IFCN Global Fact Check Fund SUSTAIN 2027
By International Fact-Checking Network
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Quick Answer
US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) unrestricted grants from the International Fact-Checking Network for verified fact-checkers. Portal opens January 2027; not open yet.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- —
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Global Fact Check Fund: SUSTAIN is run by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute and gives bridge funding to fact-checking organisations. Applications are not open yet: IFCN says the SUSTAIN 2027 portal opens in January 2027, with the deadline expected in mid-February 2027. Each award is US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh).
What the program offers
Each SUSTAIN award is US$30,000, paid in one disbursement. The grant is not project funding. It is meant to support the sustainability of published fact-checking and to keep an organisation's capacity in place while it builds steadier income. IFCN says output should be sustained rather than increased or cut.
The page lists these as appropriate uses: keeping existing fact-checking staff, training-support programmes, fundraising, diversifying revenue, expanding data analytics tools, and other plans for long-term financial sustainability. Travel to GlobalFact is allowed if it supports your sustainability plan. It is not intended for new fact-checking projects or new markets unless they are directly tied to financial sustainability. The performance period is 6 to 12 months. Reporting is lighter than in earlier rounds: a brief report at six months or a year closes out the grant.
Who can apply
Only verified signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles, with a status of active or in renewal, can apply. You must not have received a SUSTAIN grant before, and you must not have a current open grant from the Global Fact Check Fund. If you hold a SUSTAIN 2026 grant you can apply, but you cannot receive SUSTAIN funds until that grant is fully closed out, including the final report.
You must also show an immediate or near-future challenge such as financial instability, resource shortages or crisis impact, and a sustainability plan in which the award is a supplemental resource, not your only one. You need to keep your signatory status, including the publishing requirement of the Code of Principles, while the grant runs. For an Indian applicant this means the fact-checking organisation must itself be a verified signatory; individuals and organisations that are not signatories are out. Applications that name IFCN as the only source of funding are unlikely to be awarded.
How to apply
Register on the IFCN grant platform at ifcn.grantplatform.com. When the portal opens in January 2027, document your sustainability challenge. A brief narrative with supporting figures is typically enough; original documents are not required. Then submit a 24-month financial sustainability outline covering how the US$30,000 closes gaps in months 1 to 12, the other funding you have pursued or secured, and your key milestones. Add an itemised budget with major spending categories and amounts; line-by-line detail is not required. Late applications are not accepted after the deadline.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Each application is reviewed three times: by two IFCN staff members and, where possible, a reviewer from the applicant's region who judges whether the plan fits local conditions. Reviewers sign confidentiality agreements. Applications are scored and the top-scoring ones receive awards. Strong applications show a mix of existing or planned revenue sources over two years.
The expected 2027 timeline is: portal opens in January, deadline in mid-February, review in February and March, and awardees announced in early April 2027, with funds sent within 30 days. The page itself is a little unclear about the exact payment date.
About IFCN and Poynter
The International Fact-Checking Network works inside the Poynter Institute, a US non-profit. The fund began in 2023 as project-based rounds (BUILD, GROW and ENGAGE) and moved in 2025 to financial sustainability under the SUSTAIN name. IFCN staff run it with guidance from a steering committee of fact-checking experts and leaders.
Things to check before you apply
Check your signatory status first, as it decides everything else. Keep your 24-month plan realistic and show several revenue sources. A practical tip: prepare the budget and the plan before the portal opens, because the window is short. Indian organisations receiving foreign funds should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Each selected organisation receives US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) in one payment. The money is unrestricted: it can pay existing fact-checking staff, fundraising tools or part-time development help, new revenue products, or day-to-day publishing, as long as it supports your financial sustainability plan. Activities must be completed within 6 to 12 months, followed by a brief closing report.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Each application is reviewed three times: by two IFCN staff members and, where possible, a reviewer from the applicant's region who judges local fit. Reviewers score the application and the top-scoring ones receive awards. Awardees are expected to be announced in early April 2027, with funds sent within 30 days.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Create an account on the IFCN grant platform.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the IFCN SUSTAIN grant?
Only verified signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles, with active or in-renewal status. They must not have received a SUSTAIN grant before and must not hold a current open Global Fact Check Fund grant.
Can an Indian fact-checking organisation apply?
Yes, if it is a verified IFCN signatory in good standing. The page sets no country limit, but individuals and non-signatories cannot apply.
How much is the SUSTAIN grant?
Each award is US$30,000, about ₹28.5 lakh. IFCN describes it as one immediate payment.
When does the 2027 round open and what if I miss it?
IFCN says the portal opens in January 2027 with the deadline expected in mid-February, so applications are not open yet. Late applications are not accepted after the deadline.
Is SUSTAIN a grant or equity?
It is a grant. The page describes it as bridge funding for financial sustainability and says nothing about equity or repayment.
Can the money pay salaries?
Yes. Keeping existing fact-checking staff is listed as an appropriate use, along with training-support programmes, fundraising and revenue diversification. It is not meant for new projects or new markets unless tied to financial sustainability.
Can we apply if IFCN would be our only funder?
The award is meant to be one source of support, not the only one. Applications that name IFCN as their only funding source are unlikely to be awarded.
We hold a SUSTAIN 2026 grant. Can we apply again?
You can apply, but you cannot receive SUSTAIN funds until your current grant is fully closed out. That includes the final report.
What documents do I need?
A brief narrative with supporting figures on your sustainability challenge, a 24-month financial sustainability outline and an itemised budget by major category. Original documents are not required.
When are results announced and is there a fee?
Awardees are expected to be announced in early April 2027, with funds sent within 30 days. The page mentions no application fee.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
