Call for
Water Desk Grant
About Organisation
The Water Desk is an independent nonprofit journalism initiative focused on water-related issues in the Western United States. It aims to support journalists by providing funding, training, and resources to media professionals covering water challenges. The organization produces original reporting, multimedia content, and data visualizations, making these freely available to the public. Additionally, The Water Desk is committed to education and community engagement, working closely with students at the University of Colorado Boulder and the broader community to raise awareness and deepen understanding of water issues affecting the Western region.
About the Grant
The Water Desk offers grants to support a diverse range of journalistic projects, including newspapers, magazines, websites, video, radio, podcasts, and more. The grants specifically target reporting on water issues in the seven states of the Colorado River Basin: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as the borderlands of Northwest Mexico. Projects outside these areas are eligible if strongly connected to the basin’s water challenges. Topics may include climate change, biodiversity, pollution, public health, environmental justice, agriculture, drinking water, recreation, and economics. Funded by the Walton Family Foundation, these grants maintain strict editorial independence. Grant recipients must produce significant reporting that results in published content about Colorado River Basin water issues within six months.
Who can Apply?
The Water Desk grant program is open exclusively to journalists, including freelance reporters and staff members of media outlets. Applications from advocacy organizations or groups will not be considered. Journalists who have received prior funding from The Water Desk may apply again. Media outlets and individual journalists can collaborate on joint proposals, but the total funding cap remains $10,000 regardless of the number of participants. Grantees are required to complete their proposed projects within six months of receiving the grant. The program encourages diverse journalistic approaches and media formats.
How to Apply?
To apply, interested journalists must submit all required materials through The Water Desk’s online application form. Ensure that your proposal clearly addresses the grant’s focus and includes a detailed plan for the reporting project. Only applications submitted through the official form will be accepted.
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by Monday, June 16, 2025, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time to be considered for funding.
Last Date To Apply
The final date to submit your application is June 16, 2025, by 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Grant Amount
The Water Desk offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support impactful journalistic projects focused on the Colorado River Basin.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
