Requirements

All proposals must include the following to be considered:

• Applicant information
  • Full name
  • Email and phone number
  • Address
  • Social media handles
• A resume highlighting relevant experience in content creation
• An “Elevator Pitch” that delivers a concise and engaging presentation of the project
  • Written pitches must be between 1-2 pages
  • Video pitches should not exceed approx. 3 minutes
• A written project summary that includes:
  • Timeline for project execution
  • Budget overview with clear budgetary lines
  • Concise summary of the project
  • Target audience: Ex. Latinos, men under 30, etc. 
  • Education goal: Ex. To produce a long form pop culture YouTube series integrating issue education to the relevant pop culture topic. 
  • Anticipated impact: Ex. Engage 10,000 young adults in a digital campaign with at least 100 million impressions per month.
  • Content format and platform: Ex Video series on Youtube and Instagram.

Budget Allocation

Trending Up will review all submissions according to a tiered system in order to maximize impact and funding. This will allow creators at various levels of experience or ambition to participate, helping us fund small projects such as a Youtube series to a large project such as a documentary film. Tier breakdown below:

• Small-Scale Projects: $1,000–$5,000
  • Ideal for first-time creators or smaller, focused projects like social media campaigns, single short-form videos, or podcast episodes.
  • Examples: A TikTok series, expanding content to other platforms
• Mid-Scale Projects: $5,000–$20,000
  • For creators with a broader vision requiring higher production value or multi-platform content.
  • Examples: A short documentary, a podcast series, or a website with supporting visuals.
• Large-Scale Projects: $20,000–$50,000
  • For creators or teams tackling complex projects with significant reach and impact.
  • Examples: A documentary film, a multi-channel campaign, or a long-term storytelling initiative.

Eligibility

• Applicants must reside in the U.S., have a U.S. following, and be able to legally work in the U.S. 
• Proposals should align with the mission of Trending Up, to expand the creators in the progressive issue space, and lower barriers for creators to grow. The goals of the projects should rely on your strengths and what your audience is already familiar with while integrating your perspective for the following categories: 
  • A fair economy that works for all people, not just the wealthy and corporations.
  • Affordable access to healthcare.
  • Restoring and expanding reproductive rights for all. 
  • Addressing climate change for a sustainable future.
• Content formats eligible for funding must have a digital component, including but not limited to:
  • Short-form video series
  • Long-form video series
  • Podcasts
  • Social media campaign
  • Livestreams 
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience with content creation and audience development, and be able to describe how these resources would help them expand impact and reach. Micro-creators are encouraged to apply.