Presented by Don Chalmers, President SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. August 21, 2015.

Funding for Independent Documentaries in and out of Indian

Country Presented by

Don Chalmers, PresidentSparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.

August 21, 2015

(c) SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. 2015

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Good Morning-What are we going to talk about?- where to find funding opportunities- what types of funding opportunities are out there for

filmmakers?- what does it take to complete a successful NEA

and/or ANA grant?-how should a filmmaker approach a tribe for funding?- what are some general do’s and don’ts in

fundraising?0ther topics?

Friday, August 21, 2015

3(c) SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. 2015

About SparrowHawk

Established in 1984 by Don Chalmers to serve non-profits and Tribes

Offers full range of servicesSuccessful in fundraising, planning and organizational development

Extensive experience working with Tribes and Tribal communities


4(c) SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. 2015

What we do

SparrowHawk provides a dynamic, tailored and culturally relevant

approach to:Fundraising for projects, programs or capital projects

Grant writing Strategic planningOrganizational developmentCustomized trainings



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Steps to follow1. Who is applying for

support? Partnerships?

2. Carefully articulate your project (from the funder’s point of view)

3. Spend time researching sources

4. Prepare a complete application

5. Follow-up with funders



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Who is the applicant? Fiscal Agent?You as the

filmmaker/producer?An organization?A partnership?A consortium?



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Carefully articulate your project (including from the funder’s point of view)Protect artistic

integrityDon’t lose sight of

the project’s purposeLook for a shared

agenda with the funder

Consider what the funder needs are

Think about alternatives that meet those needs

Eagle vision



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Spend time researching sourcesEnsure a strong

match with a prospective funder

Use the “Finding the Right Funder” tool to help make that connection

Look at all the information sources

Don’t Blue Sky funders

Think about a long-term relationship rather than a short-term solution



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Finding the Right Funder



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Resource Page!2015 Vision Maker Media Filmmaker Training

When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1 p.m. - Friday, Aug. 21, noon

Filmmakers often need to work a "day job" to fund and successfully deliver their media projects. Not having enough cash to do the work can lengthen a documentary project timeline and risk the timeliness in national broadcast distribution.

The goal of the 2015 Vision Maker Media filmmaker training is to highlight social media usage in the documentary film world, encourage the educational development of materials to expand the impact of your film, and rediscover the art of storytelling in a way that is strategic, ensures project completion and ultimately success. Filmmakers will leave Nebraska with potential strategic partnerships, new funder opportunities and confidence that their film project will have national impact in and out of Indian Country. Training is intended for funded and emerging filmmakers.

Don’s session Friday, August 21 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. Breakout Session -Funding for Independent Documentaries in and out of Indian Country

One of the challenges that filmmakers face is that they have a hard time attracting new funders. This leaves them with not having enough cash to do the work they’ve planned to do. They cannot pay employees/contractors and lose good people to other Projects. As a result, they lack expertise that would help them complete the Project successfully.

Producer Goal: To expand foundation relationships and get more grant money. To leverage funding in Indian country.

It would be great for the filmmakers to understand: - where to find funding opportunities - what types of funding opportunities are out there for filmmakers? - how should a filmmaker approach a tribe for funding? - what does it take to complete a successful NEA and/or ANA grant? - what are some general do’s and don’ts in fundraising?

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FUNDING SOURCES FOR NATIVE AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

Guidelines for National Endowment for the Arts grants. Administration for Native Americans grant guidelines. (I see projects for Native language preservation and instruction and for social outreach through Public Service Announcements) Sundance Native American and Indigenous Film Program is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Time Warner Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Ford Foundation, Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, SAGIndie, Comcast-NBC Universal, Cindy and Alan Horn, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and CBS.

PBS Point of View offers a list of documentary funding sources. And resources for pitching and funding film- Documentary Film Funding, New Media/Web Documentary Funding, Public Media Funding and Broadcast, Fiscal Sponsors

Here is an example We Still Live Here film was funded by: Sundance Documentary Fund, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, Guggenheim Foundation, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, National Science Foundation and from ITVS, the independent arm of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting



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Prepare a complete application

Three rules for preparing funding applications:1. Follow the instructions2. Follow the instructions3. Follow the instructions



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Example Grant: NEA: Art WorksThe National Endowment for the Arts offers

grants to support the development, production, and distribution of innovative projects that demonstrate media as art and media about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk & traditional arts, and media arts including animation and digital art).



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Media arts, as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts, includes screen-based projects presented via film, television, radio, audio, video, the Internet, interactive and mobile technologies, video games, transmedia storytelling, and satellite as well as media-related printed books, catalogues, and journals.

- See more at: http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/media-arts#sthash.L5LfdZz9.dpuf



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A Complete Application A complete application consists of: Step 1: Submit through Grants.gov (February 19 or July 23 deadline): SF-424 (Application for Federal Domestic Assistance) Step 2: Submit through NEA-GO (March 5 to March 12 or August 6 to August

13): NEA Grant Application Form You will submit a substantial part of your application through the Grant

Application Form, including: * Answers to narrative questions about your organization and project.

* Financial information about your organization and project. * Bios of key individuals.

Items to Upload * Programmatic activities list

* Statements of support * Special items (For certain projects only) * Work samples

- See more at: http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/media-arts/how-to-prepare-and-submit-an-application#sthash.ikssrsyJ.dpuf


http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/media-arts/step-1-submit-sf-424-to-grants-gov

http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/nea-grant-application-form-rev3.pdf


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SF 424 and Other Requirementshttp://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works

/media-arts/step-1-submit-sf-424-to-grants-gov









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NEA Fiscal Sponsorship LimitationsWe do not fund unincorporated or for-profit

entities or individuals that engage nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes to apply for grants on their behalf. An ineligible organization (i.e., one without its own nonprofit status) may not use a fiscal sponsor for the purpose of submitting an application.



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Fiscal SponsorsWhat is a fiscal

sponsor? A fiscal sponsor is an entity that oversees the fiscal activities of another organization, company, or group of independent artists or projects. These activities may include bookkeeping, filing of W2s or 1099s, daily banking, or grant preparation.



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Avoiding the appearance of fiscal sponsorshipThe key to avoiding the appearance of fiscal

sponsorship is the involvement of your organization. This might include Producing or co-producing. Partnering on creative direction or development. Organizing workshops, public showings, or distribution of work. Providing social networking strategies or web implementation.



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For more information:You can provide evidence of your

organization's involvement in your application, on your website, though announcements and evaluations of public events, and with archival documentation.

See more at: http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/fiscal-sponsorship#sthash.kNtHKHTR.dpuf


http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/fiscal-sponsorship

http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/fiscal-sponsorship


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How should a filmmaker approach a tribe for funding?Tribal grants are

often linked to gaming compact requirements

Personal contact is useful once the project is clearly articulated

Council advocate are key

The application is relatively simple and straightforward



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What are some general do’s and don’ts in fundraising?Do

Recognize fundraising as a “people give to people” business

Spend time networking and marketing you and your productions

Use your personal networks to expand your reach

Don’tAssume a rich

person is a charitable person

Assume the funder understands your craft or the need for your work

Assume the funder understands your community


Thanks to You and Vision Maker Media!Questions or Comments?

Please contact us at SparrowHawk Consulting, your national, full service

consulting firm (800) 398-8048 or [email protected]; www.sparrowhawkco.com;

www.donchalmers.wordpress.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sparrowhawkco.com/

Presented by Don Chalmers, President SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. August 21, 2015.

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Transcript of Presented by Don Chalmers, President SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc. August 21, 2015.