Independent Journalism Consortium in Europe

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, is offering the Independent Journalism Consortium for Democratic Resilience in Europe under funding opportunity DFOP0019671. The program is an open competition designed to support fact-based independent journalism focused on public policy issues affecting sovereignty, civilizational values, fundamental freedoms, and democratic governance in Europe. DRL expects to make one cooperative agreement of approximately USD 1,000,000, with total available funding of approximately USD 1,000,000, subject to availability of funds. The anticipated project start date is September 28, 2026, and the proposed project must be completed within 24 months or less. Continuation funding beyond the initial budget period may be considered noncompetitively, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory program progress, and a determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Department of State. The program seeks to produce and disseminate well-researched, fact-based, unique, independent, and non-partisan reporting that informs public debate about policy issues affecting democracy and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Reporting should identify and examine long-term impacts of public policies on democratic governance and fundamental freedoms and their connections to broader social, cultural, and political trends. Potential subjects include mass migration, freedoms of religion and expression, national sovereignty and identity, demographic trends, family formation, public attitudes toward government policies, and the effects of national and European Union policies and regulations. Proposed reporting should consist of long-form, deeply researched journalism rather than opinion, editorial content, or day-to-day political reporting on isolated events. Applicants must include a detailed dissemination plan addressing media and platforms, metrics for reach or engagement, dissemination capabilities or assets, and the rationale for the proposed approach. A second objective is to establish or strengthen a non-partisan consortium of reporters and independent journalism organizations across multiple European countries. The consortium is expected to facilitate information sharing, professional development, joint reporting, meetings and events, and potentially organizational development, legal registration, and fundraising. Activities must involve reporting and consortium members across at least three countries in the European Union and/or other European countries. Applications must involve substantial and substantive subgrant, contracting, and/or partnership arrangements with multiple individuals and organizations. DRL recommends dedicating a minimum of 30 percent of funding to subgrants and subcontracts with smaller implementing partners unless the applicant clearly demonstrates and explains limitations. Applications are strengthened by identifying at least one or two subrecipients at application and including letters of commitment. All proposed activities must be nonpartisan and consistent with the Establishment Clause and First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs, foreign-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs, private or public institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required and does not improve an application's competitive ranking. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and an active SAM.gov registration, subject to the stated exemption process. A primary applicant may submit only one application, although it may participate as a consortium member or subgrantee in applications submitted by other primary applicants. Award funds may not be provided to UNRWA, may not be used for the prohibited activities encouraging mass-migration caravans toward the United States southwest border, and may not be used for alcoholic beverages. Additional federal restrictions and certifications described in the NOFO apply, including applicable anti-discrimination, foreign funding disclosure, trafficking in persons, unmanned aircraft system, and Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants no later than September 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Required application forms are SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B. An optional summary page may also be provided. The proposal is limited to 15 pages and must address the proposal summary, applicant background and capacity, problem statement, goals and objectives, project activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel selection criteria, project partners and sub-awardees, monitoring and evaluation, and future funding or sustainability. Applicants must also provide a separate budget justification narrative and attachments including a line-item budget, applicable subgrantee budgets, letters of support from program partners, an applicable NICRA, required permission letters, and position descriptions and criteria for key personnel. Documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and the specified page and formatting requirements must be followed. Applicants are instructed to save a screenshot of the submission checklist showing all submitted documents. Eligible applications will be evaluated for the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and record on previous grants, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, budget quality and reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. A review committee will evaluate eligible applications, and the Department will also conduct the required risk review. If two or more applications receive equivalent scores, the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate will receive preference as a tie-breaking mechanism. Under the cooperative agreement, DRL expects substantial involvement, including approval of the workplan and key personnel, review and approval of subawards and subcontracts, program coordination, and regular policy and technical consultations. The annual workplan is due 45 days after the award is signed and annually thereafter, and key personnel information is due within 30 days after award signature. The anticipated project start date is September 28, 2026. Recipients will be required to submit financial and program reports at the frequency established in the final award, with the Federal Financial Report submitted through the Payment Management System and a copy uploaded to MyGrants. A final narrative and financial report is due within 120 days after expiration of the award. Questions about the application process may be sent to DRL-PRU-Solicitation@state.gov. Grants.gov technical assistance is available at support@grants.gov or +1 800 518 4726, and MyGrants technical assistance is available through the ILMS help desk at +1 888 313 4567. The September 1, 2026 application deadline is presented as a single deadline for this solicitation, and the NOFO does not establish a recurring application cycle.

Develop a detailed and feasible implementation plan focused on long-form fact-based non-opinion reporting; clearly explain the information gap and demonstrate high journalistic standards; provide a detailed dissemination plan with reach or engagement metrics; demonstrate experience collaborating with independent reporters and media organizations; build substantial subgrant contracting and partnership arrangements and consider dedicating at least 30 percent of funding to smaller implementing partners; include clear output and outcome indicators with targets and data collection methods; explain beneficiary feedback and lessons learned; demonstrate sustainability; maintain rigorous nonpartisanship; provide a detailed realistic budget tied to activities and anticipated results; submit during normal business hours when possible and retain a screenshot showing all submitted documents.