Currently 63 active paid grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Worldwide, across AI, arts, film, research, tech and cross-disciplinary practice. 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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Video Pool Media Arts Centre's 4th Video Commission Residency, VCR Vol.4 'Attrition', commissioning new experimental single-channel video works (5-20 minutes) responding to the theme of attrition: conditions shaped by sustained contact and duration, in images, materials and environments, where form and meaning change through accumulating processes. Artists are encouraged to consider how images and environments are worn down through use, working with analog or digital processes (or both) to explore feedback systems, compression, copying, translation, repeated handling and similar processes that produce difference with each iteration. ELIGIBILITY: open to artists (no nationality restriction stated). No in-person attendance required during the creation process - effectively remote-friendly.
Fast Grants fund high-ambition, curiosity-driven pilot projects at the intersection of AI and health, for early-career scientists or established researchers pivoting into the field. THEMES: training, fine-tuning or evaluating models on biomedical data; exploring or assembling datasets that could unlock new clinical or biological insight; building AI tools or agents that scale a scientist's leverage; pilot experiments that de-risk a bigger funding ask; and anything else where modest, fast capital meaningfully accelerates an AI- or data-driven path to a health breakthrough. ELIGIBILITY: researchers at any career stage including early-career faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates (with faculty sponsorship; USD 25K tier only). Applicants must be affiliated with an institution eligible to receive US charitable gifts. Open worldwide. FUNDING: three tiers (USD 25K / 50K / 100K) with a single payment, 12-month period, indirect costs capped at 15 percent. APPLY: submit a concise application (bullet points, ~300 words max) through the online form; decisions are based on the written application alone, with no interview round. Deadline for Cycle 1: 15 June 2026, 11:59pm PT (a second cycle closes 15 December 2026).
PEN America's annual grants for in-progress book-length literary translations from any language into English. Up to 10 grants of USD 4,000 each. Preference for early-career translators and works from underrepresented languages and regions. Eligible genres include fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and drama. ELIGIBILITY: translators of any nationality; the project must be a translation of a book-length work into English; previous PEN/Heim recipients are eligible after a waiting period. No application fee. Apply by 15 June 2026 via PEN America's grants portal.
Long-running fund supporting feature documentaries (52+ minutes) on contemporary topics with budgets under $1.2m USD (excluding distribution). Worldwide eligibility but proposals must be in English with budgets in USD; films may be in any language but visual materials must be subtitled in English. Excludes: NGO/advocacy/educational films, branded content, and historical/biographical films unless they show clear contemporary relevance or innovation in form. Submissions accepted year-round but reviewed in four cycles per year; the next concentrated open call window is 18 May to 15 June 2026 with no extensions. Decisions take up to eight months. Worth tracking for any documentary project on AI-enabled surveillance, algorithmic systems, or critical-tech themes that has a cinematic feature treatment (form-driven, not advocacy-driven).
AFAC's Music grant supports music production, performances, collaborations, album recordings, music-related podcasts, and festivals. The program provides annual grants of up to USD 25,000 for individuals and teams, and up to USD 35,000 for collectives and institutions. WHO CAN APPLY: AFAC welcomes proposals from individuals from Arab countries (the 22 member states of the Arab League), regardless of place of residence, citizenship, or ethnic and national identification; it also accepts proposals from local, regional, and international institutions and organizations (artistic and cultural institutions, galleries, venues, and both nonprofit and for-profit entities) whose projects relate to arts and culture from the Arab region. INELIGIBLE: AFAC board, staff, their business partners or family, and current-year reader and juror committee members for the categories they evaluate; recipients of grants in two consecutive years are ineligible for the next two consecutive years; and applicants with a current open grant. AFAC launches two open calls a year; the second call covers Cinema, Music, and Training & Regional Events grants. Each applicant may submit only one application per open call. WHAT IT COVERS: project production including research and development, covering project-related expenses such as materials, space or equipment rentals, and fees for artistic and technical labor. An artist or institutional fee of up to 30% of the total grant is allowable. AFAC does not offer mobility grants, though project-related travel may be covered, and does not fund retroactively. PAYMENT: for grants above USD 10,000, applicants must show proof of at least 50% of the remaining project budget secured; payments are staged (50/35/15 for grants above USD 10,000, 70/30 for grants below). SELECTION: a grants management completeness review, then an independent readers committee, then an independent jury committee that reaches the final decision. AFAC does not own any material or moral rights to supported projects. Applications are accepted only through the online forms (separate forms for individuals, teams, collectives, and institutions). TIMELINE: deadline 19 June 2026 at 5:00 PM +3 GMT (Beirut time); announcement of selected projects 16 November 2026.
Fellowship for emerging changemakers aged 18 to 35 using futures thinking and foresight to drive social and environmental impact. Fellows receive a $1,000 kick-starter grant, mentorship from expert foresight practitioners, capability-building training, access to a 900+ strong global community, regional hubs, and the chance to win a $10,000 grand prize. Supports projects on climate transitions, democracy, emerging technologies, health and other systemic challenges.
Biannual global contemporary art prize from the Victor Pinchuk Foundation (PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv), recognising and supporting a future generation of artists. The main winner receives US$100,000 ($60,000 cash plus $40,000 invested in their practice); up to five special prizes share a total of US$20,000 for projects developing the artist's practice. Shortlisted artists exhibit at PinchukArtCentre in Spring 2027, with the award ceremony following. ELIGIBILITY: open to all artists aged 35 or younger worldwide, with no restrictions on gender, nationality, race or artistic medium; former Prize winners are not eligible to enter again but other previous applicants may re-apply. APPLY through the open call online. A selection committee reviews applications and selects up to twenty artists for the exhibition; in addition, 300 correspondent art experts worldwide nominate two to five candidates each. Applications accepted 11 May - 28 June 2026; shortlist announced 14 September 2026.
International Arte Laguna Prize, open to artists across many media including dedicated digital art and video sections, with a finalist exhibition at the Venice Arsenale Nord. ELIGIBILITY: individual artists of all ages and nationalities worldwide. NOTE: an entry fee applies (roughly EUR 97 to EUR 122), but the prize awards substantial cash. Apply via the Arte Laguna Prize page.
Tractor Beam's sixth issue, themed around water in soil, growth, land and ecosystems large and small, is open for submissions. Editors are seeking anti-apocalyptic visions that explore the future of water in farming and food production, island ecologies, hybrid sea-soil technologies, the people who move water and the people water moves, plus stories about drought, diaspora and what gets carried downstream. FORMAT: stories under 6,000 words; comics 12-16 panels. Submissions accepted via the call page on Tractor Beam's Substack.
Inaugural Sofia Coppola Short Film Award run by Decentralized Pictures, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded by Roman Coppola and members of the American Zoetrope family that uses a community-voting model for film financing. One winner receives a $20,000 production grant, mentorship from Sofia Coppola, and a guaranteed DCP+ distribution slot. Submission window 30 April to 30 June 2026, with possible extension if a minimum submission count is not reached; community review ends 14 days after submissions close, and the recipient is announced ~14 days after that. Application requires a short video sample representing the filmmaker's voice (scene, visual excerpt, or proof of concept) and a one-page project description (synopsis, visual references); pitch video optional but encouraged. $25 submission fee covers moderation and peer review. Open worldwide via account on app.decentralized.pictures.
Annual international writing prize from Wasafiri and Queen Mary University of London, with three categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Life Writing (creative nonfiction). The prize is specifically for writers who have NOT yet published a book-length work, making it strongly debut-friendly. The Life Writing category suits a self-contained creative-nonfiction piece (for example an extract or essay drawn from a longer project). ELIGIBILITY: open to anyone who has not published a complete book; no restrictions on age, gender, nationality or background. Deadline 11:59pm BST, 30 June 2026. NOTE: entry fee applies (GBP 12/16, or a subsidised GBP 6).
Worldbuilding competition asking entrants to build and argue a grounded vision of a 2035 in which AI went well, submitted as text plus media. A speculative, constructive counterpoint for artists and writers engaging critically with AI and synthetic media. ELIGIBILITY: open internationally to anyone aged 16 or over (prizes paid by international bank transfer); entrants must first complete a free course of roughly 1.5 hours. Individual or team entries. Deadline 30 June 2026 (23:59 anywhere-on-earth).
Seed grant competition from the SSRC's Religion and the Public Sphere program for research examining the dynamics of religious and spiritual change through the frame of 'innovation', understood as the strategic recombination of existing elements within broader social, political and cultural change rather than invention ex nihilo. Possible topics include innovations within transnational or diasporic communities (especially circulation to and from the Global South); gendered knowledge of innovation; how innovations attain (or fail to attain) legitimacy and authority; the relationship between contemporary economic conditions and religious/spiritual innovation; historical studies of innovations and their longevity; and civic participation or social mobilisation of new religious identities. ELIGIBILITY: scholars working as professional researchers, postdoctoral researchers, university faculty, or doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy. Open to all social science fields (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, sociology) as well as humanities, theology and other relevant fields; qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. All materials must be submitted in English. Applications consist of a research proposal, application form, detailed budget and brief CV, submitted via the SSRC online portal by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1 July 2026.
Quick-turnaround grants for individuals, Wikimedia community members, groups and affiliates running short-term, low-cost Wikimedia-focused projects: editathons, workshops, community meetups, education projects, cultural heritage initiatives, gender/diversity programmes, small-scale software development and content campaigns. Five cycles per year; upcoming deadlines: 1 July 2026, 1 September 2026, 1 November 2026, 1 February 2027, 1 April 2027. Approximately 2 months processing time per cycle. Standard track and Technical Projects track (Grants:Project/Rapid/Tech) share deadlines and amounts. Apply via the Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) at https://wmf.fluxx.io/. Transfers run slower in June and December. CEE region applications routed via the CEE Hub from 1 April 2026. Ineligible: General Support Fund grantees, applicants on SDN lists, those with recent UCoC violations.
Interledger Foundation fellowship funding individuals to advance open, interoperable digital payment infrastructure (the Interledger Protocol and Open Payments) and broaden digital financial access. ELIGIBILITY: individual researchers, developers, open-source contributors, advocates, creators and artists working on digital financial inclusion; open worldwide. Apply via the Interledger fellowship page.
La Biennale di Venezia's Biennale College Cinema - Immersive selects 12 immersive international concepts (of which 2 Italian), up to 30 minutes long, that can be made within a EUR 75,000 budget and completed for exhibition at the 2027 Venice International Film Festival. Projects must be realisable only using immersive technologies. The call is open 12 May to 6 July 2026 (23:59 CEST) to teams of a director and a producer from anywhere in the world, at their first, second or third immersive project. Selected teams sign an agreement with La Biennale and take part in the full project-led programme. ELIGIBILITY: applications welcomed from people in film, gaming, theatre, dance, opera, visual arts and other creative fields; applicants apply in director-and-producer teams. Film-world applicants need experience in short films, documentaries and/or features; those from outside film need a body of work demonstrating understanding of narrative and spatial concerns. No age limit and no participation fee; participants cover their own travel. Those already invited to a previous BCC Immersive workshop cannot reapply. APPLICATION (in English): project concept, full treatment with director and producer statements, a director's vision (mood board/project-book/video), up to two previous works, a total budget up to EUR 75,000, biographies/filmographies, production company profile, a 3-minute joint video presentation, an audience engagement plan, rights disclosure, and a signed director-producer agreement. Contact: college-cinema@labiennale.org.
SFFILM's Documentary Film Fund supports feature-length documentaries in post-production with compelling stories and an innovative approach to the craft. ELIGIBILITY: applicants 18 or older in a key creative role (director or producer); feature-length documentary (60+ minutes) within roughly three months of completing post-production; need not be US-based. Regular deadline 9 June 2026 ($30 fee); final deadline 7 July 2026 ($50 fee). Distinct from the SFFILM Rainin Grant. Apply via the SFFILM grants portal.
Funding to develop a career working on the potential consciousness, sentience, moral status or welfare of artificial intelligence systems (digital minds). The fellowships aim to grow a new generation of researchers, policymakers, communicators, entrepreneurs and practitioners working on digital minds and AI sentience issues. EXAMPLE CANDIDATES: a current or planned PhD or other degree student seeking financial support to study digital minds issues; a technical AI researcher who wants to explore research topics, attend events and meet organisations in the space in order to select a high-impact role; or a communications professional pivoting into digital minds work (for example running surveys or building experts' platforms). SUPPORT: a stipend calibrated to award duration, cost of living and prior experience, plus additional case-by-case funding for research or logistics. APPLY by 10 July 2026. Questions: digitalminds-rfp@longview.org.
Who Let The Docs Out provides funding across five stages of documentary production: Research (USD 8,000), Development/Sizzle (USD 15,000), Production (USD 50,000), Post-Production (USD 50,000), and Impact Campaign (USD 30,000). Funding is organized into thematic funds such as the Coexistence Documentary Fund and the Automation & Humanity Documentary Fund. There are three funding cycles per year, each with its own application window and the documentary stages it supports. 2026 SPRING CYCLE (Research & Development Grants): applications open 16 February 2026, close 16 March 2026; notification mid-April 2026; required program commitment May-July (monthly virtual sessions). 2026 SUMMER CYCLE (Research, Development & Production Grants): applications open 5 June 2026, close 10 July 2026; notification 15 August 2026; required program commitment September-November (monthly virtual sessions). 2026 AUTUMN CYCLE (Research, Development & Post-Production Grants): applications open 1 October 2026, close 15 November 2026; notification 15 December 2026; required program commitment January-March (monthly virtual sessions). Awarded filmmakers must commit to monthly virtual sessions during their cycle. The deadline shown here is the currently open Summer Cycle close date (10 July 2026); see the funder's site for full eligibility and thematic-fund details, or contact hello@wholethedocsout.org.
Funded investigative-journalism fellowship from Durham University and Reuters, embedding the fellow in a major Reuters newsroom to pursue an in-depth investigation. ELIGIBILITY: journalists with roughly 2 to 5 years of professional experience; professionals from related investigative fields (authors, researchers, documentary or photo/video investigators) considered case by case; open to applicants worldwide. AI-generated proposals will be disqualified. Apply via the Durham University Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund page by 10 July 2026, 12:00 BST.
The AI Accountability Fellowships support journalists working on in-depth AI accountability stories that examine how governments and corporations use predictive, generative and surveillance technologies to guide decisions in policing, medicine, social welfare, criminal justice, hiring and more. Designed for reporters from all beats, desks and formats, the fellowship asks applicants to propose a concrete reporting project (with evidence of pre-reporting) that uses approaches such as data analysis, records requests and shoe-leather reporting to examine the real-world impact of algorithms. For the first time this year, the fellowship also includes funding, mentorship and training to develop and execute an impact/engagement plan to reach strategic audiences. SUPPORT: up to USD 25,000 per fellow (up to USD 20,000 reporting plus USD 5,000 engagement), paid in three installments; freelancers may budget up to one third as a stipend, while newsrooms cover staff salaries. Fellows also receive mentors, specialized training, pro bono legal and public records support, and a lasting community of peers. ELIGIBILITY: staff or freelance journalists across print, radio, video and multimedia, able to work collaboratively; reporters may be based anywhere (fellowship is remote). Experience reporting on AI is not required, but a track record of in-depth, impactful reporting and investigative/data/explanatory experience is valued. Small teams may apply with a designated lead Fellow. REQUIREMENTS: a mandatory monthly 1.5-2 hour meeting, at least one community call, engagement with other fellows, and sharing of methodologies and lessons learned; fellowship communication, meetings and training are in English, but fellows may publish in any language. APPLY: submit a 500-word statement of purpose, a 500-word project description with reporting plan, an engagement plan, a budget, three links to recent work, a letter of commitment from a publishing media organization (or editor support letter for staff), three references and a CV. Funded with support from the MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, Omidyar Network and others. Contact: reacheditorial@pulitzercenter.org. Deadline: 12 July 2026, 11:59pm EDT.
Established in memory of editor Kari Howard, who championed narrative journalism that wove the music of everyday life into stories illuminating the most important issues of the day. Offered by Kari's family and friends together with the International Women's Media Foundation, the fund supports narrative journalism projects. Grants average around USD 5,000 (based on previous years). ELIGIBILITY: open to women and nonbinary journalists. Applicants may be a print journalist or a print journalist leading a multi-media team, and may be freelance or staff; they may apply individually or as part of a multi-format team. Professional journalism must be the applicant's primary profession, with three or more years of professional experience (internships do not count). Applicants must show proof of interest from an editor or a proven track record of publication in prominent media outlets. Applicants must apply and publish in English; projects published anywhere in the world are eligible, and stories may be published digitally (not necessarily in a newspaper or magazine). Any multi-format reporting must supplement a printed project. All reporting and publishing must be completed within six months of the award. Applicants receive a decision by early September. DEADLINE: 12 July 2026, 11:59pm EST.
International, non-acquisitive art prize across seven categories including a dedicated Digital Art Award, with cash prizes and a San Francisco gallery exhibition. Grand Prize is $10,000, with category awards and over $76,000 in total cash and prizes. ELIGIBILITY: open internationally with no geographic restriction; all static media; includes an Emerging Artist Award. NOTE: there is a $40 entry fee per submission.
A global research fellowship for early- and mid-career researchers whose work can strengthen understanding of how children thrive across diverse contexts. Funds are awarded to and administered by the fellow's institution and may support the fellow's effort and broader research costs (research personnel, professional travel, equipment, dissemination, trainee support). Fellows join an interdisciplinary cohort and take part in convenings. Research must align with one of three themes: the youngest children (birth to eight) in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children (with a focus on Autism and ADHD, up to 18); and children's learning and development in an AI-enabled world (up to 18). The role of play may be explored where relevant but is optional. ELIGIBILITY: early- and mid-career researchers worldwide employed by a university or research institute, holding a PhD or equivalent doctorate by July 31, 2026, received no earlier than January 1, 2016 (subject to approved career-break policy). Applicants from any country welcome except those subject to EU or US sanctions. Individual applications only. Materials: online form, two-page CV, 250-word abstract, 500-word personal statement, five-page research proposal, budget and justification, and two-page bibliography. Two-stage review; applicants informed of status in November 2026. Questions: legofellowship@ssrc.org.
Grants from the AXS Film Fund supporting documentary and nonfiction new media creators, particularly those who identify as living with a disability and especially from underserved communities, though applications are welcome from all creators regardless of background. Uses the Nonfiction Core Application led by the IDA and Sundance Institute. PROJECT ELIGIBILITY: feature-length documentary films (45 minutes or longer; experimental nonfiction accepted) or nonfiction new media projects with a film/video component; projects in any stage of production; non-English projects must have English subtitles and the application must be completed in English. INELIGIBLE: fiction projects (including narrative fiction based on a true story); projects where applicants are hired, employed, or commissioned by another entity; incomplete applications or those missing supporting materials; late submissions. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: 18 or older; not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program; individual applicants (fiscal sponsors permitted); applicant must be the director or producer of the project. SELECTION CRITERIA: strength of proposal and artistic approach; feasibility; ethics and accountability; completeness; and meeting eligibility requirements. ACCESSIBILITY: alternative application methods available (email filmfund@axslab.org by 24 July 2026); an Application Assistance Stipend is offered for 2026 to allow applicants to hire an application assistant, available first-come, first-served (not guaranteed). TIMELINE: open call opens 1 June 2026 (12:00 AM EST); deadline 31 July 2026 (11:59 PM EST). Apply via SurveyMonkey Apply.
MUUS Collection (an American 20th-century photography collection that preserves, researches and reveals work from the archives it owns and represents) launches its first Research Fellowship, inviting a curator or academic to spend a year with the archives to develop an exhibition or publication concept offering a new perspective. The Research Fellow examines physical works and ephemera (journals, contact sheets, cameras, the totality of each photographer's collection) and benefits from the new MUUSEUM online research portal. PROJECT PERIOD: November 2026 to November 2027 (project completes November 2027). ELIGIBILITY: minimum five years professional experience at museums, galleries, universities or similar cultural institutions; international candidates eligible but fluency in English (written and spoken) is required; candidates must be willing to travel to Tenafly, New Jersey for up to a week (mutually agreed dates) and be available for remote collaboration with the archive team and advisory board. Candidates from underrepresented or marginalised communities are encouraged to apply. AWARD: USD 20,000 grant plus full coverage of travel costs to the archive. ANNOUNCEMENT: winner decided in October 2026 and announced at Paris Photo. DEADLINE: 31 July 2026.
The Doha Film Festival (Doha Film Institute), running 19-27 November 2026, is accepting submissions, which are open for SHORT FILMS ONLY (feature films are selected by invitation only). Submittable competitions: the International Short Film Competition (new, daring short-form work, all genres, maximum 20 minutes, MENA premiere required) and the Ajyal Film Competition short-film category (youth-focused films, maximum 20 minutes, Middle East premiere excluding North Africa, curated with a jury of young people aged 16-25). The Made in Qatar section is open to narrative and documentary short films connected to Qatar (Qatari national or resident writer/director/producer, majority shot in Qatar, or storyline centred on Qatar), requiring Qatar premiere status. The International Feature Film Competition (documentary and narrative, 60+ minutes, MENA premiere) is by invitation only and does not accept submissions. All non-English-language works must have English subtitles and a time-coded English dialogue list; as Qatar is bilingual, films must be accessible in Arabic and English (the Festival can provide Arabic subtitles). KEY DATES: short-film submissions open 10 May 2026; deadline for International Short and Ajyal Short Competitions is 1 August 2026; Made in Qatar deadline is 1 September 2026; invited filmmakers notified by 1 October 2026. No entry fee. Submit via the entry form with a private (password-protected) link to the film. Enquiries: entries@dohafilm.com.
A joint philanthropic funding call by Schmidt Sciences, Google DeepMind, ARIA, the Cooperative AI Foundation and Google.org to catalyse the foundational scientific research needed to understand, evaluate and control risks emerging from large-scale ecosystems of interacting AI agents deployed by multiple actors (multi-principal, multi-agent settings). The call argues that focusing only on the safety and alignment of individual models is insufficient, and seeks system-level approaches. RESEARCH AGENDA (four clusters): (1) Sandboxes and Testbeds, realistic, reproducible multi-agent environments for studying populations of frontier-model agents; (2) The Science of Agent Networks, how collective capabilities emerge and scale, how networks fail, and how dangerous population-level properties can be detected; (3) Strengthening Agent Infrastructure, evaluating and stress-testing primitives such as identity, verifiability, reputation, communication and commitment; (4) Multi-Agent Oversight and Control, detection, attribution, security and intervention methods to keep deployed agent populations safe at scale. Proposals may target one cluster or span several, with priority on depth over breadth and on realistic sandboxes and testbeds. OUT OF SCOPE: single-agent safety, capability advancement without a clear safety motivation, toy systems, naive application of pre-existing solutions, commercial product development, and purely conceptual/policy work. ELIGIBILITY: individual researchers, research teams, research institutions and multi-institution collaborations across universities, national laboratories, institutes and nonprofit research organisations; open globally. Informational webinars on 30 June and 23 July 2026; notification of decisions in autumn 2026. Proposals due 8 August 2026 by 11:59pm Anywhere on Earth. Contact: multiagentsafety@schmidtsciences.org. Apply at https://schmidtsciences.smapply.io/prog/scaling_ai_safety_for_a_multi_agent_world/.
Short film competition from Day Job Films created to give auteur directors full creative freedom, awarding a production budget of up to GBP 7,000 to make a short film with no producer interference or commercial agenda. Open to animation, live-action and documentary projects. Runs in three rounds: (1) a pitch deck outlining concept, story, key characters and visual style; (2) a full script for those who progress; and (3) an interview to discuss the vision and execution. A panel of industry professionals judges the pitch deck, script and interview, with at least one team member reading each pitch deck and script in full. The winner receives full creative control over the project. ELIGIBILITY: applicants can be from anywhere worldwide, but all production must take place in the UK; applicants must have a producer on board who is separate from the director/writer. Applicants may optionally include a plan for adapting the script into a feature-length film (this does not affect the outcome). Submissions open February 10, 2026 and close August 10, 2026. Enquiries: hello@dayjobfilms.com.
Vision Grants are research planning grants that give scholars and their collaborators the time, space, resources and support to plan a large-scale study or program of research focused on transforming education systems toward greater equity. Rather than a fully fleshed-out research plan, the proposal is an invitation to think forward about what research is needed to transform education systems toward equity and how that systems change will happen, identifying the system(s) targeted and the specific levers the team thinks must be engaged. Grants bring together a team for 12 to 18 months to collaboratively develop ambitious, large-scale, cross-disciplinary research projects co-designed with practitioners, policymakers, communities and other partners. Awarded teams also join a cohort learning program held in person in Chicago. ELIGIBILITY: PIs and Co-PIs must have appropriate experience or an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or a terminal degree in a professional field; graduate students may be on the team but cannot be PI or Co-PI. The PI must be affiliated with a non-profit or public/governmental institution willing to serve as the administering organization (colleges, universities, school districts, research facilities, or other 501(c)(3) non-profits, or non-US equivalents); the Spencer Foundation does not award grants directly to individuals. Open to applicants in the US and internationally; proposals in English, budgets in USD. PIs and Co-PIs may apply even with another active Spencer grant or proposal in review, but may not be part of more than one Vision Grant proposal. Note: a Vision Grant is a prerequisite for applying to Spencer's Transformative Research Grant program (TRG, USD 3.5 million), though receiving one does not guarantee a TRG. PROCESS: applications opened 4 June 2026. A required Intent to Apply form (max 200 words, non-binding) is due 12 August 2026 at 12:00 PM noon Central time; the Full Proposal (2000-word narrative) is due 16 September 2026 at 12:00 PM noon Central time. Program contact: Jasmine Knetl, visiongrants@spencer.org.
Annual grants from the Altercine Foundation (Montreal) to support the production of a documentary project, awarding roughly CAD 10,000 and CAD 5,000 each year. ELIGIBILITY: the grant is aimed at filmmakers BORN AND LIVING IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (Africa, Asia or Latin America) who want to direct a documentary in the language of their choice that respects the Foundation's aims. APPLICATION (in French, English or Spanish): an application form, a synopsis (max 5 pages) covering content, characters, theme, treatment and style, a Vimeo link to a previous completed documentary (subtitled/versioned in FR/EN/ES, or with a transcript) plus supporting visual material, a detailed production budget and financing plan including the grant, and ideally two support letters. Submit all documents as a single PDF (max 5MB) by email to altercine@videotron.ca. Deadline 15 August each year; decisions communicated before 31 December.
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.
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/.
Wikimedia Foundation grants supporting the organisation of local, regional and thematic conferences that bring Wikimedians together for knowledge sharing, skill development and professional networking. Two rounds per year. Round 1 deadline: 31 August 2026. Round 2 deadline: 1 February 2027. ELIGIBILITY: groups, organisations and Wikimedia affiliates; individuals may apply via a fiscal sponsor.
USD 10,000 prize from the Association for Mathematical Research for serious experimentation in how mathematicians communicate with one another, beyond the static PDF. Submissions should demonstrate communicative capabilities fundamentally unavailable in a linear paper: interactive exploration of parameter spaces in differential equations, dynamic visualisation of group actions or geometric structures, multi-perspective representations of algebraic or number-theoretic objects, nonlinear navigation of proof architectures or dependency graphs, embedded computation as part of exposition, or similar. ELIGIBILITY: no nationality, institutional or career restriction stated; the focus is mathematical depth and communicative innovation. This is NOT for popularisation, production polish or short-form video content - it is about novel research-to-research communication. EVALUATION CRITERIA: mathematical depth and rigor; conceptual insight enabled by the medium; communicative innovation beyond static exposition; scalability and reproducibility; transformative potential for research communication. PROCESS: initial submissions are a short public YouTube concept demonstration (with the hashtag #AMRPotF and a concise written explanation of the mathematical substance and communicative innovation in the video description), with the YouTube link emailed to PotFPrize@amathr.org. Finalists are asked to provide a fully accessible prototype suitable for hosting or linking within AMR Reviews; the winning submission will be published in AMR Reviews as an interactive exposition. Selection committee: Mohammed Abouzaid, Benson Farb, Alex Kontorovich, Akshay Venkatesh, Maryna Viazovska.
Short-term international research fellowship for scientists seeking placements at host institutions in participating member countries. Fellowships last 6 to 26 weeks and support international scientific collaboration, research mobility, knowledge exchange and cross-border partnerships. PRIORITY THEMES: sustainable agricultural productivity, climate action, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, soil health, water resource sustainability, knowledge innovation, sustainable livestock systems, fisheries development and aquaculture sustainability. FUNDING: a travel lump sum, return economy airfare, a weekly subsistence allowance (EUR 600 or EUR 650 by host-country cost of living) and a EUR 165 terminal allowance; insurance, visa fees, lab/bench fees and family or personal costs are not covered. ELIGIBILITY: employed by or affiliated with an institution in a participating country; proposed host institution in a different participating country; at least 4 years of postdoctoral experience (exceptional candidates with equivalent expertise and a strong publication record may also be considered). Applicants must not already hold a position at the host institution, need employer approval and assurance of continued employment or affiliation after the fellowship, and previous fellows may reapply only after a 5-year gap. Applicants confirm country eligibility, secure a host institution and collaboration, prepare a research proposal (objective, scientific relevance, methodology, expected outcomes, 6-26 week timeline, collaboration benefits) and submit supporting documents (CV, publication list, employer approval, host acceptance letter, proof of affiliation).
PhotoVogue's global open call invites photographers and video makers to use image-making as a form of rebellion - to challenge indifference, disrupt conventions and expand visual storytelling. It asks not for a theme but for a position in relation to the world. Open to photography, video and multimedia projects across all genres (fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, experimental). Three artists share $12,000 in grants ($6,000 Outstanding Vision, $4,000 Vision, $2,000 Rising Voice for an emerging artist), with festival presentation, potential Vogue publication and portfolio reviews. ELIGIBILITY: open to all artists worldwide aged 18+; submissions are free; previous PhotoVogue applicants may submit a new project. SUBMIT: a series of up to 15 images, or images plus video for multimedia, and/or a 60-second trailer, via Picter. IMPORTANT: AI-generated works are NOT eligible. Open 14 May to 11 September 2026 (11:59 PM CET).
The IOC Olympic Studies Centre supports PhD students and early-career academics conducting scholarly research on the Olympic Movement, its history and ideals, the athletes, the Olympic Games and their impact on contemporary society and culture. ELIGIBILITY: current postgraduate students enrolled in a PhD programme within the human and/or social sciences, with Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games as at least one research focus; also academic staff and postdoctoral fellows who completed their doctorate (or equivalent highest degree) in or after 2024. AWARD: up to USD 6,000. APPLY: application files and related correspondence must reach the OSC before Tuesday 22 September 2026; see the programme rules and application form on the IOC Olympic Studies Centre website.
The eidolon Grant is an international programme, presented annually, for projects that explore, promote and conserve vernacular photography. It is open to artists, academics, professionals, researchers, collectors and vernacular photography enthusiasts whose past work and proposed project is centred around the image heritage of everyday photography. The grant aims to identify phenomena, collections, histories, practices and trends within vernacular photography, offering new interpretations and analyses, and thematising both photographic heritages and contemporary photographic practices. Applications can be made under two categories, with a total of EUR 25,000 to be distributed. Each chosen project will contribute to the enrichment of eidolon's program in the coming year. The deadline for submission is 30 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Apply via https://everydayphotography.org/centre/grant-2026.
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.
Fellowships supporting enterprise and investigative reporting with a business or economic angle, from the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY. Tech-platform economies, AI labour, data-broker investigations, digital-economy beats and similar tech-and-business stories fit naturally. ELIGIBILITY: working journalists with at least 5 years of professional experience; freelancers and staff are both eligible worldwide. CYCLES: Fall 2026 cycle deadline 12 October 2026; spring cycle expected around April 2027. No application fee.
Research grants from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for individual scholars with a PhD or equivalent to support a discrete project of anthropological research. The grant supports the project's most substantial cost (typically fieldwork or core research activity) and may be used for direct research expenses; not for salary or institutional overhead. Deadlines are biannual: 1 May and 1 November each year. ELIGIBILITY: scholars who hold a PhD (or equivalent) in anthropology or a clearly related discipline; nationality and country of work are not restricted. Up to USD 25,000 per grant. Strictly anthropology focus - the project must be primarily anthropological in scope and method (sociocultural, biological, archaeological or linguistic anthropology, etc.).
Global art prize celebrating how art is made, open to artists worldwide working in any medium or art form. Instead of a traditional application form, artists submit a digital presence (website, portfolio or social profile) linked through a .ART domain that documents identity, process and work as one continuous record. PRIZES: Grand Prize (USD 15,000 cash); Artist Residency Award France (one month at Chateau du Fresne, near Paris); Artist Residency Award Spain (residency at Anfitrion, Marbella); Publication Award (editorial coverage in Whitewall Magazine, the campaign's media partner); .ART Domain Award (USD 10,000 premium .ART domain name). ELIGIBILITY: individual artists and artist collectives from all backgrounds (cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, abilities); 18 or older at time of submission; open to artists from all geographic regions with no restrictions on nationality or place of residence. Multiple entries permitted, as long as each submission (single artwork, series or overall practice) is presented on or linked to a SEPARATE .ART domain. NOTE: a .ART domain is required for submission; this is the de facto entry mechanism. ANNOUNCEMENT: winners revealed during Art Basel Miami on 3 December 2026. DEADLINE: 1 November 2026. APPLY via the .ART Award site.
Async Museum is an independent digital space dedicated to web art with a distinctive point of view, existing to discover artists who use the web as their primary medium and to recognise their work as a new aesthetic. Its core philosophy is that the web browser is a twenty-first century canvas. Async Museum is officially seeking submissions of web-based artworks, welcoming both established practitioners and emerging voices who are pushing the boundaries of what the next generation of art can be. NOTE: this is an exhibition opportunity for web-based art rather than a paid grant; no artist fee is stated. To share your practice and submit your work, visit https://asyncmuseum.com/submit. Deadline: 1 December 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 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.
Foresight Institute grants supporting work at the intersection of AI, science and safety, including AI-for-science tools and AI-safety research. ELIGIBILITY: individuals, teams and organisations (for- and non-profit) worldwide; applicants active in the San Francisco or Berlin hubs are prioritised. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with a cutoff on the last day of each month. Apply via the Foresight Institute grants page.
GitHub's Secure Open Source Fund supports maintainers to improve the security of widely-used open-source software, pairing funding with hands-on security training. ELIGIBILITY: individual maintainers or teams of up to three, aged 18 or older, in a region supported by GitHub Sponsors; applicants cannot work for GitHub or its parent company. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; apply once to be considered for upcoming 2026 sessions. Apply via the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund page.
The Sovereign Tech Fund invests in the open digital infrastructure that underpins the modern internet, funding maintenance, security and development of critical open-source base technologies. ELIGIBILITY: individuals, companies and non-profits maintaining or developing critical open-source infrastructure; open worldwide. Applications are accepted on a rolling, year-round basis via the Sovereign Tech Fund page.
FLOSS/fund, backed by Zerodha, provides financial support to free and open-source software projects and maintainers. ELIGIBILITY: individuals and projects worldwide; applicants apply by publishing a funding.json manifest in their public repository as described on the fund's site. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadline.
Reporters Respond, run by Free Press Unlimited, is a rapid-response emergency fund for journalists and media outlets facing acute threats, covering urgent needs such as medical care, legal aid, physical safety measures and replacement equipment. ELIGIBILITY: individual journalists and media outlets in crisis, worldwide. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with a roughly 24-hour response via the Free Press Unlimited page.
Effective Altruism Funds' Long-Term Future Fund makes grants to individuals and small groups working to reduce risks from advanced AI and other threats to humanity's long-term future, including technical AI safety and alignment research, field-building and communication. ELIGIBILITY: individuals and small groups; not geographically restricted. Applications accepted on a rolling basis via the EA Funds application form.
Pulitzer Center reporting grants supporting in-depth international journalism on under-reported global issues. Open to reporters, photographers, audio and video journalists, and documentary filmmakers worldwide. Grants cover the hard costs of reporting projects. ELIGIBILITY: professional journalists and visual storytellers anywhere in the world; both freelance and staff. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Pulitzer Center grant portal.
Rolling grant programme funding individuals at any career stage who want to pursue careers that could help reduce global catastrophic risks or otherwise improve the long-term future. Especially interested in candidates working on risks from future advances in AI and global catastrophic biological risks. Funds graduate study (master's/PhD/MPP/law school), unpaid internships, postdocs, professional certifications, online courses, independent study/upskilling, career-transition and exploration periods, and academic sabbaticals. Concrete examples Coefficient Giving lists: a senior ML engineer doing six months of independent study to investigate AI risk mitigation careers; a physics PhD doing self-guided ML interpretability work to transition into technical AI safety; a management consultant exploring how to apply their skill set to GCR; a tenured ML/CS professor taking a one-year sabbatical to contribute to AI safety or governance. Open globally; no institutional affiliation required. Looks for candidates whose funding would 'make a difference' (otherwise unable to find sufficient funding, or existing funding has restrictions). Encourages applications from women and people of color. Now subsumes the former Biosecurity Scholarship. Applications are open until further notice and assessed on a rolling basis. Free to apply.
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.
Funds data-driven reporting that uses ML, NLP, satellite imagery, sensors and other computational methods on under-reported issues. Open to freelance and staff data journalists worldwide. Reviewed first-come, first-served on a rolling basis; decisions usually within a month.
Lightweight rolling grant for individual journalists worldwide (writers, photographers, radio, film; freelance or staff) examining how AI systems are designed, sold and deployed in communities. Faster turnaround than the Pulitzer AI Accountability Fellowship: decisions in 1 to 2 weeks.
Online literary magazine paying for original creative nonfiction (essays and flash), open year-round with no submission fee. Useful, low-barrier way for an emerging writer to publish a standalone critical/creative-nonfiction piece and build a publication record toward a book. ELIGIBILITY: open to any emerging or established author; submissions accepted from international writers. Creative categories are open on a rolling basis year-round.
Contemporary art magazine commissioning paid art writing and criticism, with pitches accepted on an ongoing basis (online reviews/pitches continuous; themed print issues have set deadlines, e.g. the Spring issue around 15 September 2026). A direct paid outlet for criticism on digital, new-media and AI art. ELIGIBILITY: writers at all experience levels are invited; not restricted to Canada. Mostly pitch-based, with short online reviews accepted unsolicited.
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.
Rolling-deadline fund for technology-focused projects that promote human rights, internet freedom and open societies. Funds anti-censorship, anti-surveillance, privacy-preserving and circumvention tools, plus applied research. Two-stage process: submit a Concept Note via the OTF online application system; reviewed monthly with feedback in 6-8 weeks. Open internationally.
Tech Matters, the nonprofit founded by Jim Fruchterman (MacArthur Fellow, Skoll Awardee), is hiring a Project Fellow to work directly with the CEO on ensuring technology better serves the 90% of humanity typically neglected by the commercial tech industry. Project work spans (1) expanding the Better Deal for Data, a practical data-governance standard for the nonprofit sector, by supporting nonprofits adopting and endorsing the standard; (2) prototyping methods for improving LLM and search-engine answers on critical social problems (initial focus: preventing sexual abuse of children); and (3) helping develop an open course based on Jim's recent book Technology for Good (CC-licensed, global release September 2026). REMOTE; open to candidates around the world (US-based hires get health and related insurance). WHAT THEY LOOK FOR: demonstrated interest and 5+ years' experience in tech-enabled organisations; Bachelor's/Master's in CS, data science, MLIS, MBA, or social sciences; familiarity with SaaS platforms; clear and kind writing; comfortable in an early-stage team. NICE TO HAVE: Wikipedia editing, data-governance expertise, additional languages. APPLY by emailing a resume and a real (not LLM-generated) cover letter to jobs@techmatters.org with subject 'Tech for Good Project Fellow - [Your Name]'. The cover letter should explain why this role and mission resonate with you. NOTE: this is a job/fellowship, not a grant; no specific application deadline listed (rolling).
PAID 12-week online mentorship program from Belgrade Art Studio: each artist works one-on-one with a dedicated artist-mentor through weekly 1-hour Zoom/Google Meet sessions, aimed at artists at a turning point in their practice (stuck, seeking new directions, experimenting with unfamiliar media including AI). Hybrid seminar/workshop format supporting both physical and online presentation, plus curatorial thinking, writing, interviews, and documentation. Closes with an online viewing and moderated discussion of the works produced. ELIGIBILITY: open worldwide to artists and creatives across visual arts, music, theatre, dance, film, writing, design, photography, digital/interactive art, games, fashion, architecture, and curation. English-language program (ability to collaborate in English preferred but accommodations possible). EXPECTATIONS: artists must treat the program as they would an in-person residency (dedicated time for research/creation/reflection), submit in-progress material for social-media exposure, participate in an artist interview, and refrain from hate speech or discriminatory content. APPLY by emailing CV, summary, and portfolio (links accepted) to artlab@belgradeartstudio.com. Rolling intake (no deadline). Selected artists are announced and contacted by email. COST: EUR 675 to participate — this is a paid offering, not a funded residency.