Grants That Require a Video: 2026 Directory for Nonprofits

More funders now ask for a video with the application. Some require it, some invite it in place of written answers, and some score it right alongside the narrative. This directory lists grant, fellowship and award programs that ask nonprofits for a video, with the exact length and format each funder asks for and a link to the funder's own guidelines.

Every entry links to the funder's page. Confirm the current deadline there before you apply. Programs are grouped by where they fund.

What funders usually ask for

• Length: 60 to 90 seconds is the most common ask for pitch videos. Arts work samples run 3 to 10 minutes.
• Format: a YouTube or Vimeo link, usually Public or Unlisted, with captions.
• Content: who you serve, what changes because of your work, and proof it's working. A real person on camera beats graphics.
• Quality: several funders say production polish isn't scored. Clarity and story are.

Need the video made? We make grant videos for nonprofits. You can also book a call with our team.

US national and international programs

Lever for Change competitions and Open Calls

• Funder: Lever for Change (MacArthur Foundation affiliate)
• Where: US national and international, varies by competition
• Award: Often multimillion-dollar awards; varies by competition
• Video: Required: a video of 90 seconds or less that captures your organization's work and track record. English, closed-captioned, posted to YouTube as Public or Unlisted, no unlicensed music. Production quality is not scored.
• Cycle: Varies by competition
• Funder guidelines

Echoing Green Fellowship

• Funder: Echoing Green
• Where: International (US and global)
• Award: Fellowship stipend paid to the organization; 18 months
• Video: Required: a 60-second video (one minute or less) answering "Why do you do what you do?" Just you talking to camera. No added text, logos, graphics or slides.
• Cycle: Recurring annually
• Funder guidelines

Camelback Fellowship

• Funder: Camelback Ventures
• Where: US national
• Award: $50,000 (unrestricted grant for nonprofits and schools)
• Video: Required: 1–2 videos, including a 3-minute pitch.
• Cycle: Opens twice a year
• Funder guidelines

Gratitude Network Fellowship

• Funder: Gratitude Network
• Where: International
• Award: 13-month fellowship for leaders of youth-serving nonprofits
• Video: Required: a video submission alongside a two-part written application.
• Cycle: Recurring annually
• Funder guidelines

Global Good Fund Fellowship

• Funder: The Global Good Fund
• Where: International
• Award: 12-month leadership and mentorship program
• Video: Required: a video in Phase II where you share your story.
• Cycle: Phases run May–Nov each year
• Funder guidelines

The Greater Sum Nonprofit Pitch Competition

• Funder: The Greater Sum
• Where: US
• Award: $10,000 first, $3,000 second, $1,000 third
• Video: Required: a 2-minute recorded video pitch in the first round.
• Cycle: Typically starts each June
• Funder guidelines

Roddenberry Fellowship

• Funder: The Roddenberry Foundation
• Where: US national
• Award: $50,000, 12-month fellowship
• Video: Invited: a video pitch of no more than one minute (anything longer won't be viewed), plus up to three more videos.
• Cycle: See funder site
• Funder guidelines

J.W. Couch Foundation Storytelling Grant

• Funder: The J.W. Couch Foundation
• Where: US
• Award: $50,000+
• Video: Invited: the letter of intent can be a 60–90 second video on your mission and community impact.
• Cycle: 2026 cycles Mar 27 and Sept 25; next LOI window Feb 26, 2027
• Funder guidelines

NEA Grants for Arts Projects – Challenge America

• Funder: National Endowment for the Arts
• Where: US national
• Award: $10,000 with 1:1 cost share
• Video: Work samples required; video is an accepted format: up to 3 samples of up to 3 minutes each, captions recommended.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (February and July deadlines)
• Funder guidelines

Pollination Project Seed Grants

• Funder: The Pollination Project
• Where: International
• Award: Up to $1,000
• Video: Invited: a video link field to tell your story.
• Cycle: Rolling
• Funder guidelines

Regional and city programs (US)

Boundless San Francisco

• Funder: Crankstart, run through Lever for Change
• Where: San Francisco (organizations anywhere whose project primarily benefits SF)
• Award: Up to 3 awards of up to $50M; up to 7 finalists at $250K–$500K
• Video: Required under Lever for Change's video rule: 90 seconds or less, captioned, on YouTube.
• Cycle: Application deadline Oct 15, 2026, 5 p.m. PT
• Funder guidelines

Share Your Story Video Grant

• Funder: Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
• Where: Greater Huntsville, AL (5 counties)
• Award: Varies ($118,050 across 12 videos in 2025)
• Video: Required: a 60-second (or shorter) video showing your impact, posted to Facebook tagging the Foundation and uploaded with a short application.
• Cycle: Cycle runs May 1 – July 31
• Funder guidelines

Little Drummer Girl Fund

• Funder: Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
• Where: Greater Huntsville, AL
• Award: Varies
• Video: Required: a short video spotlighting your impact in animal training, amateur arts, outdoor nature or children's programs.
• Cycle: Recurring annually
• Funder guidelines

Share Your Story Video Challenge Grant

• Funder: Community Foundation of North Florida with Prime Meridian Bank
• Where: Leon County / Tallahassee, FL
• Award: Ten $1,500 unrestricted grants
• Video: Required: a video story showing how you support low-to-moderate-income residents.
• Cycle: Recurring annually
• Funder guidelines

The Lark Awards

• Funder: The Durfee Foundation
• Where: Los Angeles County, CA
• Award: Varies
• Video: Invited: answer the essay questions on video, about 2–3 minutes per question.
• Cycle: Applications close May 20
• Funder guidelines

Youth Arts Grant

• Funder: Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
• Where: Seattle, WA
• Award: $12,000 over two years
• Video: Required: a 1-minute video and up to three images showing past work with youth.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (spring deadline)
• Funder guidelines

Waste-Free Communities Matching Grant

• Funder: Seattle Public Utilities
• Where: Seattle, WA
• Award: $25,000–$150,000 per request (2025 cycle)
• Video: Invited: apply by video (up to 15 minutes) answering all application questions; phone video is fine.
• Cycle: Recurring (spring deadline)
• Funder guidelines

Neighborhood Grant Program

• Funder: City of Madison Planning Division
• Where: Madison, WI
• Award: About $25,000 total in 2026
• Video: Invited: apply by video (up to 10 minutes) answering every question, posted to YouTube.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (February deadline)
• Funder guidelines

Madison Arts Commission Annual Grants

• Funder: City of Madison
• Where: Madison, WI
• Award: Varies
• Video: Invited: one 10-minute video covering the scoring criteria in place of written answers.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (March deadline)
• Funder guidelines

Project Support Grants

• Funder: North Carolina Arts Council
• Where: North Carolina
• Award: $5,000–$15,000
• Video: Required work samples; film, dance and theater must send up to five minutes of video of current programming. No highly edited promo.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (March deadline)
• Funder guidelines

Film + Video Grants

• Funder: Humanities Montana
• Where: Montana
• Award: Up to $28,000 per project, 1:1 match
• Video: Required: an example of previous work (sizzle reel or demo up to 10 minutes); later stages require a rough cut.
• Cycle: Recurring annually (Aug 1)
• Funder guidelines

Advancing the Arts Grants

• Funder: Arts Council of the Valley
• Where: Harrisonburg–Rockingham, VA
• Award: $500–$1,500
• Video: Invited as a work sample: a video link of film (up to 15 minutes) or performance.
• Cycle: Spring and fall cycles
• Funder guidelines

United Kingdom

ActionFunder video pitch

• Funder: ActionFunder
• Where: International (UK-based platform)
• Award: Varies by funder
• Video: Invited: a 90-second video pitch in place of the written pitch, answering the same three questions.
• Cycle: Rolling
• Funder guidelines

Apply by video (selected programmes)

• Funder: The National Lottery Community Fund (UK)
• Where: United Kingdom
• Award: Varies by programme
• Video: Invited: a video of about 5 minutes (12 max) answering the "Your idea" section, hosted on YouTube or Vimeo; scored the same as written.
• Cycle: Varies by programme
• Funder guidelines

Letchworth Community Grants

• Funder: Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
• Where: Letchworth Garden City, UK
• Award: Varies
• Video: Invited: video proposals, basic phone recording is fine.
• Cycle: See funder site
• Funder guidelines

How to make a grant video that gets watched

1. Open on the person you serve, not your logo. Reviewers remember faces.
2. Say the problem in one sentence, then show what your program changes.
3. Give one number that proves it works.
4. End with the ask the funder is weighing: what their money makes possible.
5. Caption it and keep it under the funder's limit. Many stop watching at the cutoff.

For the full structure, read our grant proposal video playbook.

Know a program we should add?

We update this directory as funders publish new cycles. Send it to us on a quick call and we'll add it.