Bertha Foundation annually offers the Bertha Challenge [1]: an opportunity for activists, investigative journalists, filmmakers and lawyers to spend a year deep-diving into one pressing social justice challenge. Successful applicants will receive non-residential paid fellowships and project budgets to work independently and together to:

• INVESTIGATE the causes of and solutions to the annual Bertha Challenge
• AMPLIFY their findings to a wider targeted audience
• CONNECT with diverse stakeholders for information, support and impact

The next Bertha Challenge will begin in January 2026, supporting Fellows to answer the following question:

"How is the collusion between governments and corporations driving the assault on the rule of law, civil rights and a free press? How do we push back to protect democratic accountability?"

Note: In 2026, we are opening the question to look at the nexus between power, politics and profit to extend beyond the climate crisis - though we still welcome applications centering the climate crisis.

The fellowships offer income for each Bertha Fellow for one year, not exceeding USD $64,900 and commensurate with the applicant’s current or equivalent salary at the host organization — ideally a media outlet for an investigative journalist and an NGO, community organization or social movement for an activist; project funding of up to USD $10,000 for each Bertha Fellow to produce a culminating product that responds to the question posed by the Bertha Challenge; access to a Connect Fund of up to USD $5,000; and more [2].

Applicants may come from and work in any country. Priority consideration will be given to activists and investigative journalists who apply jointly.

Deadline is Jul 28, 2025.