Establish NABJ Scholarships, Fellowships, Internships

NABJ FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

Contact: fsigers@nabj.org

DOWNLOAD OUR INFORMATIONAL PDF ABOUT THIS PROGRAM HERE.

NABJ SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Contact: fsigers@nabj.org

Overview

NABJ’s robust, long-standing scholarship program provides education and training opportunities to students, journalists, and media-related professionals. NABJ scholarship grants may be used to:

• Defray educational expenses such as tuition, room and board, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for study. In those instances, NABJ makes the grants payable to the academic institution.
• Pay registration/lodging/meal/transportation fees for NABJ-approved programs and meetings sponsored by NABJ or other entities
• Provide stipends to support recipients’ engagement in NABJ-approved professional development/internship opportunities
• Support students, journalists and media-related professionals in other activities designated by NABJ

Scholarships may be awarded to students for the academic year and/or the summer.

A general framework of NABJ’s scholarship program is provided below. Specific terms and conditions may be customized in a formal agreement to meet mutually agreed upon objectives of NABJ and its donors. The process through which scholarships are awarded is solely determined by NABJ, although NABJ welcomes donor collaboration on suggested models for fund dissemination.

NABJ accepts funding for its scholarship program from corporations and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals.

TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS 

PERSONAL SCHOLARSHIP

Definition: A “Personal Scholarship” is a scholarship named after an individual that has had a significant impact on the media industry and demonstrated meaningful support of NABJ’s mission.  A scholarship recipient is awarded the scholarship based on criteria determined by NABJ and in collaboration with the scholarship donor, when appropriate.

Personal Scholarship: Donor Funding Requirements

• NABJ requires a minimum of $10,000 (Ten thousand dollars) in initial funding
• The scholarship’s name will be branded as “NABJ’s (Individual’s name) Scholarship.” For example, if John Doe wanted to name a scholarship, it would be called “NABJ’s John Doe Scholarship.”
• A one-time administrative fee of 20% will be charged to the scholarship account
• Minimum per recipient disbursement of scholarship funds will be $2,000 (Two thousand dollars)
• If the balance of the personal scholarship fund at any point goes below $5,000 (Five thousand dollars), the donor or donor advised contributor must deposit enough funds within 6 months of such occurrence to go above the $5,000 threshold. If such threshold is not met within the prescribed time-period, all scholarship funds will be expended by the end of the NABJ national convention to designated scholarship recipient(s) as required by criteria.  The disbursement will be treated as the final disbursement and closing of the scholarship fund.  If the donor desires to reopen the scholarship in the fund’s name, a $10,000 initial funding will be required as if it were a new scholarship fund.

CORPORATE AND NON-PROFIT SCHOLARSHIPS

Definition: A “corporate” or “non-profit scholarship” is a scholarship named after a company or on behalf of a company.  A scholarship recipient is awarded the scholarship based on criteria determined by NABJ and in collaboration the scholarship donor, when appropriate.

Corporate and Non-Profit Scholarships: Donor Funding Requirements

• NABJ requires a minimum of $20,000 (Twenty thousand dollars) in initial funding
• The scholarship’s name will be branded as “NABJ’s (Entity’s name) Scholarship.” For example, if XYZ Company wanted to name a scholarship, it would be named “NABJ’s XYZ Company Scholarship.”
• A one-time administrative fee of 20% will be charged to the scholarship account
• Minimum per recipient disbursement of scholarship funds will be $2,000 (Two thousand dollars)
• If the balance of the corporate or non-profit scholarship fund at any point goes below $5,000 (Five thousand dollars), the donor or donor advised contributor must deposit enough funds within 6 months of such occurrence to go above the $5,000 threshold. If such threshold is not met within the prescribed time-period, all scholarship funds will be expended by the end of the NABJ national convention to designated scholarship recipient(s) as required by criteria.  The disbursement will be treated as the final disbursement and closing of the scholarship fund.  If the donor desires to reopen the scholarship in the fund’s name, a $20,000 initial funding process will be required as if it were a new scholarship fund.

NABJ Responsibilities

• Prepare donor agreement or use agreement provided by donor
• Establish timelines and application and selection criteria in collaboration with donor, when appropriate
  • Application window typically opens in early October and closes after 60 days
• Promote the scholarship opportunity to its members
• Recruit and vet applicants
• Select finalists
  • Donor may collaborate in the selection process, if appropriate, pursuant to the terms of a customized donor agreement
• Notify scholarship applicants selected
• Notify scholarship applicants not selected
• Manage administration of scholarship award payments

Donor Responsibilities

• Determine scholarship grant amount
• Execute NABJ/donor agreement
• Fund scholarship account (including 20% administrative fee)
• Recommend timelines and application and selection criteria in collaboration with NABJ, when appropriate

• Select finalists in collaboration with NABJ, when appropriate

Scholarship Candidate Eligibility and Application Requirements

• NABJ member in good standing
• For students:
  • Enrolled full-time at time of application, and throughout scholarship award term, at an accredited U.S. college or university
    • If student drops out of school at any time during the scholarship award term, a reimbursement of scholarship grant award may be required
  • Rising college freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student
  • Major course of study: journalism or a communications discipline
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above verified by an official transcript
  • Application elements:
    • Cover letter
    • Three – five work samples (can include a combination of writing, audio, articles, video clips, photos, or personal website and on-camera work. Audio and on-camera samples should be no more than five minutes in length each.)
    • Two – three letters of recommendation from teachers, professors or supervisors who are familiar with applicant’s work
    • Resume
    • Official transcript submitted by the educational institution
    • Twitter handle
  • For veteran journalists or media related professionals
    • Specific application requirements as designated by NABJ

Selection Committee & Awards

NABJ appoints all members of any selection committee charged with the evaluation of candidates for scholarship grant awards.

No combination of donor-advisors, persons recommended or designated by donor-advisors (or persons related to any of these persons) to an NABJ fund that makes scholarship awards may, directly or indirectly, control any selection committee established in connection with such fund. For example, donor-advisors, persons recommended or designated by donor-advisors and persons related to any of these persons shall not constitute a majority of any such selection committee (persons may include individuals, partnerships, corporations, or trusts).

Every member of any selection committee charged with the evaluation of candidates for awards shall adhere to the relevant policies of NABJ as they may be adopted and amended from time to time, including without limitation, conflict of interest and confidentiality policies.

Every member of a selection committee charged with the evaluation of candidates for awards is obligated to disclose any personal knowledge of, and/or relationship with, any scholarship candidate under consideration and to refrain from participating in the award process in a circumstance where he or she would derive, directly or indirectly, a private benefit if any potential scholarship candidates are selected over others.

No scholarship may be awarded to any member, or immediate family, of NABJ Board of Directors, any substantial contributor to NABJ or any employee of NABJ. Each selection committee established shall forward its recommendations to NABJ staff in such form and on such schedule as the staff shall establish. NABJ, in collaboration with its donors, when appropriate, shall approve each award.

NABJ and donors agree there shall be no discrimination in the selection process based on age, gender identity, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, creed, or marital status.

Recordkeeping

NABJ shall retain the following records in connection with the scholarship program:

• Information obtained by the selection committee to evaluate the qualifications of candidates
• Identification of award recipients
• Purpose and amount of each monetary award and any additional information NABJ obtains in complying with its grants administration procedures

• Information pertaining to unsuccessful applicants for awards shall be kept along with information on successful applicants

Records pertaining to any monetary award shall be kept for no less than three years after the filing of NABJ’s annual tax return for the period in which the last installment of such a monetary award was paid.

NABJ Scholarship Program Notes and Disclaimer

• All scholarship awards to defray educational expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for study will be paid by NABJ to the academic institution, not directly to the student/scholarship recipient
• NABJ reserves the right to give final approval regarding the application process, selection criteria, final selection, dissemination venue and mode of announcement of winners. NABJ welcomes collaboration with the donor but retains the right to make final decisions.
• NABJ will publicize the scholarship awards within ethical boundaries, including the name of the scholarship and the donor, through a customized plan on select NABJ platforms

• Scholarship recognition, announcements, and ceremonial activities are subject to NABJ approval.
• Acceptance by NABJ of any financial or in-kind contribution from partners, funders or donors does not constitute an endorsement of their policies, products, or services. It is understood and acknowledged there should be no expectation on the part of NABJ’s partners, funders or donors for any special treatment in news or media coverage which would be against journalism’s ethical standards.
• All NABJ activities are subject to filming, recording or photography and used at NABJ’s discretion. NABJ maintains exclusive rights.

About NABJ

The National Association of Black Journalists, founded in 1975, is the largest and oldest organization for journalists of color in the nation. NABJ provides advocacy, career development, educational training, scholarships, fellowships and other support for its worldwide membership base of journalists, media-related professionals, educators and students.