Is the YouTube Shorts Fund Still Around?

No — the YouTube Shorts Fund is no longer around. YouTube distributed bonuses from its $100 million fund over 2021 and 2022, then replaced it on February 1, 2023 with Shorts ad revenue sharing, which pays eligible YouTube Partner Program creators 45% of their allocated Shorts revenue through YouTube's Creator Pool.

What replaced the YouTube Shorts Fund?

Shorts ad revenue sharing replaced the Shorts Fund. YouTube’s Help Center states that "Ad revenue sharing for Shorts started on February 1, 2023," and the current model pays monetizing creators 45% of their allocated share of a monthly Creator Pool instead of the Fund’s one-off bonuses (YouTube Help — Monetization icon guide).

That is the same arc TikTok followed when it retired its own Creator Fund: a fixed promotional pot gave way to a permanent, ad-funded revenue share.

YouTube announced the Shorts Fund on May 11, 2021 as "the YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100M fund distributed over the course of 2021-2022" (YouTube blog — Introducing the YouTube Shorts Fund). Google’s own September 30, 2021 announcement of the Fund’s Australian launch stated that "creators can make anywhere from US$100 to US$10,000 based on viewership and engagement on their Shorts".

Why did YouTube shut down the Shorts Fund?

YouTube did not cancel the Shorts Fund early — it was time-boxed from day one. YouTube’s May 11, 2021 announcement described it as "a $100M fund distributed over the course of 2021-2022," so the two-year commitment simply expired and Shorts monetization moved permanently into the Partner Program.

The Fund paid discretionary bonuses rather than a revenue share: YouTube’s May 11, 2021 post said "each month, we'll reach out to thousands of creators whose Shorts received the most engagement and views to reward them".

The Fund was also open to non-partners, which is the single biggest difference from today’s system: YouTube stated that Shorts Fund eligibility was "not limited to just creators in the YouTube Partner Program".

How does Shorts revenue sharing work now?

Each month YouTube adds up the ad revenue earned between videos in the Shorts Feed, subtracts music licensing costs to leave a Creator Pool, allocates that pool by each creator's share of engaged views, and pays out a fixed cut: "Monetizing creators will keep 45% of their allocated revenue, regardless if music was used or not".

YouTube's Help Center publishes a worked example of that math: with 100 million engaged Shorts views in Country A and $100,000 earned from Shorts Feed ads, 20% of those Shorts using one music track means "the Creator Pool is $90,000 and $10,000 is used to cover the costs of music licensing".

In that same YouTube Help Center example, a creator with 1 million engaged views is allocated 1% of the $90,000 Creator Pool — $900 — and after the split, "the 45% revenue share is then applied to your allocation, and you earn $405 for your Shorts views in Country A".

Shorts pay a smaller cut than long-form uploads: YouTube pays Partner Program members 45% of allocated Shorts revenue, versus "55% of net revenues from ads displayed or streamed on their public videos on their content Watch Page".

Shorts revenue sharing reached "more than 25% of channels in YPP" within its first year, and YouTube reported Shorts averaging "over 70B daily views since launching in 2021" in its March 28, 2024 anniversary post. For a sense of what that share adds up to per creator, see what Shorts creators typically earn.

What are the Shorts monetization thresholds in 2026?

Two thresholds matter. YouTube's advertising tier requires 1,000 subscribers with "10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days", while the fan-funding tier opens at 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days.

The fan-funding tier's exact Shorts route is "500 subscribers," "3 public uploads in the last 90 days," and "3 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days," with 3,000 qualified long-form watch hours in the last 365 days as the alternative to the Shorts path (YouTube Help — How to earn money on YouTube).

Shorts views cannot substitute for long-form watch time on the older route: YouTube's eligibility page states that "qualified watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed won't count towards the 4,000 qualified public watch hours threshold".

For a closer look at the two tiers, see YouTube Shorts monetization requirements and the broader guide to YouTube monetization requirements.

Is another Shorts monetization change confirmed for 2027?

Yes. YouTube's August 10, 2026 blog post confirms that "beginning February 1, 2027, creators who have 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days will be eligible for ads and subscription revenue sharing on Shorts," turning the 10 million-view bar into an ongoing monthly test rather than a one-time entry test (YouTube blog — New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program).

New applicants face a higher entry bar from that date: YouTube's Help Center states that from February 1, 2027 a channel needs 1,000 subscribers plus "8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days" (YouTube Help — Changes to the YouTube Partner Program).

YouTube also sets an activity floor from February 1, 2027: a channel counts as active with 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days, 1 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, or 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts uploaded every 90 days.

Creators who fall under the 10 million-view line keep their Partner Program membership and long-form earnings, and Shorts revenue sharing resumes automatically once they cross 10 million qualified Shorts views again (YouTube blog — New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program). See YouTube Partner Program 2027 changes for the full sourced breakdown.

How can you earn from Shorts before qualifying for YPP?

Until a channel clears 1,000 subscribers with 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, YouTube's Shorts ad revenue share pays nothing. Income before that point has to come from outside the Partner Program: sponsorships, affiliate offers, products, services, and direct fan payments that carry no view threshold.

The old escape hatch is gone — the Shorts Fund was the one YouTube payout open to non-partners, and YouTube's May 11, 2021 post confirmed it was "not limited to just creators in the YouTube Partner Program". How to make money on YouTube covers the off-platform replacements in more detail.

FanBell is one direct fan-payment option. Creators can offer personalized shoutouts, private questions, small services, tips, or project support with no follower or subscriber minimum, per FanBell's own published terms (how it works). FanBell is free to start with no monthly fee and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays, plus separate Stripe processing fees, as published on FanBell's pricing page (pricing). Payments and payouts are handled through Stripe.

Direct fan payments can run alongside YouTube monetization rather than replacing it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply for the YouTube Shorts Fund?

No. The Shorts Fund was announced on May 11, 2021 as "a $100M fund distributed over the course of 2021-2022," and that distribution period has closed, so there is no open application or bonus program (YouTube blog — Introducing the YouTube Shorts Fund).

How much did the YouTube Shorts Fund actually pay?

Shorts Fund bonuses ranged from US$100 to US$10,000 per creator per month: Google's September 30, 2021 announcement stated that "creators can make anywhere from US$100 to US$10,000 based on viewership and engagement on their Shorts".

When did Shorts ad revenue sharing begin?

YouTube's Help Center states that "Ad revenue sharing for Shorts started on February 1, 2023," replacing the Shorts Fund's bonus model with a permanent share of Shorts Feed ad revenue.

How much does YouTube pay for Shorts now?

There is no fixed per-view rate; YouTube pays 45% of each creator's Creator Pool allocation. In YouTube's own worked example, a $900 allocation yields $405: "the 45% revenue share is then applied to your allocation, and you earn $405 for your Shorts views in Country A".

Do I need to be in the Partner Program to earn from Shorts?

Yes — YouTube requires Partner Program membership plus acceptance of the Shorts Monetization Module before Shorts ad revenue sharing starts. Independent fan-payment tools have separate terms; FanBell has no subscriber minimum, is free to start, and applies a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing and how it works).

Ready to earn from your Shorts audience without waiting to clear a view threshold? Create your free FanBell page and set up your first paid offer in minutes.