The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism is officially seeking applications from experienced journalists with compelling ideas for high-impact stories that “Follow the Money”.
This prestigious program aims to bridge the resource gap for reporters who have identified significant investigative leads but lack the financial backing to execute them.
These Business Journalism Fellowships support the production of deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories that feature a strong economic, financial, or business angle.
The Center focuses on projects that provide fresh insight into critical topics, ranging from corporate accountability to economic inequality.
Notably, applicants do not need to be dedicated business reporters to qualify. Previous Fellows have included generalists and beat reporters covering diverse sectors such as health care, education, and the environment.
For the upcoming cycle, the Center is particularly interested in story proposals that examine the local or national impact of changes in federal spending and policy priorities.
This focus reflects the massive shifts currently occurring in the economic and political landscape.
Funding and benefits
Successful applicants for the Business Journalism Fellowships will receive a grant of up to $15,000 to cover the time and expenses required to complete their project.
The exact funding amount is determined based on the complexity of the story and the reporting needs involved.
For freelance journalists, the fellowship provides a unique flexibility by allowing a portion of the grant to be used as a stipend for living expenses.
Unlike many programs, this is a non-residency fellowship, meaning all McGraw Fellows continue to work from their own offices.
Beyond financial aid, the McGraw Center provides comprehensive editorial supervision and support during the reporting phase.
The Center also assists Fellows in placing their completed stories in established print, digital, or audio outlets.
Application requirements and eligibility
The program is open to both freelance and staff journalists who possess at least five years of professional experience in the field.
Reporters working at news organizations or journalism non-profits are encouraged to apply, often in the name of their respective organizations.
To apply, journalists must submit a well-focused story proposal of no more than three pages that acts as a formal pitch.
Additionally, applicants must provide a current resume and three journalism samples that showcase their ability to execute in-depth, complex reporting.
The Center welcomes projects in various formats, including text, audio, photo, and short-form video.
While the fellowship does not support long-form documentaries, it strongly encourages multimedia packages that combine different media formats.
Deadline
The application window for the Spring 2026 Fellowships is currently open to journalists worldwide.
All required materials must be submitted through the online application portal no later than April 13, 2026.
Visit the Business Journalism Fellowships page to apply. Explore our global opportunities page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
