McGraw Fellowships for Investigative Business Reporting (Upto $15,000)

 

The Harold W. McGraw Jr. Business Journalism Fellowships offer a rare and significant opportunity for experienced journalists to secure financial support and editorial assistance to produce high‑impact stories focused on economics, business, finance, and related societal issues.

Administered by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, City University of New York (CUNY), this programme provides grants of up to $15,000 to help journalists bring ambitious investigative and enterprise reporting projects to life.

For spring 2026, applications are due April 13, 2026, and the fellowships are awarded twice a year, with another application deadline planned for October 12, 2026.

What the Fellowship Offers

The McGraw Fellowship provides more than money. Alongside a grant of up to $15,000, awardees receive editorial guidance from the McGraw Center’s team throughout the reporting and writing process.

Unlike some fellowships, recipients do not relocate; journalists work from their own locations while developing their projects.

Freelancers can use part of the funding as a stipend to help cover living costs during the reporting period.

Who Can Apply

This fellowship is designed for journalists with at least five years of professional experience, whether they are freelancers, staff reporters, or editors at news outlets or nonprofit organizations.

Candidates do not need to be specialized business reporters; many fellows have built strong proposals from beats like health care, education, the environment, or social justice, as long as their story idea has a clear economic or business dimension.

Journalists from diverse backgrounds and those reporting on local, regional, national, or global issues are all encouraged to apply.

What Kind of Stories Are Supported

The fellowship focuses on stories that “Follow the Money,” meaning projects that reveal economic dynamics shaping communities, industries, and public policy.

This can include investigative pieces that expose wrongdoing or financial mismanagement, deep enterprise stories about economic inequality, corporate accountability, or market shifts, and multimedia reporting that combines text, audio, photo, or video elements.

Application Deadlines to Remember

Spring 2026: April 13, 2026
Fall 2026: October 12, 2026

How to Apply

Applications are accepted twice yearly through the McGraw Center’s online portal.

Browse more opportunities here.