Deadline: August 30, 2025
Applications are open for the Montclair State University Civic Science Media Projects 2025. The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is delighted to announce a funding opportunity for civic science media projects, thanks to support from the Rita Allen Foundation. The awards aim to accelerate civic science media collaborations across the United States with funding and coaching.
This is the second open call for pilot awards in support of projects that can bridge the gap between scientists, media, and communities, with a focus on increasing public participation in science, expanding public deliberation about emerging science and creating opportunities for science to be informed by diverse communities.
The award builds on a global research project conducted in 2020 and 2021 by the Center that studied how and why journalists and civil society organizations around the world collaborate to achieve and increase impact. Led by Dr. Sarah Stonbely and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research showed that journalists have become more willing to partner with civil society organizations in order to achieve tangible impact on issues such as corruption, governance, climate and environment, and human rights.
Awards
A total of 10 awards up to $15,000 each are available. This opportunity is not meant to fund long-term, multi-year partnerships, but rather short-term pilots that:
- Foster ongoing, multidirectional dialogue between media organizations, scientists, and local communities.
- Include direct community participation in the scientific and/or media-creation process, ensuring that local concerns and perspectives substantially influence the conversation.
- Enhance science literacy by making complex scientific topics more accessible and engaging.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting work primarily in the United States or have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor. (Note: Awards will be made to organizations, not individuals.)
- A science partner should be an organization that has science as its core focus, including civil society organizations, universities, standalone research institutes, etc. The science partner should be committed to advancing a culture in which science is strengthened through collaboration with people across diverse issues and experiences, or an organization working to ensure that science, evidence, and public engagement help to inform solutions to society’s most pressing problems. This includes NGOs, universities, civic tech, and arts organizations, among others.
- A media partner should be a media-making organization that regularly produces original news content, either digitally, in print or broadcast. The media partner should ideally not be a startup and should have a track record of producing high-quality, accurate, and ethical reporting. This may include news outlets, media organizations, or other entities that are dedicated to informing the public about current events and issues of public interest.
Application
As soon as you apply, you’ll get a confirmation email that includes a copy of your application. The window to apply will close on August 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified on September 30, 2025.
For more information, visit Civic Science Media Projects.
