In addition to the Prize for Preventive Journalism (please click here for more information), Understanding Government commissions articles and seminars that examine how agencies really work — with close attention to where the rubber meets the road, or how policy is turned into action.  We award grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to help support the research and writing of lively reports on what goes on inside agencies, usually, but not exclusively, at the federal level.  We also work with other organizations to arrange additional financing for longer articles and book-length projects.

We are especially interested in exploring what’s right and what’s wrong inside an agency, and how to make its programs better.  The subject can also be a problem common to several agencies such as how to attract talent and get rid of lemons.  Reports should explain what the agency does, asking whether it’s worth doing and how well it’s being done, describing the agency’s culture, and portraying its heroes, villians, and typical employees. What needs changing and what needs support to make the agency better serve the public interest?

Understanding Government reports will focus on the action point of government programs, e.g., what is happening to the person still on welfare and what is happening with those who are leaving? Where federal, state, and local agencies are involved, as in the case with welfare, their interaction will be explored as we try to trace the whys behind a program’s successes and failures.  Reports will be published on our Web site and in addition, we will partner with a relevant magazine or newspaper to publish an excerpt or special focus from the report. Reports published thus far have covered:

• Food and Drug Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Forest Service
• Consumer Product Safety Commission

Our ultimate goal is better government — government that is better because it receives more informed criticism.  Applications for grants should include a letter describing your experience, what government agency you would like to cover, and why you would like to cover it.  Please send materials to:

UNDERSTANDING GOVERNMENT

1319 F St., Suite 810

Washington, DC 20004

For more information, please contact us by calling (202) 783-2439, or e-mailing info at understandinggov.org (address shown without "at" sign to reduce spam).