Reference Guide for Film & Videomakers

If you are an individual looking for financial support to make a film or to work on a video project, this reference guide will help you in your search. We have selected a few of the most important print and electronic resources for you to begin your search.

Because most private foundations make grants only to incorporated nonprofit organizations, individual grantseekers must follow a different funding path than organizations with tax-exempt status. Some private foundations currently offer support for individual projects; it is up to you to determine which foundations might be interested in your particular subject area or project.

The Foundation Center has identified a range of materials useful to individuals seeking funding to support film/video projects. Feel free to refer to them, read introductions, scan indexes, and think of all the subjects and terms by which you can identify your project. A knowledge of support available from local filmmakers' organizations will also be to your benefit. You need to be both creative and flexible in your approach to seeking funding.

If you are unfamiliar with the process of grantseeking, you may want to start with the Individual Grantseekers area of the Foundation Center's Web site. Information on proposal writing for individual grantseekers can be found in our FAQ "Where can I find information on proposal writing for individual grantseekers?".

Electronic Resources for Individual Film and Videomakers

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online (http://gtionline.fdncenter.org)
The Foundation Center's online database of more than 6,500 grantmaker programs that provide support to individuals. Available at a low monthly subscription rate.

Film Arts Foundation - Grants (http://www.filmarts.org/services.php?function=grants)
Listing of awards to encourage new and diverse works by film and video artists who have little likelihood of being supported through traditional funding sources.

Independent Television Service (http://www.itvs.org/producers/funding.html)
Funds proposals by independent producers and provides production, promotion, marketing and distribution support.

International Documentary Association (http://www.documentary.org/resources/index.php)
This site has a listing of grants with deadlines, grants without deadlines, and information on fiscal sponsorship.

Michigan State University Libraries - Grants for Individuals: Film (http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3film.htm)
A comprehensive listing of funding opportunities including Web sites, databases, books, and other possibilities.

Morrie Warshawski (http://www.warshawski.com)
Provides an extensive bibliography on fundraising for independent film and video projects.

National Endowment for the Humanities (http://www.neh.gov/)
Supports all areas of the humanities, including the funding of documentaries.

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) - For Artists (http://www.nyfa.org/level1.asp?id=1)
Provides information on fellowships, fiscal sponsorship, in support of the production of independent films, including NYFA Source a national database of awards, services, and publications for artists of all disciplines.

Recommended Books for Individual Film and Videomakers

Edelson, Phyllis, ed. FOUNDATION GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS. New York, NY: The Foundation Center, biennial. Profiles more than 6,500 foundation programs that make grants to individuals for education, arts and culture, general welfare, and more.

ANNUAL REGISTER OF GRANT SUPPORT: A Directory of Funding Sources. Medford, NJ: Information Today, annual. Describes over 3,500 grant programs in all subjects. Covers government, public, and private foundation, corporate, association, and other special-interest support programs.

Blum, Laurie. THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GETTING A GRANT: How to Turn Your Ideas Into Dollars. Rev. ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996. Guide for novice grantseekers, primarily individuals, with information on finding a funder, working with sponsors, and writing a proposal. Includes resources lists.

Dean, Carole Lee. THE ART OF FILM FUNDING: ALTERNATIVE FINANCING CONCEPTS. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. Topics covered in this guide include proposals, researching funders, fundraising from individuals and businesses, public funding, branding, partnerships, tax laws, and other areas.

DIRECTORY OF GRANTS IN THE HUMANITIES . Westport, CT: Oryx Press, annual. Over 3,700 funding programs by foundations, federal and state government agencies, corporations, professional organizations and associations, some of which support film and video productions.

Richards, Andrea. GIRL DIRECTOR: A How-To Guide for the First-Time Flat-Broke Film Maker (And Video Maker). Los Angeles, CA: Girl Press. 2001. A guide for young film makers, with behind-the-scenes tips from successful women in the field.

Warshawski, Morrie. SHAKING THE MONEY TREE: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video Projects. 2nd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2003. A step-by-step guide that covers planning a project, doing research, writing a proposal, soliciting donations from individuals, and more. The appendices include a bibliography of publications and resources, a listing of media arts centers, sample proposals, a sample direct mail letter, and how to host a special event.

Wiese, Michael. THE INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEOMAKER'S GUIDE. 2nd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. Chapters cover developing, distributing, financing, and marketing of independent film and television works. Extensive bibliography includes Web sites of interest.

For other articles and books for film and videomakers, check under the subject headings "Arts--grants", "Films and video", or "Individual grants and grantseekers" in the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.

For Individuals with Fiscal Sponsorship

The Foundation Center publishes two resources useful to individual filmmakers with fiscal sponsorship, The National Guide to Funding in Arts and Culture and Grants for Arts, Culture and the Humanities.