Storytelling About and By Economically Vulnerable Americans Gets A Transformative Multi-year Ford Foundation Grant

BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Economic Hardship Reporting Project (EHRP) announces a transformative $1.65 million investment from the Ford Foundation through its select Building Institutions and Networks (BUILD) program.

The funding will be distributed over five years to support EHRP as it extends its mission to fund, publish and amplify underrepresented voices and reporting on economic insecurity. This long-term support will underwrite a deepening portfolio of stories and partnerships so that these narratives about economic injustice in America can have an even greater impact.

The Ford Foundation's BUILD initiative is designed to strengthen social justice organizations through flexible funding paired with capacity-building support. EHRP's selection as a BUILD grantee underscores the media organization's impact on reshaping how poverty and inequality are portrayed in American media, as well as EHRP's track record of raising up the best working-class  and financially struggling reporters.

"In a moment when both the media and nonprofits are under siege, stories by working class and independent reporters are more critical than ever. We built the Economic Hardship Reporting Project to keep journalism about income inequality alive. This generous grant will keep our essential project strong for years to come.

-Alissa Quart, Executive Director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project

Founded by the late, great author Barbara Ehrenreich and built into a vibrant organization by her and Quart, EHRP produces articles, photography, video and more that tell the story of vulnerable Americans. EHRP partners with national media outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, PBS, Scientific American, Showtime, USA Today, The New Yorker, TIME, and Teen Vogue to publish stories that challenge the stigma against poor Americans.

The BUILD grant will enable EHRP to scale its impact, expand publishing partnerships, and ensure organizational resilience for years to come, all while doubling down on its commitment to working class media. The Ford Foundation's BUILD program has supported more than 300 organizations globally, reflecting its commitment to addressing systemic inequality by empowering mission-driven institutions with the resources they need to thrive.

Learn more about the Ford Foundation's BUILD program:
https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/building-institutions-and-networks/how-it-works/ 

About the Economic Hardship Reporting Project
The Economic Hardship Reporting Project is a nonprofit organization that funds and publishes compelling, original journalism about economic insecurity in America. We support independent reporters, photographers, and filmmakers, many who are working-class or financially struggling, and bring their stories to millions of Americans. 

CONTACT: Alissa Quart | alissa@economichardship.org

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SOURCE Economic Hardship Reporting Project