Adverse Media Screening
Adverse Media Screening identifies publicly reported allegations, investigations, or adverse associations involving a prospective or current grantee organization, under its name and any other names it uses. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommends adverse media searches as part of enhanced due diligence where risk calls for it, and the results also give funders a clearer picture of an organization’s reputation, particularly in cross-border grantmaking, where public information may be fragmented or uneven. Screening is conducted via Dow Jones RiskCenter.
Adverse media screening is commonly applied where risk indicators suggest heightened exposure to issues such as corruption, fraud, terrorist financing, money laundering, or other criminal or integrity-related concerns. Findings are evaluated proportionately and alongside other diligence inputs, the operating environment, and the nature of the proposed activity.
Targeted screening
How Adverse Media Screening is Used
Adverse Media Screening is a complementary screening module within Paragon’s broader risk-based due diligence approach. Funders can commission it on its own, and it is also part of Rapid Validation & Screening (RVS) and of the three highest tiers of the Four-Tier Risk-Based Due Diligence Framework (the “Four-Tier Framework”). Who is screened, and for what, depends on the service:
| Who is screened | Organization | People and owners | Banks and partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse Media ScreeningThis service. Any reporting of concern, in every topic area | ✓ | – | – |
| Also included in | |||
| Rapid Validation & Screening (RVS)Terrorism, sanctions exposure, financial crime, corruption and misuse of funds | ✓ | – | – |
| Tier 2 · ATFS-HRTerrorism, sanctions exposure, financial crime, corruption and misuse of funds | ✓ | – | – |
| Tier 3 · Integrity ReviewAny reporting of concern, in every topic area | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tier 4 · Integrity Due DiligenceTier 3 scope, with findings corroborated through registry, litigation and regulatory checks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
People and owners: key persons, beneficial owners and controlling entities. Banks and partners: financial institutions, routing banks, and disclosed vendors and subcontractors.
Deliverable: Adverse Media Screening Report
Commissioned on its own, Adverse Media Screening produces a written report. When it is part of another service, the same results appear as the adverse media section of that service’s report.
Contents
What the Adverse Media Screening Report contains
01Summary of findings
Whether potentially relevant adverse media was identified for each name screened, stated on the first page
02Scope of the review
The names screened and the risk areas covered, which follow the service: the organization’s name and any other names it uses for this service, RVS and ATFS-HR; also key persons, owners, banks and partners at Tiers 3 and 4
03Screening results
The date of screening, the platform (Dow Jones RiskCenter), and each item of potentially relevant adverse media identified, summarized
04Supporting documentation
The Dow Jones RiskCenter search report and copies of the adverse media articles identified, attached to the report
Related
Risk-based due diligence is essential to cross-border grantmaking.
Paragon’s Four-Tier Framework helps funders align vetting depth with risk.
Selected Clients
14 yearsServing global grantmakers
100+Countries, including higher-risk jurisdictions
3,000+Vetted nonprofits in the registry
The Rockefeller Foundation
Chicago Community Trust
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Zoetis Foundation
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Marin Community Foundation
Douglas B. Marshall, Jr. Family Foundation
Rodan + Fields Prescription for Change Foundation
Whittier Trust
Communities Foundation of Texas
