The Rainforest Reporting Grant is the evolution of the Rainforest Journalism Fund (RJF), designed to support and strengthen independent journalism in the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. Over the past five years, the RJF has supported more than 300 reporting projects involving over 600 journalists, resulting in more than 1,700 published reports. These investigations have contributed to outcomes such as sanctions against corporate mining activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), policy revisions to a government agricultural programme in Indonesia, and increased international attention to widespread illegal wildlife trade.

Through this grant, the Pulitzer Center continues to provide short-term project funding for journalists reporting on tropical forests while encouraging more ambitious, large-scale reporting projects, as well as collaborative and innovative approaches. Grants typically range from $8,000 to $15,000, depending on the scope of the project. Specific grant terms are negotiated during the application process. The Rainforest Reporting Grant is supported by Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI).

Applications for both regional and international reporting projects are reviewed by editors with expertise in the relevant regions and subject areas. Journalists may submit applications in English, French, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese, or Spanish, and the final reports may be produced in these or other languages.

Applicants must indicate in their proposal whether the project requires immediate action or involves reporting in a hostile or dangerous environment. If either applies, journalists are required to adhere to the ACOS Alliance Principles. Freelance journalists planning to report from conflict zones or hostile environments must have a confirmed assignment from a news organisation that agrees to assume full responsibility for their safety and well-being.

Applicants must submit the following documents. Please note that there is no application deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and unsuccessful applicants may reapply immediately.

• A description of the proposed project in no more than 250 words.
• A comprehensive publication plan. Letters of interest or commitment from editors or news outlets should be included.
• A preliminary budget with a basic breakdown of projected costs. Grant funding covers the direct costs of reporting; applicants should not include personal stipends. Fees for local reporting partners, translators, and drivers are eligible expenses.
• Three samples of previously published work (print, broadcast, or multimedia).
• Three professional references, either as contact information or letters of recommendation. Letters from interested editors or producers are strongly encouraged.
• A copy of your curriculum vitae (CV).
• Applicants may also include a more detailed project description as an optional supplement. However, the 250-word project summary remains the most important component of the application.

All application materials must be written in English. Click the link below for more details:

https://pulitzercenter.org/grants-fellowships/tips-writing-successful-pulitzer-center-grant-proposal