Independent Journalism Consortium in Europe

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) is soliciting applications for a single cooperative agreement of approximately $1 million to support fact-based independent journalism in Europe, with applications due September 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit businesses. Applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active registration in SAM.gov; technical eligibility requires submission through Grants.gov or MyGrants by the deadline, with all documents in English and costs in U.S. dollars.

The project performance period spans up to 24 months with an anticipated start date of September 28, 2026. DRL may consider non-competitive continuation grants beyond the initial budget period subject to fund availability and satisfactory progress.

The program establishes and strengthens a non-partisan consortium of journalists and independent media organizations across the European Union and other European countries to produce high-quality independent reporting on public policy issues affecting democracy and fundamental freedoms. Applicants must address two primary objectives: producing and disseminating well-researched, fact-based reporting on critical policy issues including mass migration, religious freedom, expression, national sovereignty, and demographic trends; and establishing a distinct non-partisan consortium with peer-to-peer information sharing, professional development, joint reporting efforts, and organizational development. DRL recommends dedicating a minimum of thirty percent of funding to subgrants and subcontracts with smaller implementing partners.

Evaluation criteria include program idea quality, organizational capacity, ability to achieve objectives, budget reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation planning, and sustainability. Applicants must comply with post-award requirements including annual workplans, monitoring and evaluation narratives, quarterly progress reports, and federal compliance certifications related to trafficking in persons, anti-discrimination laws, and the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policy.

The Assistance Listing number is 19.345 (International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). Indirect costs may be claimed through an established Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or up to fifteen percent of Modified Total Direct Costs.