The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation is honored to have received the 2025 Watchdog Award from the Better Government Association (BGA), in recognition of its longstanding dedication to advancing investigative journalism, promoting transparency, and strengthening democracy through public accountability.
Presented annually, the Watchdog Award honors individuals and institutions whose work reflects the highest ideals of civic responsibility, government oversight, and journalistic excellence. The Driehaus Foundation was recognized for its deep and sustained investment in nonprofit journalism organizations that expose injustice, inform the public, and drive reform across Illinois and beyond.
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Better Government Association,” said Anne Lazar, Co-President and Executive Director of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. “Richard H. Driehaus believed that honest, courageous journalism is essential to a healthy democracy. This award is a tribute to his vision and to the work of our grantee partners, whose reporting informs communities, holds institutions accountable, and sparks lasting change.”
The Foundation is proud to support a dynamic group of investigative journalism grantees whose work is shaping the media landscape and empowering communities through independent reporting. These grantees include:
Injustice Watch – Investigating systemic inequities in the court and criminal justice systems.
City Bureau – Training and equipping community members to produce civic journalism and participate in public oversight.
Better Government Association – Conducting in-depth investigations into government practices and advocating for transparency.
Borderless Magazine – Telling the stories of immigrants and marginalized communities through collaborative journalism.
South Side Weekly – Covering arts, politics, and public affairs on Chicago’s South Side with a grassroots lens.
Illinois Answers Project – The BGA’s nonprofit newsroom producing accountability journalism for Illinois residents.
The award was presented at the BGA’s 2025 Annual Luncheon on October 10, where civic leaders, journalists, and advocates gathered to honor champions of open government and investigative reporting.
“We are proud to stand alongside our grantees who are doing the hard work of watchdog journalism every day,” Lazar added. “This recognition is as much theirs as it is ours.”
Learn more about the Foundation’s work in investigative journalism and other funding areas here.
