Grantfunding is not for everyone, we totally get that. It can be time consuming and, at times, frustrating, but the gains if you're awarded a significant grant can be game-changing! So we ask you to keep an open mind.
If you think grantfunding may be for you then we have a pretty extensive tutorial coming your way, which we believe is going to help give you the best chance of success!
What is grant funding?
Definition: Grantfunding is a sum of money given by an organization for a particular purpose, often issued from government sources and private foundations. |
Why apply for grant funding?
Let’s take a look at why you, as an independent documentary filmmaker, might choose to include grant funding, as part of your fundraising strategy.
Significant financial injection
The main reason, of course, is the potential for a significant financial injection. If you are successfully awarded a grant it may offer a serious boost to your fundraising goals, permitting you to continue to drive your project forward.
Depending on your budget and the amount awarded, it may even cover the costs of a whole phase of your film project, although it is unlikely to cover the project in its entirety.
Grant amounts vary quite considerably depending on the source of the funding, but each and every grant you are awarded is a boost to your films coffers.
Gives credibility
Being awarded a grant gives your film project an added sense of credibility. It is common knowledge that grants can be hard to come by, so by receiving one it marks your film with a stamp of approval. The assumption being that through the granting process your film project has been reviewed in depth, and by being awarded a grant, has been deemed to be an interesting and viable project.
Welcomes more support
With this newfound boost in credibility comes another potential boost of more support. Once you have obtained one grant, you are more likely to receive others and potential individual donors will be more inclined to give you funds when a granting organization has given their support.
Money given, not invested
Unlike with an investment, any money given to you by a granting organization or foundation will not require repayment and since most documentary films will not make a profit this is quite a significant advantage!
Note: Your film can absolutely make a profit if you apply the business measures and mindset we are instructing in this course!
It also means that you do not have to carry the weight of a required financial return on your project. Something, which could otherwise have an influence on your creative control and decision-making.
Can request feedback
You may think that if you are unsuccessful in being granted a monetary sum that you have wasted your time and effort in submitting your grant application. However, this need not be the case at all. If you are able to brush off the feeling of rejection and instead focus on obtaining feedback from the funder, you may be granted a wealth of information, which will help you to alter, tailor and generally improve your application and proposal documents.
Challenges of grants
Paperwork
If there is one thing that is well known about grant applications, and may well put you off applying for grants altogether, it is that they involve copious amounts of paperwork.
This can take a lot of time, effort and energy, and may be more than you may be willing to offer.
Fortunately for you, by the time you come complete any grant applications you will already have important documents to hand to utilize and refer to (of course, that’s assuming that you’ve followed our recommendation and completed the tutorials in the pitches and proposals module!).
Competition
Competition for grants can be fierce and depending on what grant you are applying for will depend on the level of competition and amount of people vying for it. A local grant, for example, will have far fewer applicants than a federal or national grant, but still there are always many, many more applicants than there are projects funded.
Highlight flaws
Your grant application, proposals and any other supportive documents are going to be mulled over and scrutinized by a board committee, so if there are flaws in your paperwork they will be found. Say your synopsis isn’t really understandable or your budgetary calculations are a little off, there is a strong chance your application will be rejected. And there’s no come back or way for you to explain. Therefore, attention to detail is a must when it comes to grant applications, if that is not your strong suit then grants may not be for you or you may have to seek outside assistance.
Extensive duration
Applying for grants is certainly not a quick way to garner money for your film. When you consider the time it takes to research the grant or program, compile and submit the application and await a decision you are talking several months, at least. Plus most grants are not available year round, so there will only be certain times when you can apply, sometimes just once or twice a year.
Next Steps We hope that by reviewing some the reasons you may wish to apply for grantfunding and the challenges of doing so, we have helped you come closer to deciding whether or not grant funding is for you. The next part of the tutorial will give you more insight and help you begin to form a strategy of how you will find and research potential grant funding opportunities. |
Finding Them and Researching Them
In this video tutorial we will be sharing where you can find relevant grant funding opportunities and how you can research them.
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Making Contact
In this video tutorial we will be discussing how and why to contact granting officers and offering tips and advice on submitting your grant application.
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Decision Time
So you’ve done all the work and now you must wait to hear back from the funding organization. So what happens once you do? Well that depends on the verdict.
In this video tutorial we will be discussing what to do after you receive a decision - whether you've been funded or not.
Top Resources
The Foundation Directory - Search your local library for this book and other grantwriting tools and resources
Foundation Center Libraries - Located in New York, Atlanta, Cleveland, San Francisco and Washington D.C.
Funding Information Network - Foundation centers suite of tools, resources, databases, publications and other supplemental material in a location closer to you.
Foundation Directory Online - An online database that comprises of over 100,000 grantmakers, which can be searched using multiple filters and assessment tools to help identify the best potential funders for your project.
Guidestar.org - Information on nonprofit organizations, including the IRS 990 tax forms. This is a tax form that non-profit organizations must final annually and provides detailed financial information including, grant recipients and amounts given.
Grantspace.org - Easy-to-use, self-service tools and resources to help nonprofits worldwide become more viable grant applicants and build strong, sustainable organizations.
Grant Information Sheet (GIS) - A useful document for detailing and tracking grant funding opportunities. Download here >>>> Grant Information Sheet
IDA's comprehensive Grants Directory
From the Heart Productions Film Grants Directory
How To Write Your Documentary Film Grant Proposal from The Documentary Life Podcast, Episode #55.