The A-Mark Foundation announced a transformative $10 million gift from its founder and board member, Steven C. Markoff, to further A-Mark's mission of supporting and promoting investigative journalism by recognizing excellence in reporting and investing in the next generation of investigative journalists.
“This extraordinary gift is both a vote of confidence in the Foundation's mission and a powerful catalyst for what comes next,” said Justin Jampol, A-Mark's Board Chair. “With this support, we have the opportunity to deepen our impact, move more decisively on our priorities, and strengthen the programs and partnerships that reflect the Foundation's values and goals.”
The A-Mark Foundation supports and promotes investigative journalism through three programs. The A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting awarded the best investigative work in 30 states in 2025. The A-Mark Journalism Master's Scholarships provided scholarships to 23 students pursuing master's degrees in journalism, and the A-Mark Student Journalism Awards launched at nine community colleges to support student journalists working for their college newspapers.
A-Mark's 2025 work delivered meaningful impact by supporting journalists at multiple stages of their careers. The investigative journalism recognized through A-Mark's programs produced real-world results. In one instance, the prize-winning reporting led to a district court ruling that resulted in nine people being released from jail and 10 convictions erased. Other winning investigations prompted federal and state criminal probes, legislative reforms, policy changes, funding increases for public institutions, and the opening of new services for vulnerable communities.
The Foundation gave awards ranging from $5,000 to $18,500 across its three programs in 2025, totaling nearly $1 million in grants. A-Mark expects to increase its grants for investigative reporting substantially in 2026, helped by the new $10 million gift from Markoff.
“I am deeply grateful to Steven Markoff for his generosity and for his belief in the importance of investigative journalism,” Jampol added. “Markoff's leadership and commitment make it possible for A-Mark to continue to grow thoughtfully and with focus.”
For more information about the A-Mark Foundation and its programs, visit amarkfoundation.org.
