Immediate Grants to Support Federal Election Coverage
Ottawa – The Public Policy Forum (PPF), the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) and the Michener Awards Foundation (MAF) are launching a timely, non-partisan granting initiative to support journalists at small- and medium-sized media outlets in covering the 2025 federal election. The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund seeks to enhance journalistic coverage by providing financial resources to ensure high-quality information is produced for Canadians during this campaign.
Up to $500,000 will be distributed through grants of up to $35,000. Grants will facilitate election-related travel and in-depth reporting that would not otherwise be possible. Applications will be judged by the Michener Awards Foundation and a minimum of 15 grants will be awarded.
“This unique initiative offers local journalists a chance to get out and cover the issues and perspectives Canadian citizens truly need at this time,” said Margo Goodhand, President of the Michener Awards Foundation. “In an age of social media, disinformation and gossip, Covering Canada aims to help fund strong public service journalism – journalism that strengthens our communities, our country and our democracy.”
“The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund addresses a critical challenge: As journalism business models collapse, particularly among small and medium-sized media, high-quality, fact-based election coverage is no longer guaranteed,” said Inez Jabalpurwala, PPF president and CEO. “We are pleased to be helping to address this problem by working with leading philanthropists who recognize that journalistic coverage of issues important to Canadian voters is key to a strong democracy.”
The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund has been made possible through the generous contributions of Echo Foundation, The Gordon Foundation and The Rossy Foundation.
“Enabling a better-informed citizenry is a non-partisan priority that benefits all Canadians,” said Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation. “The philanthropic sector has an important role to play in ensuring a wide variety of voices and perspectives contribute to covering the election, providing Canadians with access to relevant, unbiased reporting that can help them make informed decisions. This project will help to cover stories that otherwise might not have been told. It will support smaller local newsrooms, public service journalism, and Canadian democracy – all at the same time.”
Key application details:
- Grants will support Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations (QCJOs) with fewer than 20 editorial staff. Non-QCJO applicants with strong journalistic credentials may also be considered.
- Funding decisions will strive for a broad geographic representation of media outlets, as well as a wide variety of communities covered.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Grants will primarily support election coverage during the last 21 days of the election.
- Visit https://www.michenerawards.ca/election-2025-fund/ for more information and to apply.
A Post-Election Report to Guide Future Policy
PPF, in collaboration with RHF and MAF, will produce a post-election report analyzing the role of journalism in the election and providing policy recommendations.
About the Public Policy Forum (PPF):
PPF is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to improving Canadian democracy and public policy through research and convening.
www.ppforum.ca
About the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF):
RHF is a national non-partisan charitable organization working to strengthen Canada’s democracy, leadership, learning, and innovation sectors.
www.rhf-frh.ca
About the Michener Awards Foundation (MAF):
MAF promotes and celebrates excellence in Canadian journalism, recognizing impactful public service reporting.
www.michenerawards.ca
Media Contacts:
Allison MacLachlan
Director of External Relations and Public Engagement
Rideau Hall Foundation
Allison.maclachlan@rhf-frh.ca
Alison Uncles
Vice-President
PPF Media + Communications
Public Policy Forum
auncles@ppforum.ca
