recognize and empathize with the challenges many exiled media are facing. Therefore, even if you do not meet eligibility criteria for this specific call, we encourage you to contact us to describe your situation and share feedback. Your input will help inform our efforts in the future.

4. What other kinds of partnerships are allowed under this call for proposals?

You may reference existing partnerships in your proposal (e.g., if your media outlet collaborates with another project), provided that:

● Both projects fall within the definition of public interest media, and/or exiled media; and

● The partnership is well-established, not newly created for this call.

For example, if your outlet has been running a fact-checking project that you now wish to support as a complementary (not primary) activity under this grant, you may include it in your application.

However, only one legal entity can apply, and it is this entity that will be assessed for eligibility based on the criteria in the eligibility form.

5. Can we create a consortium of organizations to jointly apply for the call for proposals?

No. Newly formed consortia are not eligible under this call. The only partnership arrangements that may be considered are those that:

● Were formed to enable the continuation of media operations in exile (as noted under Question 1), and

● Involve a fiscal sponsor or other legally registered entity that can sign the contract on behalf of the exiled outlet and channel the funds to them.

You cannot combine several outlets into one application to collectively meet the eligibility thresholds (e.g., turnover).

6. My organization hosts or partners with more than one media outlet. Can we submit multiple applications?

Yes, you may submit multiple applications, provided each media outlet applies separately and independently meets all eligibility criteria – including the minimum annual turnover and definitions of exiled and public interest media.

7. Are organizations registered in the EU eligible to apply?

Yes, as long as a media outlet qualifies as exiled media and meets the other eligibility criteria, it is eligible to apply.

In case you have further questions, please contact:
For media exiled from Azerbaijan:

Kateryna Chystoforova ([email protected])
For media exiled from Belarus:
[email protected]

For technical issues related to filling in the application forms:
[email protected]