Funding Resources/Funding Lists

General Film/Video Funders

The Anthony Radziwill Documentary Fund

Grants to emerging and established documentary filmmakers in the form of development funds (seed money) for specific new projects. Administered by IFP/New York, but open to filmmakers nationwide, the Fund seeks to provide an additional much-needed source of funding for independent non-fiction filmmakers at the earliest stage of new work, traditionally a difficult point at which to secure funding. NOTE: The Fund is on hiatus in 2006.

Anthony Radziwill Documentary Fund

IFP/New York

104 West 29th Street, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Phone: 212-465-8200 x 830

Email:   docfund@ifp.org

Website: http://market.ifp.org/newyork/docfund/

Independent Television Service (ITVS)
ITVS seeks proposals for public TV programs that take creative risks, serve underrepresented audiences and express points of view seldom seen on commercial or public TV. Applicants must be independent producers with previous film or TV production experience in a principal role. Students are not eligible. ITVS accepts proposals for single programs (not series) in any genre (drama, documentary, animation, experimental).

Open Call provides finishing funds for single public television programs on any subject, from any viewpoint and in any genre. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress tape.

The International Media Development Fund International Call provides production funds for independent producers who are non-U.S. citizens, helping them create documentaries for American television. Through the fund, ITVS works with these producers to bring compelling international stories to U.S. audiences who are looking to better understand people, cultures and points of view in other parts of the world.

The Diversity Development Fund seeks talented minority producers to develop projects for public television. We want to support minority artists to tell their stories and reach audiences often overlooked by conventional programming. Projects must be in the research or development phase, and cannot have begun production.

LOCAL INDEPENDENTS COLLABORATING WITH STATIONS (LINCS) provides matching funds (up to $100,000) to partnerships between public television stations and independent producers. To apply for LINCS funds, independents must first approach a public television station and establish a partnership. Single shows in any genre will be considered. Projects may be in any stage of development.

Independent Television Service
651 Brannan Street, Suite 410
San Francisco, CA  94107
(phone) 415-356-8383

(fax) 415-356-8391
Email: itvs@itvs.org
Website: www.itvs.org/producers/

National Endowment for the Arts

Provides grants to organizations for the production, public exhibition, distribution, and preservation of film, video, and audio works as art forms themselves.  Media Arts organizations also receive funds for services to media artists, media literacy programs, publications, and professional training.

National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506
(phone) 202-682-5400
(fax) 202-682-5721
Email: webmgr@arts.endow.gov
Website: www.arts.gov

National Endowment for the Humanities
Offers grants for independent filmmakers and digital media producers whose work addresses significant subjects in the humanities; reaches broad public audiences; grows out of sound scholarship; and uses imaginative, engaging formats.

National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20506
(phone) 1-800-NEH-1121
(fax) 202-606-8400
TDD: 202-606-8282
Email: info@neh.gov
Website: www.neh.gov

Ford Foundation Media, Arts and Culture Grants
Supports public broadcasting and the independent production of film, video and radio programming; and supports efforts to engage diverse groups in work related to the media and to analyze the media's effect on society. A letter of inquiry is advisable to determine whether the foundation's present interests and funds permit consideration of the request.

The Ford Foundation

320 East 43 Street
New York, NY 10017

(phone) 212-573-5000

(fax) 212-351-3677

Email: office-secretary@fordfound.org

Website: www.fordfound.org

MoxieDocs Co-production Award

Provide the means for complete production, postproduction, and theatrical distribution to the selected documentary proposal. Projects considered are those in work-in-progress stages. The award provides over $150,000 in products and services.

Moxie Films

Attn: MoxieDocs

107 Suffolk St.

Studio #517

New York, NY 10002

(phone) 212-982-5008
(fax) 212-353-3707
Email: info@moxie-films.com

Website: www.moxie-films.com

The Fledgling Fund / Creative Media Projects
Supporting the creation and dissemination of innovative media projects that can play critical roles in igniting social change – bearing witness to the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals, families, and communities around the world; creating a broader understanding of social problems; and inspiring concrete action. Key issues: Girls Empowerment and Education, Human Rights, Migration and Immigration, Health Care, Healthy and Sustainable Communities, Cross Cultural Understanding, War and Its Aftermath. 

Grants:  Grants for Films generally support post-production costs; occasionally, early production costs, usually in partnership with other funders. Outreach and Community Engagement Grants support the development and/or implementation of strategic community engagement initiatives for both completed films and for those that are in post-production. Grant amounts range widely. Rolling deadline, response within approx. 30 days.

The Fledgling Fund

162 Fifth Ave., Suite 901

New York, NY 10010

(phone) 212-242-1680

(fax) 212-765-1517

Email: info@thefledglingfund.org

Website: www.thefledglingfund.org

Chicago Underground Film Fund

Grants awarded to selected film or video makers for post-production on works-in-progress that are in keeping with the festival's mission to promote works that push boundaries, defy commercial expectations and transcend the mainstream of independent filmmaking.

Grants: between $500 and $2,000

 

Chicago Underground Film Festival
3109 North Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
(phone) 773-327-FILM
(fax) 773-327-3464
Email: info@cuff.org
Website: www.cuff.org

The Roy W. Dean Grant
Offers grants annually to films that are unique and benefit society. Six grants offer services and residencies to film and video makers, editors, and writers.

From the Heart Productions
Attn. Roy W. Dean Film Grant
1455 Mandalay Beach Road
Oxnard, CA 93035-2845
(phone) 805-984-0098
Email: Caroleedean@att.net
Website: www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media
Film/video projects that will reach a broad audience with an organizing component and can demonstrate that the production will be used for social change organizing.
Grants: Up to $15,000; most $3,000-$6,000

Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media
The Funding Exchange
666 Broadway, Suite 500
New York, NY  10012
(phone) 212-529-5300
(fax) 212-982-9272
Email: info@fex.org
Website: www.fex.org

 

Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Grants provide partial support for major educational series assured of airing nationally by PBS. Consideration is given from time-to-time to single stand-alone programs. 

Grants: to $400,000

Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
225 Water Street, Suite 1510
Jacksonville, FL 32202-5185
(phone) 904-359-0670
Email: arthurvining@bellsouth.net
Website: www.avdfdn.org

 

Creative Capital
Provides grants to individual artists for specific projects, with an emphasis on experimental work. Disciplines rotate, meaning that media grants are given every other year.

Grants: up to $20,000

Creative Capital
65 Bleeker St 7th floor
New York NY 10012
(phone) 212-598-9900
(fax) 212-598-4934
Email: info@creative-capital.org
Website: www.creative-capital.org

 

Sundance Documentary Fund
Supports U.S. and international documentary films and videos focused on current and significant issues and movements in contemporary human rights, freedom of expression, social justice, and civil liberties.  In supporting such works, the Sundance Documentary Fund hopes to give voice to the diverse exchange of ideas crucial to developing an open society, raise the public consciousness about human rights abuses and restrictions of civil liberties, and engage citizens in a lively, ongoing debate about these issues. 

Grants: Development funds up to $15,000 and Production/Post-Production to $75,000, though most will be from $25,000 to $50,000.  No deadline.

Sundance Documentary Fund
Sundance Institute
8857 West Olympic Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Email: sdf@sundance.org
Website: www.sundance.org

 

The Lyn Blumenthal Memorial Fund for Independent Video
Awards grants for criticism and production.

The Lyn Blumenthal Memorial Fund

for Independent Video
P.O. Box 3514
Church St. Station
New York, NY  10007

 

The Puffin Foundation
Grants that encourage emerging artists whose works, due to their genre and/or social philosophy might have difficulty being aired. 

Grants: up to $2,500

The Puffin Foundation
20 East Oakdene Avenue
Teaneck, NJ  07666-4198
(phone) 201-836-8923
(fax) 201-836-1734
Email: puffingrant@mindspring.com
Website: www.puffinfoundation.org

 

The Lucius & Eva Eastman Fund
Supports film/video on social issues.

The Lucius & Eva Eastman Fund
Jennifer Eastman, Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 470
Westwood, MA  02090
(phone) 781-329-2473

OR Contact:
Lucius R. Eastman, President
5926 Fiddletown Pl. 
San Jose, CA  95120
(phone) 408-268-2083
 

 

The Playboy Foundation
Finishing funds for documentaries in post-production, especially those focused on civil rights and liberties in the United States.

Grants: $1,000 - $5,000

The Playboy Foundation
680 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL  60611
(phone) 312-751-8000
Website: www.playboyenterprises.com

 

The Hermes Foundation
Especially interested in gay/lesbian issues. 

Grants: up to $1,000

The Hermes Foundation
13600 Shaker Blvd. #802
Cleveland, OH  44120
(phone) 216-751-1100
Email: senex@msn.com

 

Unitarian Universalist Funding Program/Fund for a Just Society
Funds film/video only if it is an integral part of a strategy of collective action for social change.

Grants: up to $15,000; most from $5,000-$7,000

Unitarian Universalist Funding Program/

Fund for a Just Society
P.O. Box 301149
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(phone) 617- 971-9600

(fax) 617-971-0029
Email: uufp@aol.com
Website: www.uua.org/uufp/

 

Resist, Inc.
Distribution costs of film and video linked to social justice organizing.

Resist, Inc.
259 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144
(phone) 617-623-5110
Email: resistinc@igc.apc.org
Website: www.resistinc.org

 

Open Meadows Foundation
Projects that have limited financial access which reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of our society and promote the empowerment of women and girls; and projects for social change that have encountered obstacles in their search for funding.

Grants: up to $2,000  

Open Meadows Foundation
PO Box 150-607
Van Brunt Station
Brooklyn, NY 11215-0150
(phone) 718-768- 2249
Email: openmeadows@igc.org
Website: www.openmeadows.org
 

Dance Film Association, Inc.
Members may apply for DFA's annual postproduction grants for films about dance.

Grants: up to $2,000

Dance Film Association, Inc.
48 West 21st Street, #907
New York, NY 10010
(phone/fax) 212-727-0764

Email: info@dancefilms.org
Website: www.dancefilmsassn.org

 

John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Grants support public interest media projects, including independent documentary film, to help ensure a diversity of viewpoints, expand the availability of high-quality content, and advance the broad purposes of the Foundation: Human and Community Development and Global Security and Sustainability.

John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
140 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL  60603
(phone) 312-726-8000

(fax) 312-920-6258

Email: 4answers@macfound.org
Website: www.macfound.org

A. J. Muste Institute
Funds film/video ONLY as part of projects organizing for social change.

A. J. Muste Institute
339 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
(phone) 212-533-4335
(fax) 212-228-6193
Email: info@ajmuste.org
Website: www.ajmuste.org

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