The CatchLight Global Fellowship is a prestigious opportunity for professional and early to mid-career visual storytellers who use visuals to inform, transform, and connect communities. The fellowship supports photographers, videographers, and visual leaders who are building impactful projects, developing community-responsive storytelling approaches, and testing innovative distribution models. Fellows receive substantial financial support, professional development, executive coaching, and long-term membership in a global network of storytellers committed to driving social change.

Application Window: November 15 – December 15, 2025
Ends: December 16, 2025, 11:00 AM
Cost: No Entry Fee
Level: Professional / Early to Mid-Career Visual Storytellers

A CatchLight Global Fellowship is awarded for life. Fellows continue to contribute insights, share expertise, and participate in community learning long after their fellowship year. Central to the fellowship are public presentations, interviews, and visual documentation that help expand learning within the CatchLight community and the broader field of visual storytelling.

Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

• USD 30,000 award
• Personal development support, including executive coaching
• Impact strategy and networking assistance from CatchLight staff and partners
• Access to a global community of Fellows and industry professionals
• Opportunities for mentorship, speaking engagements, and educational programming
• Eligibility for additional future funding opportunities
• Continued recognition and engagement within the fellowship community beyond the award year

Who Should Apply

You may be an ideal candidate if you are:

• A long-form storyteller with a defined impact project
• A leader advancing or strengthening the field of visual storytelling
• An educator developing innovative ways to support emerging storytellers

Proposals should demonstrate strong alignment with one or more of the fellowship’s target outcomes:

• Innovative Distribution: Testing new methods to engage specific audiences
• Community Activations: Leveraging visuals to meet community information needs
• Field Sustainability: Building models or systems that support the long-term health of the visual storytelling ecosystem

How to Apply

Applications must include:

• Fellowship statement (100 words)
• Thesis statement (100 words)
• Proposed work description (250 words)
• Distribution, engagement, or impact plan (250 words)
• Impact feedback plan (100 words)
• Timeline for the project
• Budget estimate indicating how CatchLight funds will be used
• Three topic ideas for sharing learning with the CatchLight community
• 5–10 images for promotional use
• Three professional references with email and phone number
• Short bio
• Curriculum vitae

All applications must be submitted in English. Translations are accepted, but interviews for shortlisted applicants will be conducted in English.

Apply here.

Deliverables

Fellows are required to share outcomes and insights with CatchLight through:

• A public presentation of project results
• Interviews with CatchLight and key project stakeholders
• Visual documentation and data demonstrating impact
• Quarterly updates during the fellowship year
• A final presentation of work and findings

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on how effectively the project advances new methods or solutions aligned with the fellowship’s target outcomes:

• Innovative Distribution: Engaging audiences through novel approaches
• Community Activations: Strengthening community information access through visuals
• Field Sustainability: Advancing the visual storytelling or media ecosystem

The CatchLight Global Fellowship provides a comprehensive platform for visual storytellers committed to creating measurable social impact. With a USD 30,000 award, professional development, and an influential lifelong community, the fellowship supports innovative storytelling projects that push the boundaries of audience engagement, community activation, and field sustainability. Early to mid-career visual storytellers with strong impact-driven proposals are encouraged to apply during the November 15–December 15, 2025 application window.