The CatchLight Global Fellowship is run by CatchLight, a nonprofit for visual storytelling. Each year it funds three photographers, filmmakers or other visual storytellers whose work informs, connects and changes communities.
Fellows carry out their own project wherever they work, testing inventive distribution or community engagement to widen its impact, and share what they learn with CatchLight over the fellowship year.
Benefits & funding
- US$30,000 award per fellow; the project budget may be larger.
- Paid travel and accommodation for the CatchLight Visual Storytelling Summit in San Francisco.
- Executive coaching, impact-strategy and networking support, and possible access to further funding.
- Duties: a milestone map, quarterly progress reviews, a presentation of results, and crediting CatchLight as funder in project materials in perpetuity.
Eligibility
- Open to all nationalities; no residence, age, degree or experience limit is published.
- Aimed at long-form storytellers with a specific impact project, leaders with a plan to grow the field, and educators supporting upcoming storytellers.
- Applications must be in English (translated applications accepted); interviews are held by video in English.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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Application process
- 1Apply online during the annual window (2026 cycle: 15 Nov–15 Dec 2025); no entry fee.
- 2Submit a written proposal with timeline and budget, plus a 10–20 image edit or video excerpt.
- 3Name three professional references, each with email and phone number.
- 4Shortlisted applicants have a video interview in English; their promotional images are then released for CatchLight’s use.
- 5An international jury picks three fellows, announced at the May Summit.
Program timeline
15 Nov–15 Dec 2025
2026 application window
Fellows announced at the Summit, San Francisco
2 May 2026
Next window
not yet announced (past windows opened mid-November)