Sustainable Media for a Changing World Grant Program (Russia)

This program aims to provide institutional funding to strengthen media outlets, along with targeted grants with standalone projects and IT solutions to sustaining an independent press in today’s challenging environment. These grants will deliver vital resources to journalists and creators dedicated to transparent, fact-based reporting.

The main goals of the Program are to preserve the existing Russian-language media ecosystem, introduce cutting-edge technologies for content distribution, media management, and/or commercially viable solutions, and support impactful standalone projects and media projects that can generate program-related revenue for charitable non-profits.

The program’s objectives are to preserve the existing Russian-language media ecosystem, and introduce cutting-edge technologies. The Foundation for Democracy and Liberal Values (FDLV) supports work in three primary areas:

• Independent Media Outlets led by Russian exiles.
• New Media Technologies/Innovations that enhance content distribution, media management, and financial sustainability.
• Creative and Impactful Standalone Projects aimed at audiences both inside and outside Russia.

Types of Support

• Emergency Support: Provides temporary financial relief to media organizations, allowing them time to recalibrate their strategies and continue operations.
• Dedicated Funding for New Media Technologies/Innovations: One-time grants for the development or scaling of products, with potential cost-sharing based on project requirements.
• Dedicated Funding for Standalone Projects: One-time grants for new or existing projects by media organizations or individuals.

Funding Information

• Grant Sizes: Vary based on project type and support requested, with a maximum grant of $200K.
• Grants below $50K: No co-funding or diversity of funding required.
• Grants $50K-$100K: Preference for projects with co-funding.
• Grants $100K—$200K: Applicants must demonstrate financial management capacity and diverse funding sources.

Eligibility Criteria

• Media organizations led by Russian exiles and individuals working for the Russian-speaking audience can apply.
• The audience and country of origin criteria do not apply to media technologies or innovations project area. The FDLV awards grants to non-profit organizations, media organizations, or individuals.
• Organizations that have no infrastructure for receiving grants directly have to submit written consent from intermediary organizations that are officially registered as nonprofits. Intermediaries could charge up to 6% (max) of the grant amount for administration.
• For emergency funding, the FDLV considers only applications from existing media organizations. The FDLV will coordinate with other donors to avoid duplication of funding.
• For dedicated funding, the FDLV considers applications from organizations or individuals with a proven and well-recognized track record in journalism, IT solutions design, or literary work.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The FDLV doesn’t consider applications received from organizations that promote any specific political agenda or led by a perceived politician/politicians, affiliated with such individuals or a group or its editorial policy is influenced by this type of actors.

For more information, visit FDLV.