Impact Seed Fund (ISF)

GRANT OVERVIEW

We invite university educators and researchers in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia to use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism to develop impactful educational initiatives on climate and environmental issues. The Impact Seed Fund (ISF) is a microscale grant to support education and research activities with the aim to enrich the perspectives and knowledge within the university community—specifically students and educators. 

Central to the program is the intentional use of Pulitzer Center-supported journalism on the climate and the environment as a key resource and reflection in classrooms and beyond. The ISF facilitates a deeper understanding of complex issues by connecting multidisciplinary knowledge, learning activities, and field-based reporting. It encourages critical thinking about systemic issues and constructive approaches that address the most pressing challenges facing the ecosystem and the communities who rely on them.  

The 2026 ISF focuses on ocean, transparency and governance, and climate change, rainforests, and its interconnection with workers and vulnerable communities. Types of ISF projects we are supporting:

1. Integrate journalism into teaching and learning
   Supporting the integration of insights from Pulitzer Center-supported reporting—including documentaries, photography, podcasts, infographics, and data visualizations—into teaching syllabi, course materials or lesson plans, and student immersive learning activities. 
2. Inform research, scientific panel, and public dialogues
   Using insights from Pulitzer Center-supported reporting—including findings, datasets, and methodologies—as evidence to inform academic research, comparative studies, scientific dialogues, and decision-making processes.
3. Strengthen cross-sector collaboration
   Catalyzing Pulitzer Center-supported journalism to foster collaboration among universities, journalists, Indigenous and affected communities, and local institutions. Grounding these partnerships in shared priorities to advance meaningful dialogue, facilitate exchange of ideas across knowledge systems, and support locally relevant responses.

REGIONAL GUIDELINES

All applicants must visit the Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia regional pages for region-specific details, requirements, and guidelines. ISF grants range from USD $2,500 to $4,000, varying by region. Applicants should read through guidelines that are appropriate to their region or countries. We expect projects to be implemented within six-eight months of approval. 

Africa

REGIONAL GRANT

Guidelines

• English

• French

focusing on Rainforests & Climate and Labor

APPLY NOW

Latin America

REGIONAL GRANT

Guidelines

• português

• espanhol

focusing on Transparency and Governance

APPLY NOW

focusing on the Ocean

APPLY NOW

focusing on Climate and Labor

APPLY NOW

Southeast Asia

REGIONAL GRANT

Guidelines

• English

• bahasa Indonesia

focusing on Rainforests, the Ocean, & Transparency and Governance

APPLY NOW

DAFTAR SEKARANG

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

1. University professors or researchers based in an institution 
2. Applicants are welcome to propose a project through a consortia of educators from universities in one or more regions. 
3. See our eligibility guidelines in the regional information box at the beginning of the page for Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

REQUIREMENTS

Proposals must use at least one story reported by Pulitzer Center-supported journalists. Please see below for reference:

• For the topic of rainforests: Applicants need to explore stories from the Rainforest Investigations Network and the Rainforest Reporting initiative.
• For the topic of the ocean: Applicants need to explore stories from the Ocean Reporting Network.
• For the topic of climate and labor: Applicants need to explore stories from the Our Work/Environment initiative.
• For the topic of transparency and governance, applicants need to explore curated stories with the issue of transparency and governance. The T&G explores the intersections between rainforest, ocean, and climate & labor issues, with a particular focus on opaque financial schemes, mismanagement, abuse of power, and other systemic forms of exploitation.
• The project must demonstrate a strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion approach. See the Pulitzer Center’s DEI statement for more information.

Examples include: collaboration with Pulitzer Center network journalists in the activity design upon proposal approval; utilization of key data/information from the journalists’ reporting in proposal outputs or activities.

The proposal must present intended impacts in the academic community (students or faculty/research fellows) and broader civil society that contribute to systemic change, aligned with the following outcomes:

• Improve the awareness and critical thinking of students and educators about complex issues related to tropical forests, the ocean, and the climate crisis, including their impacts on vulnerable communities, and encourage the exploration of solutions to address these impacts.
• Equip students and educators to take action and drive changes to foster protection of the social and environment discourse as well as the rights of those most affected by socio-environmental destruction.

Projects are encouraged to collaborate meaningfully with affected communities; for example, co-creating projects with Indigenous people, community leaders, or working directly with local communities, in collaboration with universities in the territory.

The project must demonstrate a strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion approach. See the Pulitzer Center’s DEI statement for more information.

TIMELINE

For more information, please contact the responsible managers:

• Grenti Paramitha (Southeast Asia region) | [email protected] 
• Maria Rosa Darrigo (Latin America region) | [email protected]
• Eric Selemani (Africa region) | [email protected]