Justice For Journalists Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??766,003 (expenditure FY 2024-25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Typically 1 month from application
• Grant Range: Up to $80,000 USD per grant
• Geographic Focus: International (40+ countries supported)
• Current Status: Grant programme concluded September 2024; future programmes may be initiated

Contact Details

• Website: https://jfj.fund/
• Email: info@jfj.fund
• Phone: 020 3769 6429
• Address: 16 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AH
• Charity Number: 1201812
• Company Number: 13882886

Overview

Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) was established in 2018 by Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Leonid Nevzlin following the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic. As a London-based registered charity, JFJ's mission is to fight impunity for attacks against media workers worldwide. Between January 2019 and September 2024, the Foundation ran a five-year investigative grant programme that supported over 80 media outlets, independent journalists, and media freedom NGOs from 40 countries. The Foundation received an initial pledge of $5 million from its founders. For the financial year ending January 2025, the charity reported total income of ??306,485 and total expenditure of ??766,003. The Foundation is a partner of the Council of Europe's Safety of Journalists Platform and a signatory of the ACOS Alliance. In April 2025, the Russian Ministry of Justice labelled JFJ an 'undesirable organisation' on Russian territory.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Investigative Grant Programme (2019-2024 - Currently Closed)

• Grant Amount: Up to $80,000 USD per project
• Application Method: Online application (when active)
• Languages: English or Russian
• Coverage: Hard costs including airfare, hotels, meals, ground transportation, fixers, translators, and reasonable fees for project duration

Note: The application process is currently closed. Future investigative grant programmes may be initiated by the Trustees with details posted on the website.

Priority Areas

The Foundation focused specifically on:

• Investigations into violence and abuse against journalists - Both professional and citizen journalists
• Crimes against media workers - In both wartime and peacetime contexts
• Impunity for attacks on media - Supporting investigations that bring perpetrators to justice
• Media freedom documentation - Research and reporting on threats to press freedom
• Geographic Focus: While international in scope, particular attention to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and regions where press freedom is under threat

What They Don't Fund

• Projects unrelated to violence or abuse against journalists
• General journalism projects not focused on investigating attacks against media
• Projects supporting political agendas (the Foundation is explicitly non-partisan)

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Governance and Leadership

Founders

• Mikhail Khodorkovsky - Founder of Open Russia pro-democracy movement, former CEO of Yukos oil company, and Amnesty International-recognized prisoner of conscience
• Leonid Nevzlin - Businessman, philanthropist, former managing director of Yukos, founder of the Museum of the Jewish People (Israel), and co-owner of Israeli newspaper Haaretz

Advisory Board Members

• Mikhail Khodorkovsky
• Leonid Nevzlin
• Jeff Gedmin - Former president of RFE/Radio Liberty, Research Council Member at the National Endowment for Democracy, Senior Fellow at Georgetown University
• Luke Harding - Foreign correspondent for The Guardian, author of “Collusion: How Russia Helped Trump Win the White House”
• David Satter - Former special correspondent on Russian affairs for the Wall Street Journal, former head of FT in Russia
• Dmitry Muratov - Novaya Gazeta founder (Nobel Peace Prize laureate)

Trustee Information

• Number of Trustees: 3
• Trustee Compensation: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity

Key Quote from Leadership

Mikhail Khodorkovsky stated at the Foundation's launch: “The vast majority of murders of journalists remain unpunished, and there currently exists no international mechanism for pursuing and obtaining justice. This is a call to action, and this foundation is a pathway to justice.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Applications are currently closed as the five-year grant programme concluded in September 2024.

When Active:

• Online application via the JFJ website (jfj.fund)
• Applications submitted in English or Russian
• Applicants receive confirmation of receipt within one week of submission

Pre-Application Requirements:

• For conflict zone reporting: Proposals must demonstrate strict adherence to ACOS Alliance safety principles
• Staff journalists required news organization assignment confirmation
• Established media/NGOs preferred with proven track record

Decision Timeline

• Review Period: Typically one calendar month from submission to decision
• Notification Method: Direct communication to applicants
• Example Timeline (2022 cycle): Applications reviewed March 6 - April 30, decisions announced May 3 (World Press Freedom Day)

Success Rates

The Foundation supported over 80 media outlets, independent journalists, and media freedom NGOs across 40 countries over the five-year programme (2019-2024). However, specific success rate percentages or total application numbers were not publicly disclosed.

The Foundation gave preference to:

• Established media organizations
• NGOs with stringent reporting procedures
• Organizations with proven track record of successful projects

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed for the concluded programme. Future programme policies would be announced if the Trustees initiate new grant cycles.

Application Success Factors

Safety and Training Requirements

Critical for applications involving dangerous environments:

• ACOS Alliance Compliance: Strict adherence to safety principles required for hostile environment reporting
• Safety Training: First Aid and Hostile Environment Training required for conflict zone reporting (Foundation covers training costs from accredited organizations)
• Safety Equipment: Procurement of helmets, vests, and locator beacons for conflict zones
• Insurance: Free emergency insurance coverage provided to all grant recipients

What Made Applications Stand Out

1. Established Track Record: The Foundation preferred organizations with proven successful projects and stringent reporting procedures

1. Clear Investigation Focus: Projects must focus specifically on investigating violence and abuse against journalists, not general journalism

1. Professional Safety Standards: Demonstrated commitment to ACOS Alliance principles and safety protocols

1. Experienced Personnel: Both professional journalists and non-professional investigators (bloggers, social activists) were eligible, but experience mattered

1. Language Capability: Applications in English or Russian

Additional Support Provided

• Media security training through Orkhan Dzhemal Media Safety Academy (Russian-language training for professional journalists, citizen journalists, and bloggers)
• Educational materials on threats to media freedom and protection methods
• Emergency insurance coverage
• Cost coverage for safety training

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Programme Currently Closed: The five-year investigative grant programme concluded in September 2024. Monitor the website (jfj.fund) for announcements of future programmes that may be initiated by Trustees.

• Highly Specialized Focus: This is not a general journalism funder. Projects must specifically investigate violence, abuse, or attacks against journalists and media workers to align with the Foundation's mission.

• Safety is Paramount: Applications for dangerous environment reporting required demonstrable commitment to ACOS Alliance safety principles, proper training, and equipment. The Foundation's partnership origins (murder of three journalists) make safety protocols non-negotiable.

• Track Record Matters: The Foundation preferred established media outlets and NGOs with proven successful projects over newer organizations, though both professional and citizen journalists were eligible.

• International Scope: Over five years, the Foundation supported work in 40+ countries, demonstrating genuine global reach despite being UK-based.

• Substantial Awards: Grants up to $80,000 USD were available, covering comprehensive project costs including travel, fixers, translators, and reasonable fees.

• Fast Decisions: One-month typical turnaround from application to decision demonstrated efficient review processes compared to many funders.

References

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation website - About Us. https://jfj.fund/about-us/

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation - Grant Application page. https://jfj.fund/grant-application/

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation - Investigative Grant Programme. https://jfj.fund/investigative-grants/

1. UK Charity Commission - Justice for Journalists Foundation (Charity 1201812). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5197125

1. Khodorkovsky.com - “Mikhail Khodorkovsky Announces Launch of Foundation for International Investigations of Crimes Against Media: Justice for Journalists.” https://khodorkovsky.com/mikhail-khodorkovsky-announces-launch-foundation-international-investiga-tions-crimes-media-justice-journalists/

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_for_Journalists

1. Council of Europe Safety of Journalists Platform - Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ). https://safetyofjournalists.org/civil-society/justice-for-journalists-foundation-jfj

1. ACOS Alliance - Industry Standard for Safety Training. https://www.acosalliance.org/industry-standard-for-safety-training

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation newsletters (October 2025, March 2025, January 2025). https://jfj.fund/