Native Youth Media Project

Vision Maker Media’s Native Youth Media Project offers a funding opportunity focused on strengthening Native youth storytelling through partnerships with established youth programs. Vision Maker Media, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has been supporting Native public media since 1976. Their mission is to empower Native peoples to share their stories through public media and foster cultural understanding and healing. The Native Youth Media Project builds on this mission by promoting short-format media production led by Native youth, aimed at revitalizing and preserving cultural knowledge and enhancing storytelling skills. The goal of the Native Youth Media Project is to collaborate with Native organizations and communities that already operate youth programs to help train youth aged 13–21 in storytelling for short-format media. These youth are encouraged to create content on topics such as science, health and wellness, climate and environment, education, art, culture, history, language, and empowerment. Projects culminate in a community engagement event designed and led by the partner organization, ensuring that the media created is rooted in and relevant to the community it serves. The program offers a fully collaborative structure where the partner retains full oversight and autonomy while receiving mentorship and resource support from Vision Maker Media. Eligible applicants must be Native-led organizations or communities with youth programs that have been active for at least three years. Programs should serve youth between the ages of 13 and 21 and reside within the United States. Applicants must also align with Vision Maker Media’s mission to empower Native communities through storytelling. Student thesis projects, organizations outside the U.S., and programs under three years old are not eligible. Projects must be submitted in a high-quality digital format with minimal compression and must be archived appropriately. Funding support is available up to $25,000 per applicant. All applicants must demonstrate a dollar-for-dollar match, which can include both cash and in-kind contributions. The match must be clearly stated in the budget proposal. Funding includes access to a media mentor from Vision Maker Media’s pool of Native public media professionals, ideally located near the partner’s region. The mentor and the organization will collaboratively develop a timeline and curriculum with goals and skill-building objectives. The mentorship lasts for the entire duration of the project. Organizations may propose their own mentors, subject to approval and background checks. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis, with applicants notified within eight weeks of a designated close date. The grant cycle is recurring, with an expected submission close date of January 10, 2026, based on the provided calendar anchor. Final reports and session logs are required upon completion of the project. Vision Maker Media may conduct check-ins or interviews with partners and mentors during the program. Participants are also expected to provide promotional materials such as participant headshots, group photos, and behind-the-scenes media for program publicity. Interested applicants can contact Vision Maker Media at [email protected] or by phone at 402-472-3522. Additional information and support for the application process are provided by Vision Maker Media, including survey tools and reporting templates. This program is an ongoing initiative designed to create meaningful, community-rooted media and empower the next generation of Native storytellers.