The Chicago Journalism Mental Health Fund
IWMF
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- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Closes
- No deadline published by the funder
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Amount
Amount not published by the funder
Who can apply
The fund will provide mental health grants to individual journalists of all genders based or working in Cook County facing acute psychological distress resulting from their work. Journalists with an existing therapist, as well as those seeking assistance identifying a therapist to work with, are eligible to apply. We recommend the JTSN Therapy Directory as a trusted resource for identifying therapists who specialize in the mental health needs of journalists. Eligibility Criteria: Be a staff or freelance journalist working in any medium, whose primary profession is journalism. Please note: emergency grants are not available to student journalists.; Journalists who have been recently laid off or who have had to step away from reporting due to the lasting emotional or physical impacts of thei...
About this opportunity
This application is for The Chicago Journalism Mental Health Fund, established by the International Women’s Media Foundation and supported by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Journalists today face escalating threats that extend far beyond the newsroom, including harassment, legal intimidation, physical violence, and coordinated online abuse, with women, journalists of color, and LGBTQI+ journalists disproportionately targeted. In Chicago, reporters on the ground have faced aggressive tactics while documenting immigration enforcement and protests, with some injured despite clearly identifying themselves as members of the press. The cumulative psychological toll of these experiences contributes to trauma, burnout, and journalists leaving the profession at a time when trusted, diverse voi...