The International Fund Invites New Funding Proposals from Independent Media in Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia

‍Paris, 29 June: Launched today, the International Fundhas issued a new Open Call for proposals for grant support for independentmedia in Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia.

The call for grant proposals, entitled Strengthening What Works:Investing in the Future of Public Interest Media in Armenia, Moldova, andUkraine, aims to support independent media organizations in buildingmore financially sustainable and resilient operations. Building on the impactof previous donor support, including by the International Fund, and on thefinancial stability achieved by partner media outlets, this call for grantproposals seeks to enable organizations to consolidate, refine, and expandbusiness models that have demonstrated potential. It is also intended to allowmedia to test new, innovative approaches.

This Call for Proposals will support independent media operating acrossthe region that are navigating a critical turning point: they have stabilizedtheir financial health following the funding crisis of 2025 but remainvulnerable to backsliding into financial hardship without a continuation ofexternal support for a further grant cycle. In launching  the call, theInternational Fund recognizes that long term media resilience increasinglydepends on having the space and ability to adapt, for organizations willing totest new approaches in response to evolving audience behaviours.

Individual two-year grants will be awarded to media organizations withgrant amounts calibrated to organizational size, capacity and demonstratedneed, with grants of approximately USD 200,000 on average anticipated.

As a factor for eligibility, the International Fund’s grant funding (onan annual basis) can represent no more than 30% of an organization’s averageannual turnover. Media organizations are encouraged to develop proposals and afunding request which takes this proportion into consideration and isconsistent with the organization’s financial trajectory and current size andcapacity.

The selection process

Independent media interested in submitting a funding proposal areencouraged to confirm their organization’s eligibility by submitting the secure Eligibility Verification Form

Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria will be invited toproceed to the next step of the application process. The selection process willinvolve the following steps:

Eligibility Form submission: Applicants submit responses to aneligibility checklist.

Full Application submission: Organisations that meet the eligibilitycriteria will receive an email with a link to access and submit their fullfunding proposal.

International Fund review: The International Fund will conduct an initialreview of all proposals to confirm alignment with eligibility criteria, and toverify that all required documents were completed and submitted.

Juror review and recommendation: Following the initial review, an externalpanel of independent media experts will assess the proposals and recommend aset of candidate media organizations for grant support by the InternationalFund. The independent panel’s review will be guided by defined assessmentcriteria, and supported by the information provided in each proposal.

Selection criteria for jurorevaluation will include the following three areas:

The applicant’s current positioning in their ecosystem and role ininforming the public: whether the applicant is uniquely positioned toinform a significant proportion of the public in their country, or informsotherwise underserved communities, together with a strong track record ofproducing quality public interest journalism relevant to their audiences. Incase of more limited reach, particular focus will be put on media working inareas most susceptible to disinformation and foreign influence.

The applicant’s plan for use of the funds: the quality, clarity andfeasibility of a two-year operational plan that strengthens organizationalcapacity and supports the stabilization and, where feasible, diversification ofrevenue sources, while demonstrating adaptability to current market constraints,along with the potential of the proposed activities to strengthen financialstability and long-term resilience.

The applicant’s organizational strengths and financial situation: ifsupported by the Fund, the capacity to sustain operations, maintain audiencerelevance and ensure financial resilience under constrained market conditions,taking into account the media organization’s limited access to long-term donoror commercial funding.

International Fund Board Approval:

The final list of recommended awardees will be submitted to theInternational Fund’s Board for approval. Final Board approval is a standardprocess for all grants awarded by the International Fund.

Key dates and deadlines

July 5, 2026: Deadline to complete the eligibility form.

July 19, 2026: Deadline to submit documents on organizational profile through theInternational Fund portal, for eligible media organisations invited to submitproposals.

July 26, 2026: Deadline to submit full applications through the International Fundportal.

November 11, 2026: Date by which all evaluation steps will be completedand grant awards communicated to media organizations.

Partnership with the Journalism Trust Initiative

Successful applicants will also have the option to receive additional funding to prepare for and complete the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification process. JTI is an international standard initiated byReporters Without Borders (RSF) that helps news outlets demonstrate their transparency and their commitment to ethical journalistic practice to their audiences, funders and fellow media organizations. To learn more about the JTI please see: https://ifp.im/aboutJTI

Under a joint project with RSF, IFPIM will provide grantees that areinterested in being certified with the opportunity to have consulting andcertification fees associated with obtaining the JTI standard covered.Certification support will include funding as well as the contacts forqualified consultants and certification assessment firms.

Contacts‍

In case of questions related to technical assistance for the portal,please contact the IFPIM team at: grants@ifpim.org

For any other questions related to the process please contact IFPIMProgram Associate Kateryna Chystoforova: kchystoforova@ifpim.org

The International Fund for Public Interest Media is pleased to launchthis Regional Open Call for funding and encourages all eligible mediaorganizations to apply. The Fund wishes the submitting media organizationsall the best throughout the application process.