DNT FUND FAQs

1. About the Fund

What is the DNT Fund?

The Digital News Transformation Fund (DNT Fund) is a R114-million initiative funded by Google in partnership with the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and administered independently by Tshikululu Social Investments. The Fund was established by AIP on behalf of the media industry. However, applicants do not need to be AIP members to benefit. The Fund aims to strengthen the sustainability, digital transformation, and audience reach of South Africa’s small, medium, and independent news publishers producing original public interest journalism.

What does the DNT Fund support?

The DNT Fund provides grant funding for projects that:

– Support original public-interest journalism.
– Enable digital transformation and product development (including Gen AI tools).
– Focus on financial sustainability and revenue development.
– Promote audience engagement and reach.
– Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in media.
– Support fact-checking and countering disinformation.
– Can be undertaken by individual publishers or collective beneficiaries.
– Are strictly product-agnostic (Google products not required).

How much funding is available?

Funding is offered across three tiers:

– Build: Up to R380 000 per year for foundational digital capacity.
– Grow: Up to R950 000 per year for expansion of digital reach.
– Engage: Up to R1 900 000 per year for advanced innovation and revenue models.

Multi-year funding (up to 3 years) is possible subject to performance and annual review.

What do Tshikululu’s fees cover?

Tshikululu Social Investments charges an administration fee to manage the DNTF. The fee covers end to end fund management, including:

Day to day operations of the Fund.
Management of the application portal and supporting systems.
Contracting and due diligence processes.
Grantee support for reporting, compliance, and governance.
Monitoring, evaluation, and financial accountability oversight.

The fee also includes payments to third party service providers. These costs account for 20 percent of the total fee. Tshikululu applies no mark up to these disbursements.

Will Google or AIP influence funding decisions?

No. To protect independence and integrity:

– Google is not involved in adjudication, oversight, or decision-making bodies.
– AIP’s role was limited to co-founding the Fund.
– Funding decisions are made independently by the Adjudication Committee and ratified by the Oversight and Advisory Board.

How is interest from Google’s payments managed?

Any interest earned on tranche payments received from Google is reinvested into the Fund to support and advance its objectives.

2. Eligibility

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

– Local and independent news publishers in South Africa.
– Industry bodies, associations, or support organisations serving the local media ecosystem.
– Collectives or consortiums proposing industry-wide projects.

Who cannot apply?

The following are ineligible:

– Aggregators, general-interest magazines, and broadcasters.
– Political parties, campaigns, or projects with political propaganda.
– Publishers with over 1 million monthly unique visitors (with exceptions).
– Unregistered or non-compliant entities.
– Projects implemented outside South Africa (unless benefitting SA audiences).
– Completed activities (no retrospective funding).

3. Application Process

When will applications open?

Applications open twice a year. One cycle runs in the first quarter. The second runs in the third quarter.

Exact dates will be announced on the DNT Fund website, social media channels, and through industry communication channels.

How does the two-stage application process work?

The application process has two phases:

Phase 1 (Initial Screening): Applications are reviewed as they are received. Because this stage requires lighter information, feedback is given directly to applicants.
Phase 2 (Full Review): Eligible applications move to full adjudication, where the Adjudication Committee assesses them against the Fund’s criteria.

Applicants who are unsuccessful will receive feedback to help strengthen future submissions.

How will applications be assessed?

Applications will undergo:

1. Initial screening for eligibility and completeness.
2. Scoring by the Independent Adjudication Committee using the DNT Fund Scoring Matrix.
3. Final ratification by the Oversight and Advisory Board and Tshikululu Trustees.

Assessment criteria include alignment with DNTF objectives, innovation, feasibility, governance capacity, audience engagement, diversity, sustainability, and impact potential. Applicants are encouraged to pilot projects that could benefit the industry as a whole.

Are business plans required as part of the application?

No. Business plans are not required. The Project Plan, which we provide a template for, provides sufficient evidence for the Adjudication Committee to assess organisational capacity and project planning.

Do applicants need consultants to prepare business plans?

No. The DNTF does not require publishers to hire consultants to prepare business plans. Applicants should use their own internal resources to explain their project and sustainability plans

Can applicants request multi-year funding?

Yes. Applicants may propose a three-year project, but budgets must be submitted on an annual basis. The Build, Grow, and Engage funding caps apply per year, not cumulatively. For example, if an applicant requests three years of Engage funding, the cap is R1.9m per year (not R5.7m upfront). Funding is renewed annually, subject to review.

Can publishers open a new bank account for their application?

Yes. Publishers may open a new business account, provided it is in the legal entity’s name and bank confirmation is supplied.

Do applicants need a separate bank account?

Yes. Applicants must open a dedicated bank account for DNTF funds or use an organisational account (not a personal bank account). This ensures transparency, accountability, and easier tracking of how funds are spent.

4. Budget and Financial Guidelines

Can overheads and salaries be included in applications?

Overheads and salaries are not funded as standalone costs. However, they may be included if directly linked to the project for which funding is requested. Applicants must clearly show how these costs contribute to the delivery and success of the project.

Can applicants include a project management fee in their budget?

Yes. The Funding Policy allows space to justify a reasonable overhead (for example, up to 10%), in line with common grantmaking practice. This should be framed as an administrative or project management cost essential to delivering the project.

5. Governance and Decision-Making

What is the adjudication committee’s mandate and decision‑making authority?

The Adjudication Committee independently assesses applications against Board‑approved criteria using a standard 100‑point scoring matrix. The AC issues funding recommendations; final approvals are ratified by the Oversight & Advisory Board, with the Secretariat recording both the recommendations and ratifications in the Decision Log. Google, as the Funder, has no involvement in funding decisions. Adjudication Committee decisions are taken by majority vote.

How are conflicts of interest handled?

Disclosure

Initial declaration before service.
Annual update within 30 days of the appointment anniversary.
Event-driven updates within 14 days of any change.
Meeting-specific conflicts declared at the start and minuted.
Secretariat maintains a secure Register.

Recusal

Required if the member (or immediate family/close associates) is an applicant, has a Material Interest, or has provided services to an applicant in the past 12 months.
Member exits for that agenda item and is excluded from related documents, discussions, and votes.
Secretariat records the recusal in the minutes.

Cooling-off

No Adjudication Committee member (nor immediate family) may hold a Material Interest in, or professional engagement with, a Related Organisation during service and for six months thereafter.
Any such interest must be declared immediately and triggers resignation.

Gifts/benefits

Any grant, donation, or other benefit exceeding ZAR 50 000 in the preceding 12 months constitutes a Material Interest and must be disclosed/managed.

Confidentiality

Members sign a confidentiality agreement and must comply with POPIA.
The Fund publishes member names/bios and anonymised decision data, not individual applications.

Breaches

Non-compliance may lead to removal.
If a decision was tainted by an undeclared conflict, the Board may set aside or vary that decision after due process.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Support and Requirements

Yes. Publishers may open a new business account, provided it is in the legal entity’s name and bank confirmation is supplied.

What reporting is required from grantees?

Grantees will be required to:

– Submit bi-annual progress reports.
– Provide financial reports, including audited or independently reviewed statements (where applicable).
– Submit a final impact report aligned with agreed deliverables.
– Participate in case study development for sector learning.

First-time applicants and smaller publishers will receive additional reporting support and mentorship.

7. Transparency and Public Information

What information will be made publicly available on the website?

• Beneficiary (legal entity) and newsroom/trading name (if different);
• Project title & short description (non-sensitive);
• Amount approved (ZAR) and funding period;
• Funding type/tier (as per Funding policy);
• Status (active/completed) and any non-sensitive outcomes once complete.

Will application data and results be published?

Yes. In line with the Funding Policy and the Fund’s commitment to transparency, the following information will be made public:

Beneficiary (legal entity) and newsroom/trading name (if different).
Project title and short description (non-sensitive).
Approved funding amount and funding period.
Funding type/tier.
Province/coverage area (optional).
Status (active/completed).
Non-sensitive outcomes once the project is complete.

8. Support and Capacity Building

Will the DNT Fund provide training and capacity building support?

Yes. Alongside grant funding, the DNT Fund has developed a training framework to support grantees. The aim is to help strengthen digital skills, improve sustainability, and build capacity across the sector.

The training approach will focus on:

Practical skills for digital transformation.
Strengthening business and financial sustainability.
Supporting editorial and audience growth strategies.

9. Queries, Appeals and Contact Information

How can applicants query outcomes or lodge an appeal/complaint?

The Fund website will host a public Questions & Feedback facility. The Secretariat will acknowledge enquiries within 3 business days and provide a response (or update the FAQ) within 5 business days. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified and given reasons limited to the published criteria. A list of approved beneficiaries (amounts and periods) is published. Disputes regarding conflict‑of‑interest rulings are referred to the Board.

Where can I get more information?

– Visit: https://dntfund.org.za
– Email: dntf@tshikululu.org.za