Discussion
Folks, please share the link for our Fediverse Multimedia Grants.
We have funding for creators to make podcasts, artist's portfolios, webcomics, music stores, video streams, or brand new kinds of channels here. And we pay developers to help them be successful.
Our deadline is Wed 4 Nov 2026. It only takes a few minutes to apply.
https://socialwebfoundation.org/2026/10/07/call-for-proposals-fediverse-multimedia-grants/
Iβll read carefully. Not sure if my βFediverse graphic vaultβ can opt-inβ¦
#Fediverse #Fediverso@renato thanks, please do read carefully. You might be able to figure out a way to make it work.
1. There is still about 24 hours to make an application. We use AOE time for the deadline, so you have until about noon CET tomorrow to actually get it submitted.
2. If you don't want to miss this kind of news in the future, follow @swf . We post all of our major (and some of our minor!) updates and projects to our Fediverse-enabled blog.
I'm finishing up an application now, and it's before the stated deadline ("4 Nov 2026 (23:59:59, anywhere-on-earth timezone)"), but the grant link tells me:
> Sorry, this fund is not currently accepting applications.
I'll get the application ready so I can submit it; please let us know whether to submit through the portal or some other way? Thanks.
@brainwane @swf can you just send it by email? evanp@socialwebfoundation.org
I wish there was some version of a Marketplace/Craigslist also a knock-off of FB Groups.
@evan Just saved a draft app, created an account and contacted re: getting a publisher. Thank you for sharing this!
@evan You know that link goes to unprocessed json, right? The server isn't set up correctly if this is a surprise. I'm using Firefox in Ubuntu.
@steter it's a problem with WordPress caching. We just changed our server and I think there's a server setting for it. I'll see what I can do. Thanks for letting me know.
@evan Have you considered games as a category?
@BobWilliams I think it'd be awesome, and if someone goes there, I'd be excited. However, I think games on the Fediverse are a pretty specific type of technology, and it might be something we'd want to encourage with a different kind of program.
@evan Thanks for your response. I've often pondered how the Fediverse might work as a backbone for gaming, but I've never really come up with a solid answer.
@BobWilliams I used game play as an extended example for the Activity Streams primer:
@evan
Any options for a projectless developer who'd like to A. help, B. receive currency, but does not have an ActivityPub project already?
@EndlessMason go find a creator you like, talk to them about the grants, and put together a proposal. If you can set up and customize Fediverse software, you can help. Especially if you can push changes upstream.
@evan @europeanspodcast this looks to be a good match!
@europeanspodcast @papuass No, but applications are still open until about noon 5 Nov 2026 CET. The application form is pretty short and easy -- I'd say an hour or two to put the info together.
@europeanspodcast @papuass Oh, and make sure you follow @swf so you don't miss this kind of important Fediverse news!
@evan is this for real Evan? Because I only have two days but Iβm with it.
@evan how long does the proposal have to be? Because clearly I am pressed for time. lol.
@ErickaSimone there's a form. You should take a look. Most of the fields are names and URLs. A few of them have 1-2 paragraph descriptions.
@ErickaSimone @evan Yeah its legit! If you need a developer to partner with, let me know!
With Pixelfed and Loops, there are a lot of possibilities.
Hi - I emailed Loops last night and hope to collaborate on a proposal! Will DM
@ErickaSimone @evan
@ErickaSimone @evan There is also https://mirlo.space, but I'm not sure who is developing that
@falsfiction both are fine!
It's hard to find a word that means artist, web comics maker, video blogger, podcaster, musician, painter, photographer, streamer, etc. etc. etc.
I used "publisher" or "creator" interchangeably.
Anyway, the indie game review creator on Peertube is right on the money. You should apply!
@evan I'm a little confused here. Is there some sort of federated youtube alternative that you're trying to get content for? Would it require exclusivity of the content????
@MongooseStudios there are a few! Loops and Peertube are video platforms. Or even using Mastodon, or another platform. And, no, the content doesn't have to be exclusive.
@evan Thank you for reminding me of @joinloops which I had run into and meant to try! I've now emailed them in case they're interested in collaborating on a grant proposal. Hope you get a delightfully varied range of applicants!
@evan Just applied!! Hope we overlap, we JUST saw the post, is there a way to double check before submissions close that we're on topic, or if we aren't to send in something else??!
@fastfrwrd no, I don't think there is. Did you read the CFP?
@evan Yes! But it was not clear (maybe we're a bit dense) we still were not sure what was being sought. Is it a new kind of post type for Mastodon, is it an Influencer fund, can it be a special mastodon instance that makes special types of posts?? Stuff like that. It was not super clear but perhaps, again, we're just dense.
It's to make video channels, podcasts, web comics, streams, or other visual or audio content on the Fediverse. You partner with a developer so you have tech help and so they can fix bugs and add features you need.
So let's say you want to make a new podcast on the Fediverse. You find out who makes podcasting software, like Castopod or Funkwhale, and you ask them to apply with you. You both get money. Then you work together to make your podcast.
@evan
Is this just for developers? For 20 grand I'd get back to podcasting lol.
@Capheind no. It's for everyone. We are funding creator/developer teams. The creators launch something new, and the developers help them. And hopefully it makes the platform better!
@Capheind you can read the details on the linked blog post. Which is, you know, why the link is there.
@evan
Yeah this part gave me that impression.
"we are announcing a new program of grants for multimedia software and creators. In this program, we are asking software developers and publishers to partner to make new and better content on the Fediverse."
Seemed a bit software focused but if its not neat.
@evan nooo only just saw this! do you know if there will be another round?
@kim I don't! It's not too late to apply -- the deadline is 23:59:59 AOE. The application is short and easy.
@evan yeah the form is good its more time to have a proper think and work out what would work but maybe we can speed run it if you can shed any light π
so @gfsc are thinking about starting a livestream and:
- the blog is already federating from Ghost, and kind of okay but feels abandoned
- our legacy podcast is stuck on Spotify for Podcasters
- our stream we've been doing on twitch
our overall content concept is a well-formed regular stream with guests on talking aboutpost-billionaire technology
so we could really use some cash to think about how we can co-stream it to fedi and how it would integrate with or replace what we already have without a pile of silos
but that doesnt really fit the shape of the form which seems to hint at wanting one change to one piece of software. we need thinking time before we can work out what to build
what do you think? or should i just put that ^ in, lol
Nothing for broke bloggers? Or is that for writers of the Fedi planned yet! π @evan
@WeirdWriter it's a great idea. I think we're concentrating on Multimedia for these grants, but you should find a long-form text developer partner like write.as, WordPress or Ghost.org and make the case.
@WeirdWriter for example, a combination of written text with the same text read aloud would be a great submission!
@evan Oh I got the business email for my streamer pal! I'll send her this link ποΈ
@evan Yikes. I'm weeping because I have seen this after the deadline has passed! ππ I have tones of projects that I could have applied with. I'll wait for thr next round...do you know when this might be so I chalk it in my calender?
Then, I'm still confused on developer/creator team. I make content for peertube @dilmandila@tv.dilstories.com Do I need to partner with an software developer to - what exactly? Improve delivery? Self host? Create monetization plugins? Or can I apply to fund the video creation?