YouTube is investing $20 million toward educational content through its new Learning Fund program.
Malik Ducard, global head of learning, announced the initiative today. Channels like TED-Ed, dedicated to educational Ted Talks, and Hank and John Green’s Crash Course have already secured additional funding, according to YouTube’s blog post. The company plans to invest in content from independent creators, like the Green brothers, as well as traditional news sources and educational organizations to broaden its content offering.
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YouTube’s Learning Fund has a nice ring to it, but it isn’t a philanthropic charity. An FAQ about the program states that “successful applicants must enter into a written agreement with YouTube. This agreement will contain more details about required deliverables, payment timelines, and other terms and conditions.”
Creators must maintain a minimum of 25,000 subscribers. Those applying to the program also don’t need to have a degree or proper certification in their field, “but successful applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have expertise and/or that the content they produce is verified by an expert in the field.”
YouTube’s interest in developing more educational content is something the company has aggressively pushed for some time.
The company announced in March that it was planning to invest $10 million over the next two years to promote better media literacy. Creators like ASAPScience and Smarter Every Day, both of which fall under YouTube’s educational bracket, are working with YouTube on the project.
It’s an area that YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki seems particularly passionate about. Wojcicki told Recode’s Kara Swisher at Code Media in February that educational videos were an area the company was interested in exploring. YouTube officially launched YouTube Learning, a specific grant program for educational creators, in July, reiterating that educational content was an area the company rapidly wanted to grow.
