Through incredible community support, we met our challenge goal — thank you! 

 We want to keep this momentum going, as every additional gift helps us scale our mission even further.  Your gift is a testament to the power of our program, our students and the future of investigative journalism. 

50 Donors. One Goal. 

$25,000 unlocked for investigative journalism.

For nearly two decades, the Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) at UC Berkeley Journalism has been dedicated to producing stories that expose injustice and abuses of power. At a time when democratic institutions are under threat, we’re throwing open the doors of investigative reporting to new voices, powering fearless reporting for years to come.

Our approach is both radical and simple: 

• Bylines, not taglines. Our student-reporters produce signature investigative pieces, with full ownership of their story from beginning to end.
• An esteemed track-record. Recently, our student-reporters have received three George Polk awards, a Goldsmith Prize, and the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting — all for work that happened here.
• Intensive mentorship. Student-reporters receive individualized guidance and support from our newsroom of working journalists, including four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner David Barstow.
• A pioneer of new approaches. We leverage the latest technology — such as AI, large-language models and open-source investigative techniques — in our reporting while upholding the highest journalistic standards.

The IRP is special. Like a national park or public library, it’s a place where anyone can be enriched. That’s why we’re asking for your support. The IRP’s programs depend almost entirely on philanthropy so we need your help to safeguard the future of investigative journalism. How this next generation’s trained — and whether they’re supported — will determine our ability to defend democratic values in the years to come.

Help us build a world where investigative journalism is open to anyone with persistence, curiosity, and integrity.

Note on Giving:  Gifts to the Investigative Reporting Program are tax-deductible. To learn more about alternative giving methods — including matching gifts, securities, and donor-advised funds — please refer to the UC Berkeley Giving FAQ.