Frequently Asked Questions
Who/What We Fund
Overview
Africa No Filter ONLY accepts proposals from storytellers who are part of the African Narrative Collective, our community of journalists, content creators, artists as well as arts, culture and media organizations who share our mission of telling African stories beyond stereotypes of poverty, disease, conflict, corruption, and poor leadership.
However, we have created a process for potential grantees to self-evaluate if their ideas match our goals, guidelines, and mission if they wish to submit an idea for our consideration.
Please note that we will only respond to ideas reviewed and considered a potential fit. Also note that this is only a brief opportunity to learn about your work and if we decide to go forward, you will be invited to submit a proposal.
You are mission aligned
1. Does your work produce, promote, support or amplify:
- stories/narratives about Africa OUTSIDE the frames of conflict, poverty, disease, corruption and poor leadership
- stories that may address any of the above frames but are told with a balanced, ethical, and nuanced approach? (see our Ethical Storytelling Handbook)
- stories that counter stereotypes and harmful narratives about a country, people group or the entire continent?
- new and alternative stories (stories on African innovation, agency, influence on the global stage) that feed a more nuanced representation and multiple narratives about the continent?
2. You have evidence of previous work that fits the description above.
You can refer to our handbook, Why We Need to Change the Way We Write About Africa, for better understanding about narrative and why it matters.
You are part of the African Narrative Collective
Community is at the center of everything we do at ANF as our mission is to build an ecosystem of narrative changemakers on the continent. To this end, we only fund members of the African Narrative Collective; our community of journalists, content creators, artists, as well as arts, culture, media and advocacy organizations that care about how the world sees Africa and how Africans see themselves. Apply here to join the African Narrative Collective. Please note that ONLY storytellers and organizations with a track record of telling African stories beyond stereotypes by reflecting a dynamic, creative, innovative and evolving continent will be accepted into the African Narrative Collective. We encourage you to engage with our Research, Story Tools, Newsletters, and Advocacy to get a better sense of our work
You or your organization fits the following description
1. You’re African based on the continent or in the diaspora.
2. Your work is focused on storytelling that falls within these four broad categories:
Arts and Culture: We prioritize creative expressions that strongly influence pop-culture. As a result, we offer grants to:
- Arts and Culture platforms that: build communities and provide networking opportunities; provide opportunities to build skills and resources; platform and showcase the works of creatives. Examples include Festivals; Hubs; Museums and Galleries; Residencies and Fellowship spaces for creatives.
- Creative practitioners including the Filmmakers, Writers, Visual and Contemporary artists, and Performing artists.
Media: We Media grants to:
- Media organizations that platform, showcase, train, network and amplify storytellers, such as Hubs, Festivals and Academies/Institutions.
- Traditional and New media practitioners including journalists, editors, freelancers, podcasters and bloggers/vloggers.
Content Creation for new media:
- Content creators producing original content for an engaged and wide audience on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/ x.com
- Organizations that platform enable and showcase these creators.
Advocacy: We give advocacy grants to:
- Organizations and platforms in Africa and the diaspora who create opportunities to advocate better representation of Africa through campaigns, festivals, events, convenings, etc.
- Academic and research institutions working on research projects that provide evidence for narrative shifting campaigns and advocacy.
- Individuals or organizations focused on the development of tools – courses, resources, etc. that equip storytellers to tell stories better and tell better stories about Africa.
See our Grant Categorization here for a better breakdown of these categories and to ensure you’re a proper fit.
We do NOT fund trips, theater productions, scholarships or personal academic projects, and purchase of equipment (computers, cameras, microphones, etc).
Grant Types
Grants to generate more nuanced and contemporary content that feeds plural and progressive new narratives about Africa.
1. Project Support Grants
Project Support Grants support the development and delivery of nuanced, contemporary stories and creative projects on the continent by storytellers who are using art, pop culture, narrative media, innovation, digital platforms, tech and creativity to challenge stereotypical narratives about Africa. Project support grants must be for a specific project with a clear start and end date and project milestones. The grants are awarded to strengthen platforms, projects and initiatives and empower them to create more content that presents alternative views of Africa. They are awarded to applicants based on the strength of their project proposal, with priority on applicants who are using the grant to expand on or scale up an on-going or regularly executed project. The main outcome of project-based grants is that a wider audience is reached, whether online or in person. Grants are worth up to $10,000.
2. Kekere Storytellers Fund
The Kekere Storytellers Fund offers microgrants to exceptional emerging artists, journalists and content creators on the continent and the diaspora, who are doing ground-breaking work and creatively challenging harmful narratives within their local and digital communities using art, media and pop culture. The Kekere Storytellers Fund ensures that ANF reaches and supports emerging narrative changemakers and storytellers on the ground and not just well-established storytellers. Grants are worth between $500 and $3000.
1.3. Last Mile Film Fund
This fund is open to filmmakers in the continent and the diaspora. It supports narrative-changing films that are in the final stages of production. Films must have appealing storylines that challenge stereotypical narratives of Africa and advocate for Better Representation of the African continent. The fund offers grants of up to $10,000 for feature-length films and up to $5,000 for short films.
Grants to support and strengthen the storytelling ecosystem on the continent:
1. Operational Support Grants
Operational Support Grants are awarded to organizations within the arts, culture, content, media and advocacy sectors who are supporting contemporary and empowering narratives of Africa through programme delivery, job creation, residences, networking opportunities and skills building for creatives, artists, journalists on the continent. Operational support grants are for narrative change organizations and platforms, media houses, festivals, galleries, digital platforms etc and can be used to support operating costs of mission-aligned organizations. The grants are worth up to $15,000.
2. Capacity Building Grants
Capacity Building grants are awarded to organizations within the arts, culture, media, content creation and advocacy sectors who are focused on strengthening other organizations’ infrastructure, management and governance, training and building the competences of individuals within the sector, enabling them to be more effective and sustainable. Grants are worth up to $15,000.
Grants
How is Africa No Filter funded?
At Africa No Filter, we believe that by investing our money, time, and voice into the community of African storytellers and content creators, we will (over time) see an increase in narratives and stories that reflect a more diverse, dynamic, and evolving continent. We welcome applications from our community, The African Narrative Collective and are particularly interested in pan-African organisations or projects.
Who does Africa No Filter fund?
Africa No Filter is a donor collaborative funded by Ford Foundation, Bloomberg, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Luminate, Open Society Foundation, Comic Relief, British Council and the Hilton Foundation. We support the development of nuanced stories that shift existing, stereotypical narratives about Africa through research, grant making and advocacy.
How do I know if my work shifts narratives?
Africa No Filter is committed to supporting storytellers within the Media, Arts & Culture, Content Creation and Advocacy sectors who are presenting contemporary, nuanced and empowering narratives about Africa and/or challenging stereotypical narratives about Africa through their work. We do not award grants to projects just because they are good, popular or creative. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate how their work potentially shifts perceptions of Africa and/or a country on the continent.
Does shifting narratives mean we can’t talk about the negative things happening within the continent that affect the livelihoods of Africans?
Africa No Filter prioritizes the funding of storytellers and stories that present an alternative perspective of Africa and showing Africans as changemakers. Currently, we are not looking to fund stories that perpetuate stereotypical narratives about the continent.
Does Africa No Filter accept late applications?
We do not. Only applications from our community, the African Narrative Collective, will be accepted.
How do I submit an application to Africa No Filter?
Visit the top of this page Who/What We Fund for information on our new grantmaking process. We will only consider submissions from our community, the African Narrative Collective.
If you need more clarity, please email info@africanofilter.org for assistance.
How much can I apply for?
Please refer to the specific grant call out you are applying for as amounts vary depending on the grant, but as a rule of thumb, the maximum amount that can be applied for is $25,000 for project support grants, capacity building grants and operational support grants, $15,000 for convening grants and $2,500 for Kekere grants.
For all other grants, please visit the relevant page.
Can I apply for more than the limit?
Our maximum grant limit is $25k
How do I know if I’m eligible for a grant?
The eligibility criteria for each grant are listed on at the top of this webpage. The common thread for all our applications is that we want to support narrative-changemakers/storytellers on the continent.
Do I have to be in Africa to receive a grant?
No, you do not have to be in Africa, but your project must be demonstrating a focus on Africa and the Diaspora and you should be part of our community. Interested persons from the diaspora are encouraged to apply.
Do I have to speak English to apply for a grant at Africa No Filter? Does Africa No Filter only give grants to Anglophone Africa?
Not at all! We continue to strive to ensure inclusivity and diversity with our grants process and are now receiving applications in French and Arabic for each application. Francophone, Lusophone and Arabic speaking Africans are encouraged to apply!
I do not have an organisation, but I have worked on several projects as an Individual, can I still apply?
Yes of course! Individuals are encouraged to apply but you must have a track record and experience to show for the project you are applying for.
Can my project be delivered in any African country?
Yes, it can! You only need to show evidence of how it will be implemented.
Do you fund the purchase of equipment?
No, we do not. This includes the purchase of computers, cameras, microphones and any other equipment needed to implement projects.
Do you fund scholarships?
No, we do not.
What is the typical duration of a grant?
The grant duration is typically up to 1 year. Please check the terms of the specific grant you are applying for.
What is the difference between an Operational Support Grant and a Project Support Grant?
Our Project-Support Grants support the delivery of creative projects on the continent by storytellers and media platforms that are using art, innovation, tech and creativity to challenge stereotypical narratives about Africa. Grants must be for a specific project, with a clear start and end date and project milestones. Operational Support grants cover operational costs to keep the organisation going whilst it conducts its work. The grant supports organisations seeking to build a stronger, more sustainable infrastructure.
My current project is partially funded, and I need additional funding to complete it. Can I apply for a grant for an ongoing project?
Yes, you can.
My organization is partnering with another organization that is acting as a fiscal sponsor to apply for a grant. Whose information should we include in the application?
The organization that is serving as the fiscal sponsor, and is eligible to apply for funding, should be the organization submitting the application.
Do you fund pilot projects?
Rarely. When we do fund them, they are generally initiated by Africa No Filter. We focus our support on projects for which applicants have already began working on with evidence of initial impact.
If I am an organisation, do I need to be a registered company to receive a grant?
Yes, an organization needs to be registered to apply for a grant application. All organisations are taken through a due diligence process which requires providing documentation to verify your organisation and organisational activities. Successful candidates will be informed of this prior to receiving their grant.
What happens after I submit my application?
After submitting your application, you’ll get an automated email confirming their submission has been received. Please ensure you check your junk/spam inbox to avoid missing this email. Your application will then be reviewed against our scoring criteria by the Africa No Filter Team. You can also check the status of your application on your application portal.
How long does it take to get feedback on an application?
It depends on the grant application. Callouts for specific projects will indicate the date in which applicants will be notified. It typically takes 6-8 weeks AFTER the submission of applications for us to get back applicants.
Do you provide feedback for unsuccessful applicants?
Yes, we do. All applicants shall receive an email on status of their applications. However, due to the volume of applications, we are unable to give detailed feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
Yes, however you will not be awarded more than one grant as we want to support as many storytellers on the continent as possible!
If I am not successful for the first round, can I apply again in the future?
Yes.
If my application was declined, is there a waiting period to submit another request?
There is no waiting period for organisations or individuals that have been declined for a grant.
My question hasn’t been answered. Is there a contact address?
Please reach out to us on grants@africanofilter.org for any further questions.
Any tips for me as an applicant?
- Be concise!
- Be different
- Be cost effective
- Be jargon free
- Don’t re-use ANF language 😊
- Demonstrate impact!