Kapor Foundation Research Fellowship 2026 in the USA ($35,000 for Journalists and Policy Researchers)

Application Deadline: Rolling Basis

A well-funded reporting or policy project can be difficult to move forward when time, editorial support, or research resources are limited, and that is exactly where the Kapor Foundation Research Fellowship becomes especially valuable. With up to 15 awards of $35,000 each, this U.S.-based fellowship supports journalists and policy researchers working on racial equity, responsible AI, technology accountability, and the future of education and work.

Quick Facts

About the Opportunity

There are plenty of fellowship announcements that sound impressive but remain vague once you read the details. This one is refreshingly specific.

The Kapor Foundation Research Fellowship is built for people already doing serious work, journalists producing investigative reporting, and researchers shaping policy conversations around technology, equity, and accountability. Rather than offering coursework or professional training, the fellowship is designed to fund the actual work itself: the reporting, the analysis, the writing, and the publication.

For the 2026 cycle, the Kapor Foundation plans to award up to 15 grants of $35,000 each to support projects in two tracks:

• Investigative Reporting Fellowship
• Tech Policy Research Fellowship

The fellowship focuses on three broad areas that are increasingly shaping the future of society:

• CS/AI Education
• Innovation
• Governance

Applicants are encouraged to propose work that fills real knowledge gaps and contributes to smarter policy, stronger public accountability, and better understanding of how technology affects historically excluded communities. Projects may focus on national trends or local issues tied to Oakland, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Detroit, Michigan.

What makes this especially compelling is that it supports work with public relevance. The fellowship is not asking for abstract ideas. It is looking for research and reporting that can influence how institutions, policymakers, educators, and the public think about technology and equity.

This opportunity is officially offered by Kapor Foundation, and applicants should apply through the official application portal.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must fall into one of the two fellowship tracks and meet the corresponding requirements.

You may be eligible if you are:

• A freelance or staff journalist based in the United States
• A reporter or editor with at least 5 years of in-depth reporting experience
• Experienced in:
  • investigative reporting
  • data journalism
  • watchdog journalism
  • print, digital, or broadcast reporting

You may also qualify if you are:

• A researcher housed at a research or policy institute
• Working at a 501(c)(3)-registered organization in the United States
• Conducting work related to:
  • tech policy research
  • policy analysis
  • policy evaluation
  • CS/AI education policy

Important note:

• This fellowship is not a training program
• Applicants are expected to already have the editorial, institutional, or professional support needed to carry out their work

You may also like: Think Visegrad Fellowship 2026 (Funded Policy Research Program in Central Europe)

Benefits

This fellowship is practical in the best way; it gives selected fellows resources to complete meaningful public-interest work.

Fellows will receive:

• $35,000 in funding
• Financial support to carry out:
  • reporting
  • research
  • analysis
  • writing
  • publication planning
• Backing for projects with strong public or policy relevance
• The opportunity to produce work that can shape discussions around:
  • racial equity in technology
  • AI governance
  • worker protections
  • education access
  • tech accountability

Additional value includes:

• Strong visibility for published work
• Credibility through association with a nationally recognized philanthropic organization
• A chance to produce a substantial, high-impact piece rather than short-term commentary
• Potential wider dissemination through:
  • digital media
  • long-form reporting
  • policy reports
  • multimedia add-ons like podcasts or video

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is best suited to people who already have a sharp question in mind and know why it matters.

You should consider applying if you are the kind of professional who sees a policy gap, a hidden pattern, a neglected public issue, or an underreported tech harm, and you want enough support to investigate it properly.

It is especially relevant for:

• Journalists who want to pursue a deeper story with public accountability value
• Editors backing a serious investigative idea
• Policy researchers with a timely project tied to AI, education, labor, governance, or innovation
• Analysts who can connect research findings to real-world policy decisions
• Professionals interested in how technology affects marginalized communities and public systems

Application Process

The application is detailed, so the strongest candidates will likely be those who prepare carefully rather than rushing through it.

Follow these steps:

1. Complete the online application form
2. Prepare all required materials in PDF format
3. Upload or submit your supporting documents as instructed
4. Ensure all writing samples and project materials are polished and publication-ready in tone
5. If you are applying under the reporting track, secure the required editorial commitment before submission

Required application materials include:

• Applicant contact information
• Demographic information
• Current title and employer
• Editor or lead research advisor’s contact details
• Personal bio (maximum 250 words)
• CV or resume
• Two published work samples
• Project title
• One-paragraph project summary / abstract
• Project proposal (2–5 pages)
• Project timeline (1 page)
• Dissemination plan (1 page)

Your proposal should clearly cover:

• Research question
• Problem statement
• Significance
• Research plan and methodology
• Implications
• References
• The percentage of your project budget covered by this fellowship

Extra requirement for journalists:

• A letter of commitment from an editor at an established media outlet confirming they will assign an editor and publish the work

Extra guidance for policy research applicants:

Strong submissions should clearly explain:

• the policy challenge being addressed,
• why the issue is timely,
• how it connects to current policymaker priorities,
• and which decision-makers could use the findings.

How to Apply

If you already have a reporting or policy idea that deserves more than a rushed article or underfunded brief, this fellowship is worth taking seriously. The strongest applications will likely be the ones that combine a sharp public-interest question with a realistic plan for producing work people can actually use.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

For more details, visit the Kapor Foundation.