Joseph Rowntree Foundation: The Storytellers Fund

Overview

The aim of the Storytellers Fund is to support individuals or teams to share stories and promote content that has the potential to create positive social change.

They will fund talented individuals and/or collectives, who are content ready, to cover the costs of the distribution and dissemination of their work.

They want to receive applications from individuals or groups who:

• Have already produced potentially compelling content but need financial help to reach a wider audience. The content may be in any media, such as a published book, a completed feature film or documentary, a social media channel, a video game, a play that is about to start touring, an exhibition, or others not mentioned here.
• Can demonstrate track record in their field.
• Have a clear idea of the intended audience for their output.
• Have a robust and creative plan for reaching and growing their audience.
• Are willing to engage with them about their learning and reflections after they put their plan into action.

What will they fund?

The Storytellers Fund provides one-off grant funding of between £3,000 up to a maximum of £50,000 (including VAT, if applicable) to cover the costs for the dissemination of content that is already developed.

They are open to what they might fund and have no need to achieve a balance of funding across different types of media or themes, but they will only fund content that aims to inspire positive social change and is aligned with JRF’s Vision, Mission and Principles.

They’d like to see distribution plans that focus on channels that aren’t mainstream news outlets.

Eligibility

You must meet all the eligibility criteria below for them to consider your application.

• You / your work must be based in the UK. The subject of your work may be outside the UK but you, your organisation, and the delivery of the work must be based in the UK.
• Your project must be aligned with JRF’s values and focus on social change. Please see the JRF website for more information.
• Funding is for the dissemination and distribution of content already developed – the fund will not cover the costs of new projects or the development of new content.

Please note, they cannot fund any projects or applicants that were awarded funding under the Storytellers Fund 2023 programme.

Grant terms

• The Storytellers Fund offers one-off grants; the fund cannot provide multi-year funding.
• The maximum value of grant available is £50,000 per project. If more is needed, they would be open to being part of a wider consortium of funders, however, you must be able to evidence that these are already onboard and committed to the project.
• Grants will be split into 90% upfront costs with 10% being issued towards the end of the project to support the delivery of a learning and reflection piece which should arrive with them within 4-6 weeks of the project closure.

Visit webpage for previously funded projects