Promoting the work and advancing the role of women and nonbinary journalists across the globe is critical to advancing transparency and diversity in the news media.

The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists (FWJ), the first funding initiative of its kind, supports journalists and journalism projects including, but not limited to, professional development opportunities, investigative reporting and media development initiatives led by women and nonbinary people. Established with a $4 million gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, FWJ has supported more than 330 journalists from 47 countries since its inception in 2015.

Applications for FWJ are accepted on a rolling basis and are open to journalists of all nationalities. Learn more about application guidelines here. Questions not answered in the guidelines can be directed to Taylor Moore at tmoore@iwmf.org.

Apply to the Fund for Women Journalists >>

Please note that applications may take up to 8 weeks for the IWMF to process, from October 2023 to April 2024. At this time, we are unable to accommodate large grant requests of more than $10,000.

“This Fund will give outstanding women journalists the ability to turn their reporting ambitions into reality.” — Howard G. Buffett

I have always wanted to do this story, but because I couldn’t access funding, it stalled for a very long time. The [Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists] gave me the opportunity to make this project a reality. It brought me closer to the people, to be able to see their stories through their eyes from places that rarely make it to the news.
Zainab Bala
In-depth field reporting is one of the most important aspects of environmental reporting. While we often talk about the repercussions of an extractive industry on the environment, the communities that live close to it, and the various ways in which their lives become intrinsically associated with those very extractive industries, their stories often fall through the cracks. The IWMF grant gave me the opportunity to look into those cracks, and bring those stories out. In turn, this form of reportage, where the lines between right and wrong are blurred, has come to become my strength.
Supriya Vohra