Applications open for the 2026 cohort

Invest in cultural creators for the long term.

A nonprofit fellowship for the creators who reach audiences with a level of trust that traditional media cannot match.

The shift

53% of Americans get their news from social media.

Creators are the new trusted messengers. Support for them has been shallow. We are changing that.

Since 2020

Paid, year long fellowships that educate the public.

Fact checked

Prosocial information, woven into everyday content.

Creator led

You keep full creative control. We support with briefs and 1:1 coaching.

Organizing, not ads

We build community and capacity, not ad buys.

300+
Creators
2,500+
Videos
250M
Subscribers reached
The research

It works, and the data proves it.

A first of its kind Columbia University field study on the persuasion effects of creators.

3x+

more effective when everyday creators carry the message.

Effect sizes as large or larger than most any research on political interventions.

Creators are the new church leaders, union organizers, and community activists.

In their own voice

See the work

How it works

A continuous loop, not a checklist.

Scroll to explore
01

Brief

We build monthly briefs on timely topics with partners and subject matter experts.

02

Ideate

Creators choose a topic and how it fits their voice. Together we find a creative angle.

03

Create

Creators produce the video. BII provides resources and support throughout.

04

Review

We review for compliance and fact checking, keeping creative control with the creator.

05

Publish

Creators post to YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

06

Learn

We track performance and feed the learnings back into the next brief.

2026 cohorts

Three focus areas. Broad appeal.

$10,000 stipend. One year. Real impact.

Apply to the 2026 fellowship