Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grants

The Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grants are offered jointly by the National Press Foundation and the National Press Club Journalism Institute to support U.S.-based journalists who focus on environmental justice and environmental racism. Established in 2021, the program honors the memory of Robert Kozik through a 1991 gift from his father, Dr. Franklin Kozik. These grants aim to spotlight and address the disproportionate environmental harms faced by disadvantaged communities, such as pollution and the impacts of climate change. The program supports storytelling and investigative journalism that advances understanding and accountability regarding environmental injustices. In 2025, up to $45,000 in total funding will be available, with individual grants of up to $15,000. The funding is open to journalists working in any medium, including print, digital, audio, or video. The grants are intended to support reporting, writing, and travel expenses. Freelancers may also allocate part of the funds toward living expenses. Grantees will receive mentorship coordinated by the National Press Club Journalism Institute and be part of a cohort offering mutual support. Grant recipients retain the copyright of their work, although the National Press Foundation and the Journalism Institute reserve the right to share the published pieces on their websites. Eligible applicants must submit a one- to two-page proposal explaining their project, a proposed budget, and potential publication outlet. Applicants must also submit three samples of past work. These samples do not have to be related to environmental justice, but the proposal should explain the connection between past work and the intended project. Newsroom journalists need to include a letter of support from a supervisor, while freelancers should submit a letter of interest from an assignment editor. Applications are due by May 27, 2025. Grants may be distributed on a rolling basis depending on application volume and requested amounts. Half of each grant is disbursed upon award, and the remaining half is paid after project completion. Completed work must be published or broadcast by December 31, 2025, unless an extension is granted. The published work must credit the “Kozik Grants funded by the National Press Foundation and the National Press Club Journalism Institute.” The National Press Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the skills and knowledge of journalists through training and educational opportunities. Its mission is to make good journalists better by educating them on complex issues and promoting excellence in journalism. The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club, works to strengthen a free and independent press and foster civic engagement through professional development and high journalistic standards.