CFAs: Sin Rutas, Sin Recursos: Hitting Criminal Networks Where It Hurts Grant (Colombia)

On Aug 24, 2026

The U.S. Mission to Colombia is inviting investigative journalists, media organizations, and other eligible applicants to propose data-driven visual storytelling projects examining how reduced illegal migration can affect criminal networks, local communities, and the environment in Colombia. Selected projects can receive $40,000 to $50,000 and must be completed within 12 months or less.

What Is the U.S. Mission to Colombia Investigative Media Grant?

This grant supports investigative journalism and visual media that examine the relationship between migration routes, criminal networks, community security, and environmental conditions in Colombia.

The opportunity focuses on criminal organizations that exploit migrants travelling through Colombian territory and generate illicit income from these activities.

Applicants are expected to produce compelling, evidence-based media that explains:

How criminal groups generate revenue from illicit migrant “toll” systems.
How this revenue contributes to criminal activity and violence.
How changes in illegal migration can affect the financial capacity of criminal networks.
How reduced migration pressure may contribute to environmental recovery.
How local communities and environmental defenders experience these changes.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The grant provides:

Minimum award: $40,000
Maximum award: $50,000
Maximum project duration: 12 months

Projects should be appropriately designed and budgeted to achieve the required investigative and media outputs within the funding period.

What Will the Grant Support?

The selected applicant will be expected to create two major forms of visual storytelling.

Investigative Video or Documentary

The project should produce a multi-part video mini-series or documentary examining the financial relationship between illegal migration and transnational criminal organizations.

The investigation should trace the flow of illicit migrant-related revenue and explain how that money contributes to broader criminal activities.

Environmental Visual Journalism

The project should also produce high-impact visual journalism or photojournalism documenting environmental regeneration in affected regions.

Content should feature perspectives from:

Indigenous leaders.
Environmental defenders.
Local communities.
Other relevant community stakeholders.

The environmental component should demonstrate how ecological conditions are changing and connect those developments to the broader issues being investigated.

What Does Data-Driven Storytelling Mean?

The grant requires content to be based on credible evidence rather than unsupported claims or general commentary.

Applicants should incorporate:

Relevant data.
Investigative findings.
Financial information where available.
Visual statistics.
Maps and geographic information.
Charts and graphics.
Expert perspectives.
Community testimony.
Documentary evidence.

Visual graphics should make complex information easier for audiences to understand.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Illegal migration routes can intersect with organized crime, community insecurity, and environmental pressures.

Investigative journalism can help audiences understand these interconnected issues by following the money, documenting local impacts, and presenting evidence in an accessible visual format.

The grant also seeks to support public understanding of the potential security, social, and environmental benefits associated with reducing illegal migration.

Geographic Focus

Projects should demonstrate experience and relevance in Colombian border and transit regions.

Applicants should understand the local context and be capable of conducting credible investigative reporting or visual documentation in the areas covered by their proposal.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations and individuals with relevant investigative or media experience.

Potential applicants include:

Not-for-profit organizations.
Think tanks.
Civil society organizations.
Public educational institutions.
Private educational institutions.
Independent journalists.
Investigative journalists.
Visual journalists.
Photojournalists.
Media production firms.
Public international organizations.
Government institutions from Colombia or the United States.
Individuals with relevant professional experience.

Applicants must demonstrate experience in areas such as:

Investigative reporting.
Documentary production.
Photojournalism.
Visual journalism.
Reporting related to Colombian border and transit regions.

Are For-Profit Companies Eligible?

No.

For-profit entities are not eligible to receive funding under this opportunity.

Media professionals and production teams should therefore confirm that the legal entity applying meets the stated eligibility requirements.

What Should the Project Demonstrate?

A strong proposal should establish a clear investigative connection between the proposed media outputs and the grant’s objectives.

Projects should demonstrate:

A clear investigative question.
Evidence-based methodology.
Experience covering relevant Colombian regions.
Access to credible sources.
A strong visual storytelling approach.
Ability to produce high-quality video or documentary content.
Data analysis and visualization capabilities.
Meaningful community perspectives.
Environmental documentation.
A realistic production timeline.
A strategy for distributing the finished content.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Applicant Eligibility

Determine whether the applicant is an eligible nonprofit, media professional, educational institution, civil society organization, government institution, or other qualifying entity.

For-profit applicants should not apply as the primary applicant.

Step 2: Develop the Investigative Concept

Define the central question the project will investigate.

The proposal should explain how the investigation will examine the relationship between:

Illegal migration → illicit revenue → criminal networks → community and environmental impacts

The proposed narrative should be supported by evidence and appropriate investigative methods.

Step 3: Plan the Video or Documentary

Develop a clear concept for the multi-part video mini-series or documentary.

Describe:

Proposed episodes or sections.
Main investigative themes.
Interview subjects.
Data sources.
Locations.
Visual storytelling techniques.
Expected audience.

Step 4: Develop the Environmental Journalism Component

Explain how the project will document environmental regeneration and incorporate perspectives from Indigenous leaders, environmental defenders, and local communities.

Step 5: Build the Data and Visual Strategy

Explain how data will be collected, verified, analyzed, and presented.

Consider using:

Infographics.
Maps.
Data visualizations.
Timelines.
Financial-flow graphics.
Before-and-after environmental imagery.
Documentary footage.

Step 6: Prepare the Distribution Strategy

The finished content should be suitable for both social media and traditional media platforms.

Explain how the project will reach its intended audience and maximize public engagement.

Step 7: Prepare the Budget

The requested amount should fall between $40,000 and $50,000.

The budget should correspond directly to project activities such as investigation, filming, production, data analysis, graphics, photography, editing, and distribution.

Step 8: Submit the Proposal

Submit the completed application and required supporting information according to the U.S. Mission to Colombia’s application procedures.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Making unsupported claims about migration or criminal organizations.
Relying primarily on opinion instead of investigative evidence.
Failing to demonstrate relevant Colombian field experience.
Ignoring the environmental component.
Producing content without a clear data strategy.
Failing to explain how criminal revenue will be investigated.
Providing weak plans for visual storytelling.
Omitting Indigenous and local community perspectives where relevant.
Proposing a project that cannot be completed within 12 months.
Exceeding the $50,000 maximum award.
Applying as an ineligible for-profit entity.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

A competitive application should clearly show why the investigation matters, how the evidence will be collected, and how the findings will be transformed into compelling visual journalism.

Applicants should:

Define a specific investigative hypothesis.
Identify credible data sources.
Demonstrate experience in investigative journalism.
Explain access to relevant locations and sources.
Use clear data visualization methods.
Include community and Indigenous perspectives.
Connect security and environmental findings without overstating causality.
Provide a detailed production schedule.
Explain how content will reach audiences.
Demonstrate the capacity to deliver professional-quality media.

Key Details at a Glance

Funder: U.S. Mission to Colombia
Grant focus: Investigative journalism and visual storytelling
Funding: $40,000–$50,000
Project duration: Up to 12 months
Geographic focus: Colombian border and transit regions
Core output: Multi-part video mini-series or documentary
Additional output: Environmental visual journalism or photojournalism
Priority themes: Illegal migration, criminal networks, illicit revenue, community impacts, environmental regeneration
Eligible applicants: Nonprofits, think tanks, CSOs, educational institutions, journalists, media production firms, public international organizations, and Colombian or U.S. government institutions
For-profit entities: Not eligible

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding is available?

Applicants can request between $40,000 and $50,000 for an eligible project.

How long can the project last?

Projects must be completed within 12 months or less.

What type of media project is expected?

The main output should be a multi-part video mini-series or documentary supported by data-driven investigative reporting.

Is environmental storytelling required?

Yes. The opportunity also calls for high-impact visual journalism or photojournalism documenting environmental regeneration and featuring Indigenous leaders, environmental defenders, and local communities.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, think tanks, civil society organizations, educational institutions, independent journalists, investigative media production firms, visual journalists, public international organizations, and governmental institutions from Colombia or the United States, subject to the stated requirements.

Can a for-profit media company apply?

No. For-profit entities are not eligible under the opportunity.

What experience should applicants demonstrate?

Applicants should have relevant experience in investigative reporting, documentary production, photojournalism, or visual journalism, particularly involving Colombian border and transit regions.

Conclusion

The U.S. Mission to Colombia Investigative Media Grant offers $40,000–$50,000 to support evidence-based visual journalism examining the relationship between illegal migration, criminal networks, community security, and environmental recovery.

The strongest proposals will combine credible investigative research, verified data, compelling documentary storytelling, strong visual communication, and meaningful local perspectives. Applicants should also demonstrate the experience, production capacity, and distribution strategy necessary to deliver the project within 12 months.

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