---
title: Investigative Journalism Fund Donation Form Template | Paperform
description: Accept donations for investigative journalism and press freedom with this customizable nonprofit fundraising form. Support community accountability reporting and independent news.
url: "https://paperform.co/templates/investigative-journalism-fund"
type: static
generatedAt: "2026-03-28T00:44:16.052Z"
---

[← Back to free form templates](/templates/)    ![Investigative Journalism Fund](https://img.paperform.co/fetch/f_webp/https://d3gw2uv1ch7vdq.cloudfront.net/content/form_templates/assets/investigative-journalism-fund.png)
    [Preview](https://_preview.paperform.co/ai-template/investigative-journalism-fund) [Use this template for free](/create?ai-template=investigative-journalism-fund)    [Nonprofit & Charity](/templates/category/nonprofit/) [Nonprofit](/templates/industry/nonprofit/)[Media & Publishing](/templates/industry/media-publishing/) [Nonprofit Director](/templates/role/nonprofit-director/)[Fundraiser](/templates/role/fundraiser/)[Writer](/templates/role/writer/)     About this free form template
### Support Independent Investigative Journalism

Quality investigative journalism is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy, but it's increasingly under threat. Traditional news outlets are shrinking, reporters are overworked, and deep-dive investigations that hold power accountable require resources many newsrooms no longer have.

That's where community-funded journalism makes all the difference. Our Investigative Journalism Fund exists to support reporters who dig deeper, ask harder questions, and shine light on issues that affect us all—from local government accountability to corporate malfeasance, environmental justice to civil rights.

#### Why Community-Funded Investigative Reporting Matters

Independent investigative journalism serves as a watchdog for communities. When newsrooms are supported directly by readers rather than advertisers or corporate interests, journalists can focus on stories that truly matter to the public—not just what generates clicks or appeases sponsors.

By contributing to our fund, you're directly enabling:

 - **Long-form investigative projects** that take months of research, FOIA requests, and source development
 - **Press freedom initiatives** that protect journalists' rights and provide legal defense when needed
 - **Community accountability reporting** on local government, public spending, and institutional transparency
 - **Underreported stories** that mainstream outlets often overlook

#### How Your Contribution Funds Real Journalism

Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward supporting investigative work. Our fund operates on a transparent model where donors can designate which types of stories matter most to them—whether that's environmental investigations, government accountability, corporate oversight, or social justice reporting.

Unlike traditional nonprofit models where donations disappear into general operating costs, we maintain clear reporting on how funds are allocated, which stories are being pursued, and what impact our journalism has achieved.

#### The Impact of Investigative Journalism

Community-funded investigations have exposed corruption, changed laws, freed the wrongly convicted, and given voice to marginalized communities. They've uncovered environmental hazards, revealed misuse of public funds, and held institutions accountable when no one else would.

But this work is expensive and time-consuming. A single investigation might require:

 - Months of full-time reporting and research
 - Legal fees for FOIA requests and source protection
 - Travel to interview sources and gather evidence
 - Data analysis and expert consultations
 - Legal review before publication

#### Press Freedom and Journalist Safety

Part of our mission includes protecting press freedom and supporting journalists who face legal challenges, threats, or intimidation while pursuing stories in the public interest. Your contributions help fund legal defense, security measures, and advocacy work that keeps reporters safe and able to do their jobs.

#### Transparency and Accountability

We practice what we preach. Our fund publishes quarterly reports showing exactly how donations are used, which investigations are underway, and what stories have been published. You'll see the direct impact of your support through our regular updates and published work.

#### Join Our Community of Supporters

When you contribute to the Investigative Journalism Fund, you're joining a community of citizens who believe in the power of accountability journalism. You'll receive exclusive updates on investigations in progress, early access to published stories, and invitations to community events where you can meet the journalists your support makes possible.

Whether you can contribute $10 or $1,000, your support makes a real difference. Investigative journalism is a public good that benefits everyone—from exposing wrongdoing to celebrating community heroes to telling the stories that need to be told.

**Ready to support investigative journalism that holds power accountable?** Fill out the form below to make your contribution today. Together, we can ensure that critical stories continue to be told, and that journalists have the resources they need to pursue truth in the public interest.

#### About Paperform for Nonprofit Fundraising

This donation form was built with [Paperform](https://paperform.co), an all-in-one form builder designed for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. With built-in payment processing through Stripe, PayPal, and other providers, Paperform makes it easy to accept donations, designate funds, and keep supporters engaged—all without touching a line of code.

You can customize every aspect of this form to match your brand, add conditional logic to create personalized giving experiences, and connect to your CRM or email tools to nurture donor relationships. For organizations managing complex fundraising campaigns, [Stepper](https://stepper.io) can automate follow-up emails, donor acknowledgments, tax receipts, and internal workflows to ensure every contribution is properly tracked and appreciated.

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