As artificial intelligence grows more advanced, the technology and the people building it grow increasingly consequential.​ They believe journalism plays a crucial role in helping the public understand AI — and in holding companies and policymakers to account.

They seek to fund forward-looking stories, examining how today’s technical advancements and policy decisions lay the groundwork for how artificial intelligence will shape our future. In particular, we seek to fund reporting on five focus areas:

Investigations into frontier AI companies

National and international AI policymaking

Integration of AI in governments and militaries

AI capabilities, safeguards, and evaluations

Future of work and society in an age of advanced AI

ELIGIBILITY:

They welcome submissions from all experienced journalists and media creators: both staff writers/editors/producers and freelancers are welcome to apply. Journalists with an investigative background are particularly encouraged to apply. A background in reporting on AI and/or technology is desirable but not mandatory.

You do not need to have an outlet secured before applying, although we encourage it. If you can’t secure a letter of interest from an editor before your application, we’ll ask you to obtain one before we distribute any funding (see template). Your publication or distribution platform of choice must be able to accept grant funding for stories. 

When evaluating applications, they look for:

Potential for Impact. We care about stories that make a difference. We want the reporting we enable to help society navigate the challenges ushered in by increasingly capable and widespread AI systems, whether that be by raising awareness of an underdiscussed harm or catalyzing policy change.​​​​

Reach. We hope grantees’ stories will be read, heard, or viewed widely, and by people with decision-making power. We prefer to fund stories that are likely to be published in established and influential outlets.

Journalistic experience. We look to fund journalists with a track record of impressive reporting. We tend to only fund journalists who have written at least one piece like the original journalism they’re proposing, whether that’s an ambitious investigation or a captivating explainer.

Feasibility. We look for pitches and budgets that demonstrate a realistic plan for how to pull off the proposed story.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact michel@tarbellfellowship.org. To be considered, apply by the end of the day on September 14th, 2025.​

They welcome applications from anywhere in the world. While certain countries occasionally present problems when disbursing charitable grants, they make every effort to disburse all grants in full while following the letter and spirit of all relevant laws and regulations. They do not disburse grants to any individual or organization listed on the OFAC List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

BENEFIT:

Tarbell offers grants of $1,000 – $15,000 to support original reporting published in established outlets, whether from freelancers or staff. They primarily focus on written journalism, but they also fund journalism in other formats.