Second Grant Opportunity Honoring Legacy of David Burnham, Co-Founder of TRAC
TRAC was co-founded in 1989 by David Burnham and Susan B. Long at Syracuse University. TRAC’s purpose has been to provide the American people – and institutions of oversight such as Congress, news organizations, public interest groups, businesses, scholars, and lawyers – with understandable and reliable information that examines on a day-to-day basis what federal officials and agencies are actually doing. Since David’s death almost two years ago, TRAC continues its work at its new website: https://tracreports.org.
Burnham’s many colleagues and friends established this grant to honor David’s life and legacy as a ground-breaking investigative reporter. The amount of $25,000 will be awarded to an investigative journalist as funding to facilitate an investigative project of the reporter’s own design.
The project should focus on David’s life goal of informing the public on a targeted question, one that asks whether federal officials are achieving their stated goals, and if not, why not?
Both free-lance journalists in print and visual media as well as individuals employed by an organization with limited resources for investigative work are invited to apply.
We are looking for someone with:
- Experience in using or investigating government data.
- A proven track record of insightful, skeptical data-querying.
- Experience with best practices in data analysis or data journalism, including a keen and careful eye for detail and careful documentation of the findings.
- Perspectives and life experiences that point to unique stories and untapped potential for holding the powerful accountable to the public.
To apply for this grant, please submit the following to support@tracreports.org:
- Name, current mailing address, email, and phone number
- Resume/CV
- Approach (300-word max): Why do you think you should be selected for this David Burnham legacy grant?
- Describe the investigative project the grant will be used for and how this funding will make a difference in the results.
- Provide three of your best writings or other projects that showcase applicable experience, and provide the back story for each (no more than 300 words for each back story).
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the grant can be provided as early as July 15, 2026. For questions, send an email to support@tracreports.org. No phone calls please.
Previous winner of the first David Burnham Legacy Grant for Investigative Reporting is at https://tracreports.org/ann/07312025/