Working Assumptions Project Grant

Working Assumptions, a nonprofit organization based in Berkeley, California, annually offers six Project Grants of $10,000 each to support visual storytelling projects centered on the theme of family. With a focus on photography and photo-based art, these grants aim to encourage creative explorations that provoke thoughtful reflection and dialogue around caregiving, interdependence, and belonging. The organization invites applications from individuals and collaborative pairs who are using visual media for journalistic, artistic, therapeutic, educational, or research purposes. Each of the six grants provides unrestricted funding, offering recipients full creative freedom in how they develop and present their projects. However, all projects must be intended for public consumption and must have been initiated prior to the application deadline. The grant period for 2025 spans eight months, running from September 15, 2025, to May 15, 2026. Applications are accepted through the Working Assumptions Grants Portal during the annual application window, which runs from April 15 to May 15. A complete application must include personal information, a resume or CV, examples of the current project, related past work, a project description, and a budget outline. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents with a valid tax ID and a U.S. bank account, be at least 18 years old, and must not have received a grant or been employed by Working Assumptions in the past two years. The selection panel consists of staff and external partners who review proposals based on originality, relevance to the theme, and the depth of engagement with photographic subjects. Strong proposals typically feature first-person narration, are built upon the applicant’s prior work, and challenge conventional notions of family. During the grant period, recipients engage in collaborative goal setting, quarterly check-ins, and receive tailored support and promotional assistance. In 2024, Working Assumptions exceeded its usual six-award limit by granting eight awards due to the exceptional quality of submissions, highlighting its commitment to fostering impactful storytelling. Past recipients include artists from across the U.S., each recognized for their distinctive approaches to family-centered visual narratives. For further information or application support, interested individuals can contact Working Assumptions by email at hello@workingassumptions.org or by phone at (510) 704-9734.