Amongst many types of foundations you will be able to find:

-      Public foundations – build from many sources such as governmental grants, various agencies, donations from private foundations and individuals.

-      Private foundations – usually money comes from one resource: an individual, a family or a corporation.

 

TIP: Many funding organizations don’t grant money to individuals.

 

 

Fiscal Sponsorship refers to the practice when non-profit organizations offer their legal and tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the organization's missions. Typically it involves a fee-based contractual arrangement between a project and an established non-profit.

 

Fiscal sponsorship can help you access many funding organizations, which as a private person you wouldn’t be able to access. While looking for the fiscal sponsorship/agent take your time and as in any other relationship you need to find the right match. Read all the guidance on the website and ask questions if you don’t understand something before you decide on fiscal sponsorship.

 

How to find the right funding or grants for your projects?

 

The money for your project is surely out there. Your homework is to find the right organization or individual.

 

Go through the list of organizations we prepared

http://www.bulletfilm.com/article/film-funding-organizations

 

Look up their websites and start with the organization’s mission statement, where you will be able to find basic information about the organization. If any of the information you found looks appealing to you start exploring the website. Make notes of all the important information you find about the grants, previous winners, who funds the foundation, what projects the organization funded in the past, etc.

     Once you know it all, call the person who is in charge of the grant and ask about the grants, tell them about your project (synopsis under 2 min.) and ask questions. Remember that you are in a process of finding the right organization, which could finance your project so don’t be shy. However at the same time give the person you talk to some time to think over and ask questions.

     After the conversation thank them kindly, send a thank you postcard and attach a short synopsis of your project.

     After 6 to 8 weeks call them again, remind them about your project and ask some more important questions. Send the thank you postcard afterwards.

     During the time between conversations you are obviously working on your synopsis, proposals and all the other documents the organization requires.

     I would advice you to make a list of organizations and deadlines so you can keep on top of things.

     The initial time you are going to invest in researching all the organizations is going to be worthwhile since you will probably use all that information in the future.

     You have to be persisting in both researching and applying for grants but remember: don’t make anyone upset ‘cos people talk.

 

For more information look up Carole Lee Dean’s book “The art of film funding”