The Asian American Foundation's Asian+American Storytelling Initiative is a grant program that pays AAPI creators between $5,000 and $10,000 to produce short-form stories about overlooked figures, communities and moments in American life. Applications are now closed, and TAAF says grant recipients will be notified on November 2, which is when the selected creators learn they are in.

For anyone building a career in Asian American media, the structure of this program matters as much as the dollar amount. It pairs money with mentorship and distribution, and it grows out of a series that already treats creators as history makers.

What is the TAAF Asian+American Storytelling Initiative?

TAAF, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, built the initiative on top of "The United States of Asian+America," a digital series it makes with Wong Fu Productions. According to TAAF's June 24, 2026 announcement, the series profiles Asian American and Pacific Islander innovators and pioneers tied to major U.S. industries and cultural shifts, and it streams on YouTube. Wong Fu co-founder Philip Wang directs.

The initiative turns that idea around. Instead of TAAF telling the stories, it asks creators to pitch their own. Per the program page, applicants needed a concept spotlighting an overlooked AAPI figure, community or story that has shaped the American experience.

How much is the TAAF storytelling grant worth?

The program page says recipients receive a grant "to help cover production costs ranging from $5,000 to $10,000." The June press release described awards of "up to $10,000," so the page's range is the more specific figure. The page does not say how many grants will be awarded.

Money is only part of the package. Recipients also get a one-on-one virtual mentorship session with a member of the Selection Committee, plus promotion through TAAF's social media channels and distribution to its national partner network.

Who could apply, and what is the timeline?

Applicants had to be at least 18 years old and U.S. legal residents. Prior production experience was not required, and the page describes the opportunity as open to everyone who meets the criteria. TAAF employees, officers and directors, Selection Committee members, and their immediate family members were not eligible.

The timeline on the page runs as follows:

  • Recipients are notified on November 2.
  • Production takes place between November 2, 2026 and January 15, 2027.
  • Final projects are ready to debut on February 5, 2027.

The page does not list an application deadline, and the notification sentence itself does not name a year, though the production window points to 2026.

Who is choosing the winners?

The Selection Committee includes Juju Chang, Michelle Khare, Dana Ledoux Miller, Lisa Ling, Adrian Per, Kitao Sakurai, Philip Wang and Sean Wang. Shamina Singh serves as project advisor. Projects are judged on three pillars: the story, the execution and the passion.

Why this matters for Asian American creators

The program ties money to a finished product on a fixed clock. A grant of $5,000 to $10,000, a mentor from the Selection Committee, and promotion through TAAF's partner network arrive together, with a debut date of February 5, 2027 at the end of it.

TAAF CEO Norman Chen has said that "AAPI history is American history," and Wang has said, "We made our own stories when there were no mainstream opportunities." Both lines describe the logic of the program: creators telling their own stories, with backing behind them.

The page says only, "Please check back soon for more updates on this initiative." Creators who missed this round should keep watching TAAF's channels for what comes next.