The Illinois Press Foundation (IPF) is dedicated to promoting and protecting free expression through educational activities that foster the practice and respect for First Amendment principles and values, to enhance the quality of services provided by newspapers to their communities, and to support reading and literacy efforts.
Toward that end, IPF offers grants to Illinois organizations that support:
Journalism education
First Amendment causes
Career development
Readership development
Free press
Consumer education on media issues
Community newspaper outreach programs
For assistance in formulating ideas for the grant, please contact
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at (217) 241-1300.
Two (2) complete applications – one hard copy and one electronic must be submitted to IPF. The electronic application, including the document and all attachments, can be sent via email or CD-ROM. Physical and virtual addresses are listed on the last page of the application.
You must complete the grant application in full, which includes the project funding information with the following attachments: a cover letter (Attachment A), and a budget (Attachment B).
IPF Grant Guidelines
What can be funded?
Projects will be evaluated upon their creativity and educational value, as well as the project’s potential to strengthen journalism in the state.
While the IPF will not define what projects may be funded because of its inability to know all the possibilities, here are some successful project characteristics:
Presents new ideas: is creative and has educational value
Can be easily reproduced in other regions of the State
Will raise a newspapers profile in their community
Has matching or additional funds
Is partnered with another viable organization
What cannot be funded?
Operating deficits
Fundraising campaigns or dinners
Travel (unless associated with a project)
How do I apply?
Complete the grant application in full, which includes project funding information with the following attachments: Cover Letter (Attachment A) and a budget (Attachment B).
How will the results of the project be measured?
In order to receive project funding, a detailed process for measuring the results must accompany the funding application.
