Seed Grant

A small grant for stories that deserve to be told

Many stories are never made because the first step is the hardest one to pay for. The Seed Grant exists to make that step easier to take.

What it is

A monthly grant offering members up to €1,300 to develop and produce visual stories across photography, video, multimedia, and beyond. Whether you’re starting with an idea or already working on a project, the Seed Grant gives you the freedom to bring it to life.

We do not mind how you spend it, as long as a strong story comes back. We ask for a short note on how the work went, so the rest of the community can learn from it.

1300€every month

1–3stories funded each round

50.000 krpaid out so far

Who it is for

Emerging journalists, photographers, and filmmakers.
Storytellers working across photo, video, and text.
Anyone with a strong idea and a Duckling community membership.

What it covers

Whatever the story actually needs: travel, time, fixers, access, equipment hire.
Editorial feedback while you make it, from our editors and your peers.
Publication on Duckling, and a push through our own channels and partner networks.

How we choose

We read every application ourselves. Four things decide it.

It aligns with what Duckling is about: compassion, curiosity, critical thinking.
You can actually make it. A good plan beats sheer ambition.
It offers insight, connection, or a perspective we have not seen.
It can be finished within six months.

The terms

Payout

Payment is structured in two instalments: the grantee receives 50% of the grant upon approval, with the remaining 50% paid upon completion of the project.

Feedback

Winners are selected at the beginning of the month. Everyone will receive an evaluation of their application before the 10th of every month.

Bring your project to life on Duckling

We encourage all applicants to publish a finished stories in the Duckling app. Seeing your work in its intended format helps the review committee better understand your narrative, pacing, and visual approach.

Timeline

As it's a monthly grant, we prioritize projects conducted and finished within six months.

How to apply

Become a member of the Duckling community. The grant is one of the things membership pays for.
Answer a short questionnaire about who you are and what you want to make. An afternoon, not a week.
We decide at the end of each month, and everyone who applied hears back either way.

Apply for a Seed Grant

Applying takes a community membership. See what that includes

Who we have funded

Every grant so far, and the story it went to.

November 2026

Living with Endometriosis

By Signe Bech Søholt

In Denmark, 300,000 women and girls live with endometriosis, often facing years of delayed diagnosis. This documentary examines whose pain is heard and believed, and the gap between political promises and access to care.

IN PROGRESS

The Aral Sea

By Anders Wolff Madsen & Mikkel Odd Højgaard

Through the lives of local residents in Kazakhstan, this story documents the lasting impact of the Aral Sea’s disappearance and the resilience of communities working to sustain their livelihoods.

IN PROGRESS

September 2026

Girls In Memory

By Karla-Elisabeth Oder

This project focuses on girlhood in rural Uzbekistan, as it looks at growing up between personal dreams and expectations surrounding femininity, family, and marriage.

IN PROGRESS