Currently 17 active cross-disciplinary and social impact grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Worldwide. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Kometa, a French literary and journalism magazine, awards fellowships to journalists, writers, and photographers documenting reality in contexts of war, censorship, or severe social and political tensions. Projects must be rooted in direct field experience and focused on contemporary rather than historical events. Projects already under a contractual agreement are ineligible. AMOUNT: €10,000 per Fellow, six Fellows selected. WHAT FELLOWS RECEIVE: one year of funding; publication of the completed project (partial or full) in Kometa; opportunity to contribute to the monthly newsletter; mentorship through editorial collaboration. 2026 FOCUS AREAS: disinformation and narrative wars; political and social changes in the Gulf. DEADLINE: 31 July 2026. APPLY via the Tally form (https://tally.so/r/J9XxMK), in French or English (about 30 to 45 minutes). Contact: fellows@kometarevue.com.
Protocolized's fourth contest invites artists and writers (storytellers, poets, comic artists) to build, extend, and connect the Jamverse, a shared near-future science fiction universe of four intersecting story cycles (The Stockton Chronicles, Legends and Ledgers, UET-Trainverse, and Zoothesia). ELIGIBILITY: open to anyone; you may submit up to three in-universe worldbuilding artifacts, and the same creator can win multiple prizes. REQUIREMENTS: each artifact must be under 1,000 words (200-700 is the sweet spot) or a visual equivalent (comic panel, poster, advertisement, etc.) and must include at least one element drawn from one of the four sub-world 'toy boxes', a surprising 'traffic jam' (an emergent, ah-ha consequence of a technology or protocol), and a relation to the theme of Stigmergy (indirect coordination through modifying a shared environment). Artifact types can include comic panels, job postings, poems, forum threads, historic documents, or encyclopedia entries. APPLY: submit each artifact as a public Google Doc via the contest form, including the artifact, a one-paragraph explanation of the worlds/toy-box components used and how the piece relates to stigmergy and explores a traffic jam, and, if AI was used, documentation of your AI/LLM protocol. PRIZES: one USD 1,000 grand prize and at least 10 USD 200 prizes, all published on the Jamverse website. DEADLINE: 31 July 2026. Contest rules, the current Jamverse stories, and starter materials are on the Jamverse website.
Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants are designed to enable meaningful partnerships, cross-cultural exchange and long-term collaboration between the UK and participating countries. In 2026, CTC incorporates the grants programmes formerly known as Biennials Connect (Visual Arts) and Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants, and serves as the British Council's major Arts grants programme for 2026 (in place of International Collaboration Grants). It offers grants of between GBP 5,000 and GBP 15,000 to support creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs and collectives to develop and deliver collaborative projects across a wide range of themes and art forms, including applied arts, architecture, curating, dance, design, digital, drawing, education, fashion, film, installation, interdisciplinary work, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, public art, research, sculpture, social practice, sound art, textiles, video, visual arts and writing. ELIGIBILITY: applications must involve collaboration between at least one UK-based partner and at least one partner based in an eligible participating country; each partner must be legally based in the country they are applying from at the time of application and throughout the project activity period. PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Mainland China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Eligible applicants include artists and creative practitioners, arts and cultural organisations, festivals and biennials, cultural professionals, creative hubs/networks/collectives, and organisations working across arts, culture and the creative sectors. Note: applications involving projects organised by or taking place as part of Visual Arts, Architecture, Design, Fashion and Craft festivals should be made by the festival or biennial organisation rather than by individual artists, designers or practitioners. No application fee. Deadline 12 August 2026.
The EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee supports individuals and organisations developing projects between Japan and European Capitals of Culture (past, present or future) as well as other Culture Next member cities. PURPOSE: support travel for research, project planning, and collaboration, building creative networks aimed at realising Japan-Europe arts and culture projects. THEMES (for Japan-Europe collaborative projects): Youth Empowerment; Nature & Green; Diversity (DEI); Social Regeneration. Projects may include participants from other regions (e.g. Asia) joining a Japan-Europe project. TARGET APPLICANTS: members of European Capital of Culture teams; artists and project organisers (including curators, designers, etc.); researchers in culture/arts; social entrepreneurs. TIMING: applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the travel date; this cut-off covers travel in April 2026 - September 2026. DEADLINE: this card is for the 15 August 2026 cut-off (other cut-offs each have their own card). APPLY via the Culture Next collaboration page.
The GFX Challenge Grant Program, sponsored by FUJIFILM and running since 2021, awards 5 Global Grant Awards (USD 10,000) and 10 Regional Grant Awards (USD 5,000) to help aspiring creatives bring imaging projects to life. It is designed to nurture emerging and promising content creators, giving them the opportunity to create content on topics with significant meaning to them while gaining experience with FUJIFILM GFX System gear, including the GFX ETERNA 55 filmmaking camera. Proposed projects may be submitted as still photography or in movie format. AWARDS: both tiers include complimentary use of a GFX System camera body and two GF lenses for the duration of the project, plus mentoring and technical assistance from Fujifilm technicians and product experts. At the end of the production period in May 2027, recipients' final content is showcased on fujifilm-x.com, with a series of exhibitions planned in various countries. ELIGIBILITY: open to both amateur and professional photographers and videographers who are residents of the countries/regions listed in the Entry Submission section of the program page; not open to employees or officers of FUJIFILM and its subsidiaries. TO APPLY: combine three items into a single PDF: (1) the preformatted cover letter (downloadable from the program page); (2) the project proposal covering descriptive plan, objectives, evaluation and outcome measures, communications, how you will use the Fujifilm partnership and mentoring, schedule, and budget; (3) a portfolio for each individual involved. Proposals must be in English (optionally accompanied by a version in your own language; language proficiency is not judged). Entry period 16 June to 17 August 2026.
Social Shifters, a Scottish-registered charity backed by corporate partners, runs its Global Innovation Challenge as a funnel into a longer founder-development pipeline rather than a one-off prize. ELIGIBILITY: founders aged 18 to 30 at submission, leading a fully youth-led venture that is already live and producing measurable social or environmental impact, aligned to at least one Sustainable Development Goal; concept-stage ideas and student projects do not qualify. Multiple winners receive up to USD 15,000 each, plus pitch coaching, a finalist showcase, and ongoing access to fellowships and paid work through the Shifters 100 alumni network. Free coaching is available from the moment you register, so the payoff to registering early is high. Submissions close 31 August 2026 (5pm UTC), with finalists announced in October and winners in December 2026. Apply at https://www.socialshifters.co/global-innovation-challenge/.
The Asia in the World Fellowship Programme, run by the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) at Leiden University, is a nine-month, two-phase fellowship pairing a residency at a partner institution in Asia, Africa, Latin America, or Europe (Phase 1) with six months in residence at IIAS in Leiden, the Netherlands (Phase 2). The programme supports interdisciplinary, humanities- and social-science-based research engaging Asia and its connections with the wider world. SUPPORT during the Leiden phase: EUR 1,250 per month stipend, EUR 1,200 per month housing allowance, and a travel grant; the Phase 1 stipend is provided by the co-host institution. ELIGIBILITY: scholars and researchers worldwide; open internationally. APPLICATIONS open 1 July 2026; deadline 10 September 2026. Apply via the IIAS fellowships page. NOTE: dates confirmed via secondary sources at time of entry (the funder page was not directly reachable); verify before applying.
The Democracy Stories Lab, an initiative of People Powered (a global hub for participatory democracy) in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance, invites creators worldwide to submit visual content -- short videos, illustrations, or graphics -- that tells a compelling story about democracy, voice, fairness, belonging, and community power. Content can be original or already published, as long as it is the applicant's own work and engages with narrative frameworks from the Democracy Narratives Alliance's research on 'How to Talk About Democracy.' Tone is open; serious and comedic approaches are both welcome. SUBMISSIONS: up to two finished visual content pieces per applicant, answering the prompt of what the future would look like if people had a real say in the decisions that shape their lives. FORMATS: primarily visual social media content, including short videos (under 3 minutes, vertically oriented) and illustrations; written or audio pieces are accepted if presented in a visual format, for example as a filmed performance. Each submission should build on one of five narrative types from the DNA research brief 'How to Talk About Democracy': outcome-oriented (how democracy shows results), intrinsic-value (why democracy is the best choice), collectivist (the importance of diverse voices), individual (how democracy is empowering) and process-oriented (showing democratic institutions work); a short creative brief gives further guidance. AWARDS: 4 winning entries receive USD $1,000 each; 5 honorable mentions receive USD $500 each; all winners receive amplification across People Powered and Democracy Narratives Alliance communications networks and are featured in a global screening event. WHO CAN APPLY: individual creators and small teams anywhere in the world; especially welcomes creators who reach audiences outside usual democracy circles, who come from communities traditionally with less of a say in public discourse, and who work in civic tech, advocacy, community organising, comedy, art, illustration, games, or lifestyle content. Applications opened 14 July 2026 and are submitted through the official form on the People Powered Democracy Narratives Alliance page. Submission deadline: 14 September 2026. Winners announced October-November 2026. Note: the initiative was itself voted into existence through People Powered's participatory budgeting process (PP Decides).
The Ernest Solvay Fund provides financial support for local-impact initiatives in three areas: scientific education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), planet progress (environmental initiatives) and better life (community well-being). ELIGIBILITY: organisations submitting a project must implement it within a 100 km radius of a Solvay industrial, R&I or administrative site. FUNDING: up to EUR 10,000 per initiative; the Fund covers expenses incurred only after the results are announced (mid-December 2026) and will not reimburse expenses incurred beforehand. APPLY: create or log in to an account at https://candidate.kbs-frb.be and complete the online application form (it can be saved and completed in several stages). Applications are open 15 April 2026 to 30 September 2026; results announced mid-December 2026.
Slamdance's DIG (Digital, Interactive and Gaming) showcase presents work at the edges of cinema and interactivity: interactive documentaries, VR/AR, experiential installations, and experimental games, a strong fit for interactive AI and data-driven work. Film categories run on similar deadline tiers. DIG deadlines: regular 10 August 2026 (USD 60), late 14 September 2026 (USD 70), extended 6 October 2026 (USD 90).
Travel voucher for Dutch-based professionals in design, architecture and/or digital culture who have been invited by a foreign party to give a presentation, lecture or workshop. To apply you must have submitted an application to the Fund in the past five years that was positively assessed (previous International Vouchers do not count). The inviting foreign party must cover a proportionate share of the costs. Covers hourly fees, travel and accommodation directly related to the activity. IMPORTANT TIMING RULE: applications are accepted from 5 months to a minimum of 7 weeks before the activity begins, and processing takes about 6 weeks. This lead time can rule out activities that fall shortly after a round opens. Round 2 (4 May to 22 June 2026) has closed. Round 3 runs 8 September 2026 15:00 CEST to 27 October 2026 16:00 CEST, with a budget of EUR 33,000; given the 7-week rule it effectively serves activities starting from late October 2026 onwards. IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE: you must already have had an application to the Fund positively assessed within the past five years, and a previous voucher does not satisfy this, so this is not a viable first approach to the Fund. The window runs 8 September 2026, 15:00 CEST to 27 October 2026, but closes early once 20 complete applications are received. Maximum one voucher per applicant per calendar year.
The EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee supports individuals and organisations developing projects between Japan and European Capitals of Culture (past, present or future) as well as other Culture Next member cities. PURPOSE: support travel for research, project planning, and collaboration, building creative networks aimed at realising Japan-Europe arts and culture projects. THEMES (for Japan-Europe collaborative projects): Youth Empowerment; Nature & Green; Diversity (DEI); Social Regeneration. Projects may include participants from other regions (e.g. Asia) joining a Japan-Europe project. TARGET APPLICANTS: members of European Capital of Culture teams; artists and project organisers (including curators, designers, etc.); researchers in culture/arts; social entrepreneurs. TIMING: applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the travel date; this cut-off covers travel in October 2026 - March 2027. DEADLINE: this card is for the 14 February 2027 cut-off (other cut-offs each have their own card). APPLY via the Culture Next collaboration page.
Emergent Ventures funds entrepreneurs and thinkers worldwide with highly scalable, zero-to-one ideas for meaningfully improving society. It is aimed at individuals (applicants must be 13 or older) rather than institutions, and international and non-US applicants are eligible; grants are awarded to people around the world. Dedicated support is available for projects focused on India, Africa, the Caribbean or Ukraine. Grant amounts are not disclosed and are set per project. Applications are accepted on a rolling, continuous basis through an online form. The programme launched in 2018 and is administered by Tyler Cowen at the Mercatus Center.
Daily seed grants for early-stage volunteer-driven projects with social and environmental impact. Open to grassroots changemakers worldwide: individuals, informal groups and small nonprofits. Project budget under $10,000 and organisational budget under $50,000; no paid staff. Applications reviewed monthly; submit before month-end for that month's review.
Monthly $1,000 micro-grants for awesome ideas. Decentralised network of local chapters around the world; each chapter awards one grant per month. Apply via your nearest chapter on the site. Your idea stays yours, no equity taken.
Pro Helvetia offers a two- to four-week research trip to one or more regions in Switzerland for cultural practitioners from the regions of its liaison offices: the Arab region, East Asia, South America, South Asia and Vietnam, and West, Central, East and Southern Africa. Applicants active in any of the disciplines supported by Pro Helvetia are welcome, and applications from both individuals and artist duos are accepted. SELECTION CRITERIA: permanent residence in one of the liaison-office regions and active participation in the respective cultural scene; a comprehensive portfolio and proven track record of professional activity in the applicant's field; strong professional interest in the selected destination connected to the applicant's artistic practice and to networking with the local cultural field; a concrete research topic that can deepen exchange between the cultural scenes of Switzerland and the applicant's country of residence; and knowledge of English or one of the Swiss languages. For environmental reasons, applicants are asked to consider a travel duration of at least two weeks. WHAT IS OFFERED: accommodation, travel costs, and daily allowances, plus a coach (a cultural professional from the local artistic field) to facilitate networking and exchange; artists with childcare responsibilities can apply for up to CHF 1,000 per month toward childcare or children's travel expenses (a budget must be presented in advance). EXCLUSIONS: applicants from countries outside the Pro Helvetia liaison offices' area of responsibility may not apply, and Pro Helvetia cannot consider requests from applicants enrolled in a school, university curriculum, basic training, or education programme. APPLICATION: submit a title and brief description of the proposal; a motivation explaining the professional interest and artistic research in the selected destination; the desired length of stay and destination; and a CV and portfolio. All applications must be submitted in English. KEY DATES: submissions accepted year-round; notification of decision eight weeks after submitting; earliest project start three months after application. Pro Helvetia assumes no responsibility for the approval of visa applications. Apply via the Pro Helvetia application portal.
Rainbow Railroad's Grassroots Mobilization Fund (GMF) provides grants of up to $10,000 to LGBTQI+ grassroots, community-based organizations for services and programs tailored to the local needs of LGBTQI+ people in their region, including work with at-risk populations. Open to grassroots organizations in any country. Applications are reviewed in MULTIPLE ROUNDS throughout the year (rolling), and submitting an application does not guarantee funding given high demand and limited resources. Apply via Rainbow Railroad's funding request form.