May 10, 2010: The seeds for the Fund for Environmental Journalism were sewn in the spring of 2009 — and like a bumper crop of heirloom tomatoes — came to fruition over the heat of summer when the SEJ Board met in New Orleans and Washington state, respectively.

What emerged was an idea followed by the commitment to set up a fund to serve as an incubator for new ideas, projects and training for environmental journalists. Such a fund might cover travel costs for a story, pay someone's way to a workshop for building entrepreneurial skills or help finance completion of a major project.

"We wanted to help somehow, without competing with our own members," SEJ President Christy George said. "The idea that emerged from months of discussion was the Fund for Environmental Journalism.

"These grants will help environmental journalists struggling in the current media environment to redefine themselves, or their platform," she said.

In January, the SEJ Board of Directors set aside $10,000 to fund two rounds of grants in 2010.

As part of our celebration of 20 years supporting credible environmental journalism and looking forward to the next 20 years, SEJ is now officially taking applications for grants of up $2,500 to help underwrite environmental reporting projects and entrepreneurial ventures consistent with our mission. Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted through July 15, 2010. Find application details here. Read FEJ Program Guidelines here.

We are also soliciting individual contributions to help establish and grow the SEJ Fund for Environmental Journalism, set up expressly to provide incentives and support to qualified journalists and news organizations to enhance the quantity and quality of environmental journalism.

Thank you for supporting SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism and the work of your organization into the next 20 years.

You can also support SEJ Programs and the 21st Century Endowment Fund in addition to the Fund for Environmental Journalism with a one-time donation.