Grants & Fellowships for Travel Writers

Funds a working journalist to spend a year reporting from Washington D.C. on major policy issues. Travel and international affairs reporters often use this to deepen policy-side coverage alongside their field reporting.

Working journalists outside Washington D.C. metro area with fewer than 10 years of professional experience. U.S. citizens.

Covers conference registration and contributes toward travel costs for the Travel Classics Conference — an intensive event matching writers directly with editors from leading travel publications.

Travel writers with at least three published travel features. Conference attendance required (USA). Application includes writing samples and professional statement.

Annual grants supporting Canadian travel writers pursuing projects that require international travel and have confirmed editorial homes. TMAC also runs mentorship and professional development programmes for members.

TMAC members in good standing. Canadian travel journalists and bloggers. Project must have confirmed editorial interest.

Annual grant supporting freelance travel journalists with a specific editorial project — trip costs, research expenses, or production costs for a travel story. Applicants must show confirmed editorial interest from a publication.

NATJA members in good standing. Freelance travel journalists with a specific project proposal and editor letter of intent.

Funds investigative and narrative environmental journalism with the potential to shift public understanding of conservation, climate, or land-use issues. Travel reporting and documentary projects are specifically encouraged.

Journalists and organisations reporting on environmental topics with national or international reach. Must demonstrate public impact of proposed work.

The most prestigious travel journalism award in North America, recognising outstanding work published or broadcast in the prior year. Named for the legendary radio broadcaster and travel writer. Multiple category prizes available.

SATW members and non-members. Published work in the previous calendar year. Multiple categories including print, digital, broadcast, photography.

Annual scholarship for early-career journalists pursuing a reporting project that requires international travel. Named in honour of frontline reporters who have died or been imprisoned for their work.

Early-career journalists. UK-based or international. Application includes a project proposal, two referees, and writing samples.

Supports early-career travel writers pursuing projects that explore cultural identity, displacement, or environment through the lens of travel. Named for a young travel journalist who died unexpectedly.

Early-career journalists and writers under 35. Projects must focus on cultural or environmental travel writing. U.S. and international applicants welcome.

Annual award recognising outstanding development potential in travel writing. Funds a specific travel project or research trip. Judges look for originality of story idea, quality of previous work, and potential for publication.

BGTW members and non-members. UK and Irish travel writers. Applicants must have published travel work and a clear project proposal.

Supports students and early-career professionals pursuing research and study related to responsible travel in Asia Pacific. Journalism and media students are eligible alongside tourism and hospitality candidates.

Students and early-career professionals in travel journalism, tourism management, or hospitality. Applicants must be studying in or focused on the Asia Pacific region.

Annual scholarship pairing a rising travel writer with a senior editor for mentorship, plus a cash award toward a reported travel story. Focused on encouraging diverse new voices in U.S. travel journalism.

Travel writers based in the western United States. Students and early-career professionals welcome. Application includes writing sample and career statement.

A prestigious year-long investigative journalism fellowship that funds journalists to pursue a single topic in depth — frequently travel, environment, or international affairs. Fellows must have a clear editorial project and a sponsor editor.

Working print journalists with at least five years of professional experience. U.S. citizens preferred. Must take a leave of absence from current employer.

The flagship U.S. government exchange program funds journalists and academics to research, write, and teach abroad. Travel writing and cultural journalism projects are regularly funded across all world regions.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Academic or professional journalists. Must have a project proposal.

Fully funded multi-year graduate scholarship at Stanford — including travel, stipend, and professional development. Journalists pursuing graduate study in communications, international relations, or related fields are encouraged to apply.

Must be admitted to a Stanford graduate degree program. Any nationality. Exceptional leadership and civic purpose required.

DAAD funds German and international journalists for study and research exchanges covering living expenses, travel, and health insurance. Particularly strong for journalists focused on European politics, culture, or transatlantic relations.

Professional journalists or journalism graduates. Various programmes for German nationals and international journalists. Language requirements vary.

Nine-month transatlantic fellowship based in Germany combining professional placements, travel throughout Europe, and an international policy seminar. An outstanding opportunity for journalists covering European or international affairs.

U.S. citizens aged 23–34 with a strong professional record in journalism, law, business, or public policy. Fellowship based in Germany.

A full year of independent travel and purposeful exploration outside the U.S. for graduating college seniors. Fellows design and execute self-directed projects across cultures and countries — a strong launchpad for a travel writing career.

College seniors at participating institutions only. Independent international travel project for one year immediately following graduation.

Funds European journalists to report on EU-related topics, including cultural exchange, cross-border travel, and climate policy. Fellows spend time at EU institutions and travel across member states for their projects.

Journalists from EU member states and candidate countries. Projects must focus on European affairs, including tourism, climate, and culture.

Supports travel and nature writers pursuing stories that illuminate environmental issues through first-person narrative. Grants cover travel costs and research time for projects with confirmed editorial interest.

Travel and nature writers with a focus on environmental storytelling. Projects must have a clear conservation angle.

Monthly stipend plus additional travel and research funds for journalists pursuing socially engaged reporting on climate, democracy, and global issues. Part of a broader scholarship ecosystem for progressive academics and journalists.

German citizens or international students enrolled in German universities. Political journalism and environmental reporting preferred.

Emergency and project-based fund for IFJ member journalists worldwide — supporting reporters facing financial difficulty, journalists in dangerous environments, and international travel for specific editorial projects.

IFJ affiliate union members. Journalists in financial hardship or working in high-risk environments. Applications can be made via national IFJ affiliates.

Supports women journalists traveling internationally to report on underrepresented stories. Grants cover reporting expenses including travel, accommodation, and fixers. Rolling applications with quarterly reviews.

Women journalists at all career stages. U.S.-based or international. Assignment or independent project must involve international travel.

Major institutional grants for investigative journalism organisations tackling democracy, climate, and international affairs. Individual travel writers are unlikely to qualify, but editorial organisations they work with may be eligible grantees.

Journalism organisations, not typically individuals. U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) organisations. Extremely competitive. Applications by invitation only.

Rolling fund for NUJ members covering professional development costs — training, equipment, and travel to report stories. Freelance travel journalists can apply for support toward specific projects or skills development.

NUJ members in good standing. Priority to journalists who are in financial hardship or pursuing professional development that would otherwise be unaffordable.

Competitive grants supporting in-depth reporting on public affairs, including international and environment-focused journalism. Pew gives priority to projects with the scale to reach large audiences and shape public debate.

Journalism organisations and individual journalists with established publication relationships. U.S.-focused but international reporting projects considered.

Supports long-form journalism, investigative projects, and journalism education with a focus on stories that matter to communities underserved by mainstream media — including international and travel journalism.

Journalists and journalism organisations. Priority to investigative, narrative, and public-interest journalism projects. Applications by invitation or solicitation.

Fellows work embedded with the Reveal newsroom on a significant investigative project over six to twelve months. Travel and international reporting projects are a strong fit for fellows with environmental or human rights angles.

Journalists with investigative reporting experience. Projects must be suited to long-form audio and digital storytelling. Fellowship based at CIR offices in the Bay Area.

Competitive travel grants supporting environmental journalists traveling to cover stories that require on-the-ground reporting. Priority given to stories with confirmed editorial homes at established publications.

SEJ members. Working journalists covering environment, conservation, or climate. Must have a specific story assignment or strong pitch.

Small grants supporting UK travel writers with professional development costs, conference attendance, or travel toward a specific commissioned article. Amounts are modest but the application process is accessible for newer writers.

Travel Writers UK members. UK-based travel writers at any career stage. Project-based applications.

Funds journalism covering global development themes, frequently involving international travel to report from developing countries. Travel writers working on humanitarian, conservation, or sustainability stories are strong candidates.

Journalists and media organisations. Projects must align with UN Sustainable Development Goals — climate, poverty, health, or gender equality. U.S.-registered organisations preferred.

Competitive scholarships for travel writers pairing a cash grant with a group travel experience to a specific destination. Multiple rounds per year covering different regions. Strong option for writers building their portfolio.

Travel writers of all experience levels, any nationality. Writing samples required. Some scholarships include a group travel component.