About the opportunity
The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism provides grants and editorial support to experienced journalists to produce deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories with a strong economic, financial, or business angle. The fellowship is not a residency; fellows work from their own offices. It supports a variety of media formats, including text, audio, and short-form video, but does not support long-form documentaries.
Funding and benefits
- Grant of up to $15,000 per project.
- Editorial supervision and support during the reporting phase.
- Assistance with placing completed stories in established print, audio, or digital outlets.
- Publication of stories on the McGraw Center website.
- Freelance journalists may use a portion of the funding as a stipend for living expenses.
Who can apply?
- Journalists with at least five years of professional experience in journalism.
- Open to freelance journalists, as well as reporters and editors currently working at a news organization or a journalism non-profit.
- Applicants must be US citizens, US residents, or pay taxes in the US.
Required documents
- Story proposal (maximum 3 pages)
- Three journalism samples (professionally published)
- Up-to-date resume
When to apply
- Fall 2026 applications are due October 12, 2026.
- Spring 2027 applications are due October 12, 2027.
- Time-sensitive projects may be considered on a case-by-case basis outside of deadline periods.
How to apply
- Submit a well-focused story proposal (maximum 3 pages) via the online application form.
- Include three professionally published journalism samples that showcase the ability to tackle in-depth stories in the proposed medium.
- Provide an up-to-date resume.
- Finalists will be asked to provide references from two editors or others familiar with their work.
- Finalists will also be asked to provide an estimated budget.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Experienced journalists with at least five years of professional work
- Freelancers or staff reporters looking for resources to pursue investigative business stories
- Journalists capable of producing high-impact work in text, audio, or short-form video
What should you think carefully about?
- Applicants must be US citizens, residents, or tax-payers in the US
- The fellowship is not a residency; you must be prepared to manage your own workspace and reporting logistics
- The proposal must be well-focused and supported by a strong portfolio of previously published work
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This fellowship is designed for journalists who have a specific, ambitious story in mind but lack the time or funding to execute it. It provides the financial support and editorial guidance necessary to produce high-quality, investigative journalism that can advance your career and influence public discourse.
Our take
Experienced journalists with a compelling business or economic story proposal should apply. Those looking for a traditional office-based residency or long-form documentary funding should look elsewhere.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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