The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation

Charity Number: 1178876

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £224,069 (2023); £762,831 (2024)
Annual Income: £275,427 (2024)
Grant Range: Full fee scholarships (covering course fees) + living expense contributions; internship stipends above London Living Wage
Geographic Focus: UK (primarily London) and USA (New York)
Application Type: University-administered for scholarships; direct application for internships

Contact Details

Address: The Adelphi Building, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT

Phone: 020 7830 7018

Email:

General Secretary: secretary@marjoriedeane.com
Communications: comms@marjoriedeane.com

Website: www.marjoriedeane.com

Internship Alert Sign-up: https://forms.gle/Aa1WEYCBJrCWa1Gn7

Overview

The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation was established in 1998 by Marjorie Deane (1914-2008), a distinguished financial journalist at The Economist. Founded with an initial endowment of £1 million, the foundation's mission is to “advance the education of the public in financial and monetary theory and institutions and financial journalism.”

The foundation operates primarily in the UK and USA, supporting emerging journalists through three key channels: scholarships for postgraduate study in financial journalism at City St George's, University of London and New York University; paid internships at The Economist and Financial Times; and funding professorships at both universities. The foundation is managed by a volunteer board of trustees comprising prominent figures from The Economist and the financial journalism sector, who meet twice yearly to review finances and grant-making decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Marjorie Deane Intellectual Excellence Scholarships (City St George's)

Full fee scholarships covering course fees in full
Additional contribution toward living expenses for students in financial need
Up to four students supported annually
Two specific full fee awards: one for home student, one for international student
For MA Global Financial Journalism programme

2. NYU Scholarships and Fellowships

Funding for scholarships on NYU's MA programme in Business and Economic Reporting
Fellowship programs including mentoring
Annual Marjorie Deane Lecture and Dinner in New York
Support for summer school visits to London for NYU students

3. Internship Programme

Three-month paid internships at The Economist (some positions extended to six months)
Internships at Financial Times lasting up to six months
Living expense contributions alongside internship placements
FT internships pay above London Living Wage
Applications typically open in spring/autumn annually

4. Summer School Programme

Residential trips for students to study journalism internationally
City St George's students visit New York and Singapore
NYU students visit London and Shanghai
Collaboration with Fudan University in Shanghai

5. Professorships

Marjorie Deane Professor of Financial Journalism at City St George's, University of London
Marjorie Deane Professor of Journalism at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

Priority Areas

The foundation exclusively supports financial and business journalism education and training, specifically:

Postgraduate education in financial journalism
Practical work experience at leading financial publications
Academic research and teaching in financial and monetary theory
Development of skills in researching and writing about finance and economics
Vocational training in journalism for unemployed individuals or those facing redundancy

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has a highly specialized focus and does not fund:

General journalism training outside financial/business journalism
Undergraduate programmes
Journalism in other specializations (political, sports, investigative, etc.)
Organizations or projects outside their established partnerships with City St George's, NYU, The Economist, and Financial Times
Individual applicants not enrolled in or applying to their partner institutions

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by a board of eight volunteer trustees supported by one executive staff member (Secretary Julie Muirhead). The board meets twice annually to review finances, consider available funds for grants, and discuss general matters.

Current Trustees

Zanny Minton Beddoes (Chair, appointed 2018) - Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, the first woman to hold the position. Former IMF staff member. Minton Beddoes has stated: "All kinds of journalism are important, but I'm particularly keen on financial journalism. I really think that having the skills to be a good financial journalist is enormously important as the world economy changes as dramatically as it is now."

Lionel Barber (appointed 2025) - Former Editor of the Financial Times (2005-2020), author and broadcaster. Led the FT's digital transformation to reach 1 million paying readers. Recipient of the Legion d'Honneur and Stella d'Italia. Senior adviser to Allen & Co.

Rupert Pennant-Rea (appointed 2018) - Economist journalist (1977-1993), serving as Editor-in-Chief for seven years. Former Bank of England Deputy Governor (1993-1995). Current Chairman of The Economist Group.

Tom Easton (appointed 2018) - American finance editor at The Economist since 2000. Former New York bureau chief and Asian business editor.

Daniel Franklin (appointed 2024) - Executive editor at The Economist, leading America coverage. Chairs The Economist Educational Foundation.

Henry Boucher (appointed 2018) - Global investment manager specializing in institutional investors. Formed one of London's first ESG/ethical investment teams in 1987. Former chair of the Walcot Foundation.

Alice Fulwood (appointed 2022) - Wall Street correspondent at The Economist. Winner of 2019 Wincott Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award. Started at The Economist via a Marjorie Deane Foundation internship in 2018.

Ritvik Carvalho (appointed 2022) - Investment and marketing writer at Fundpath. Former data-graphics journalist at Reuters News. Nominated for Young Financial Journalist of the Year at 2018 Harold Wincott Awards. Holds Master's in Financial Journalism from City, University of London.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Scholarships:

The foundation does not accept direct scholarship applications. All scholarship applications are administered through the universities:

City St George's students: Contact the Department of Journalism at City St George's, University of London for information about awards and application procedures
NYU students: Contact NYU's admissions for information about scholarship awards funded by the foundation

For Internships:

Applications are handled directly through The Economist and Financial Times when positions are advertised:

The Economist: Send CV and an original article of up to 600 words suitable for publication in the Business section to deaneintern@economist.com (journalism experience not required)
Financial Times: Apply through their recruitment portal when positions are advertised

To receive email alerts when internship opportunities are advertised, complete the registration form at https://forms.gle/Aa1WEYCBJrCWa1Gn7

Decision Timeline

Internship applications typically open in autumn and/or spring each year
Specific deadlines vary by year and position (recent deadlines: July 31st for The Economist, September 30th for Financial Times)
Internship start dates are typically flexible
Scholarship application timelines follow university admissions cycles

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation supports:

Up to four scholarship students annually at City St George's
Multiple scholarship recipients at NYU
Multiple internship positions each year at both The Economist and Financial Times

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are mentioned for unsuccessful candidates. The foundation welcomes applications when positions are advertised.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values (based on trustee statements and program focus):

Strong writing ability - The Economist internship specifically requires submission of an original 600-word article suitable for the Business section, demonstrating the foundation's emphasis on writing quality over prior journalism experience

Interest in financial and economic journalism - Chair Zanny Minton Beddoes emphasizes the importance of “having the skills to be a good financial journalist” given dramatic changes in the world economy

Diverse backgrounds welcome - Alice Fulwood, a trustee who herself started as a Marjorie Deane intern, came from investment banking and foreign exchange trading, showing the foundation values career changers. One testimonial noted: “As an ex-City lawyer trying to break into journalism, the Marjorie Deane fellowship meant the FT could take a chance on me”

Academic excellence - Scholarships are called “Intellectual Excellence Scholarships” and require acceptance to competitive MA programmes

Evidence of Recent Success:

2019 Wincott Foundation Young Journalist of the Year: Alice Fulwood (former Marjorie Deane intern 2018)
Multiple former interns secured full-time positions at The Economist and Financial Times
One intern achieved their “first front page” at the FT and secured a position on the FT's graduate trainee scheme
A 2018 intern wrote over a dozen print pieces for The Economist across multiple sections (Finance, Business, Europe, Britain, Americas) and returned as a full-time business correspondent

Common Success Patterns:

Interns describe the experience as “immensely valuable for aspiring journalists and those looking to specialise in finance”
Many participants leverage the internship into full-time journalism positions
The hands-on experience includes covering breaking news, writing analyses and features, and interviewing chief executives at FTSE companies
Programs described as “one of the best decisions” by participants

Strategic Advice:

For internships: Focus on demonstrating writing ability through your submitted article rather than extensive prior journalism experience
For scholarships: Apply through the universities and emphasize your commitment to financial journalism as a career path
Sign up for internship alerts to ensure you don't miss application windows
Review recent coverage in The Economist's Business section or FT's Companies desk to understand the style and topics

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Not applicable for traditional grant writers - This is a highly specialized foundation focused exclusively on financial journalism education and training at specific partner institutions
No open application process for most programs - Scholarships must be applied for through City St George's or NYU; you cannot apply directly to the foundation
Limited scope - Only supports students/aspiring journalists pursuing financial journalism at two specific universities or internships at two specific publications
Career-changer friendly - Several successful recipients came from finance, law, or other professional backgrounds rather than traditional journalism paths
Strong industry connections - Trustees are senior figures at The Economist and have deep connections in financial journalism, making these programmes valuable for networking
Track record of success - Multiple former interns and scholarship recipients have gone on to prestigious positions in financial journalism
Sign up for alerts - If interested in internships, register for email notifications to ensure you catch application windows when they open

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References

Dates accessed: December 27, 2025