The Chicago Headline Club Foundation has awarded $5,000 internship grants to 15 West and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity (IPRE), two Chicago-area nonprofit journalism organizations focused on community-centered and accountability reporting.
The grants will support paid internship opportunities for student journalists and early-career reporters, helping both organizations provide hands-on newsroom experience, mentorship and professional development opportunities.
15 West is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to serving Chicago’s West Side and western suburbs through accessible, community-focused journalism. The organization emphasizes civic engagement and solutions-oriented reporting designed to make local news easier to understand and more useful to residents.
“This grant brings much-needed opportunities for student journalists, giving them space to grow and contribute to their community,” said NaBeela Washington of 15 West. “We believe accessible, easier-to-understand news is the next chapter for reporting, and this investment helps us realize that vision in Chicago’s West Side and suburbs.”
The Investigative Project on Race and Equity is a nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on racial equity and accountability reporting in Chicago. IPRE examines systemic inequities through in-depth journalism and trains journalists committed to public service reporting.
“The Chicago Headline Club Foundation is making a vital investment in the next generation of investigative journalists, and this support means the world to us,” said Adrienne Samuels Gibbs, executive director of the IPRE. “It allows IPRE to provide meaningful, paid opportunities for interns to sharpen their skills while contributing directly to our mission of racial equity and accountability reporting in Chicago.”
The CHC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Chicago Headline Club — the nation’s largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists — awards these annual grants to support journalism students working in the Chicago area. The grants are awarded to nonprofit newsrooms that demonstrate a strong commitment to meaningful intern experiences, mentorship and paid opportunities for emerging journalists.
“Supporting the next generation of journalists is central to the Foundation’s mission,” said Molly McDonough, president, Chicago Headline Club Foundation. “We’re excited to partner with organizations that are not only producing impactful reporting, but also creating paid opportunities for young reporters to learn, grow and serve their communities.”
The 2026-2027 grant cycle covers internship expenses from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Applicants represented a range of nonprofit print, broadcast, digital and alternative media organizations serving communities throughout the Chicago area.
The Foundation’s internship grants are designed to expand access to paid journalism opportunities while supporting nonprofit newsrooms that prioritize mentorship, equity and public-service reporting. The Foundation thanks its donors and supporters who make the program possible.
Applications for the next internship grant cycle will open in December 2026.
About the Chicago Headline Club Foundation
The Chicago Headline Club Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting responsible, ethical journalism through education and financial assistance. The Foundation funds professional, student and citizen journalism initiatives that strengthen the media’s role in democracy and public accountability.