ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (April 19, 2024) – The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the nonprofit Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism, in partnership with Google and YouTube, announces the opening of applications for the second year of funding to support fact-checking initiatives worldwide.
Organizations may apply beginning April 19, 2024, to the Global Fact Check Fund for the start of the second year of the multi-year program, funded by a grant from Google and YouTube.
This phase, called BUILD 2024, is aimed at the development of organizations’ operational capacity to support fact-checking in local and regional work.
The grants are not project-based and may be used to provide concrete material or technological improvements, as well as sustaining operational costs, such as staffing, equipment or digital management systems.
“We’re excited to launch the second phase of the Global Fact Check Fund’s work and look forward to many strong proposals. This funding is aimed at supporting fact-checking efforts around the world at a critical time,” said Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the IFCN. “The work of fact-checkers helps provide the public with more accurate information to make decisions about their daily lives.”
$1 million is allotted for this BUILD phase, through awards of $25,000 each, for up to 40 organizations. This first phase for 2024 extends to both verified signatories and fact-checking organizations endorsed by a verified signatory. This can include nonprofit organizations, regional and nongovernmental organizations, for-profit organizations, research organizations, and academic institutes that are working to advance fact-checking.
BUILD applications close May 17, 2024.
The IFCN network includes 135 organizations in 65 countries across 80 languages who have signed onto the IFCN Code of Principles, which sets standards for accuracy, transparency and nonpartisanship in fact-checking. The $12 million Global Fact Check Fund aims to strengthen and develop over three years the operational, production and engagement capacities of local and regional media organizations to increase the quality, volume and frequency of fact-checking capacity and activities.
The fund is currently supporting 75 fact-checking projects across 47 countries through the 2023 BUILD, GROW and ENGAGE grants.
The next phase of the effort, GROW 2024, will open applications in mid-summer. This is a project-based grant program to support the capacity of verified signatories that are ready to invest in new methods in fact-checking beyond basic operational support. These grants of $50,000 each may include increasing staffing; expanding or creating programs designed to address training needs; launching fundraising initiatives; diversifying revenue streams; expanding data analytic tools; and growing partnerships and collaborations.
To apply for the BUILD 2024 grant as well as review criteria, visit our landing page: https://www.poynter.org/ifcn/grants-ifcn/globalfactcheckfund/ Some criteria have changed since the 2023 round.
A Q&A webinar will be held on April 24, 2024. More details and registration may be found at our landing page.:
To learn more about the IFCN, visit poynter.org/ifcn.
Media Contact:
Angie Drobnic Holan
Director, International Fact-Checking Network
aholan@poynter.org
+1-727-410-1770
About The Poynter Institute
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The Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), MediaWise and PolitiFact are all members of the Poynter organization.
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