Media Forward Fund

The Media Forward Fund supports public-benefit media organizations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in establishing sustainable business models in science and data journalism. Starting in 2025, Launch Grants of €75,000 each will be awarded to enable innovative formats to enter the market and test product/market fit. From 2026 onwards, additional growth funding of up to €400,000 will be available to support projects with proven success in expanding public-benefit revenue streams. In addition to financial support, funded organizations benefit from capacity building, individual coaching, and specialized workshops tailored specifically to the challenges faced by independent quality media.

The fund’s goal is to sustainably strengthen the democratic function of journalism through independent science and data journalism. By promoting projects that ensure data-based and well-founded reporting, transparency is created and misinformation is countered. The fund is managed by the Joachim Herz Foundation together with other foundations and partners, who are providing a total of €1.4 million for this funding line. Eligible applicants are exclusively non-profit organizations based in the aforementioned countries whose journalistic activities are oriented towards societal benefit. The Media Forward Fund targets initiatives that aim to close a media gap through high-quality science and data journalism content and further develop their financial viability.