Short Description


At Working Assumptions, we believe that visual storytelling can play a pivotal role in illuminating the complexities of family life today and fostering compassion for the experiences of others. As part of our mission, we support projects that employ photography and photo-based art to spur reflection and dialogue around caregiving, interdependence, and belonging.

Eligibility


Projects must have been initiated prior to the application deadline, and may range from photography series and books to public art projects, therapeutic programs, long-form journalism, performances, and more. We leave it up to applicants to define the term family as they see fit, knowing that caregiving and interdependence take place in a variety of contexts. If it’s family to you, it’s family to us.

Note that we give preference to projects that:

  • Are based on first-person narration and/or on long-term, intertwined relationships with the photographic subjects
  • Build on earlier, related work by the applicant
  • Challenge our assumptions about what family, caregiving, and interdependence look like
  • Residency: Applicants must be residents or citizens of the United States, have a U.S. tax ID number, and have a U.S. bank account.
  • Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Eligibility: Applicants cannot have been employees or grant recipients of Working Assumptions within the last two years.

Submission Requirements

  • Personal details
  • Resume/CV
  • Examples of the current project
  • Related past work
  • Project description
  • Budget outline

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

We offer six Working Assumptions Project Grants per year. Each grant includes:

  • $10,000 per grant
  • 8-month grant period (September 15, 2025–May 15, 2026)
  • Unrestricted funding for complete creative freedom

Entry Fee

None

Location

Berkeley, California., United States

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 15 May 2025

Website Link: https://www.workingassumptions.org/grants

Grant