Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) cultivates documentaries made in or about the American South. This grant is for Southern makers of nonfiction documentaries projects in production.  Grants are awarded for $10,000 each to five projects. The grant opens on July 18, 2024 at 8:00am EST and closes on August 16, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. This grant is made possible thanks to the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

ACCESSIBILITY
We understand that Submittable may not be accessible for all applicants. If you require assistance applying, or an alternative method (i.e. video or audio application), please contact us at info@southerndocumentaryfund.org.

WHAT WE FUND
This program is for Southern makers. We will fund:

• Nonfiction documentaries (shorts, features, docuseries, and experimental).
• Projects must be in production. Proposals for research, development, post-production, distribution or engagement/impact funding are not eligible to apply for this grant.

We seek to bring visibility to makers and communities who are oftentimes overlooked. We will award up to five makers with grants of $10,000 each to assist them in production.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for our grant:

• Project Directors should reside or have deep roots in one of the following Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
• Applicants must have a U.S. social security number or U.S. federal tax ID number.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants must not be enrolled in a film school and/or seeking funds for a student project.

If your project has special circumstances regarding eligibility, please feel free to reach out to our Artistic Director: chris@southerndocumentaryfund.org
 

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS
The following projects are ineligible for funding and will NOT be considered:

• The applicant and project do not meet the above listed eligibility requirements.
• Non-documentary projects.
• Projects that meet our criteria, but have an incomplete application and/or are missing support materials.
• Projects submitted after the submission deadline.
• Projects that have already received production funds from SDF. 

SELECTION CRITERIA
Projects will be chosen based upon the following:

• Project falls within the scope of SDF's mission and values.
• Primary team members have a strong connection to the story.
• Proposal is well-researched and clearly presented.
• Project has a feasible budget and fundraising plan.
• Project Director and collaborators possess the skills necessary to successfully complete the project.
• The applicant shows an understanding of their intended audience and how to reach them.
• A completed application and all requested documents.
• A fulfillment of eligibility requirements.

Information sessions will take place on Monday, July 29, 1pm EST and Wednesday, August 14, 4pm EST. You will need to complete Zoom registration.

For questions regarding the application process, email: sdfgrants@southerndocumentaryfund.org

Thank you for your interest in Southern Documentary Fund's Fiscal Sponsorship Program. Please be sure to review eligibility requirements and review criteria prior to submitting your application.
A non-refundable application fee of $25 is required at time of submission. We will be unable to review your application if the fee has not been received.
We will review your application and contact you with a decision within 14 days of receiving your proposal.
Eligibility requirements:

• Project Director is based in the American South and/or telling stories about or related to the American South. SDF currently serves the following Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• Proposal is for a documentary media project. This includes: short & feature film, television, docu-series, web-series, podcast, photography, experimental and immersive media. 
• Project falls within the scope of SDF's mission and values. The Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) is a nonprofit that supports documentary media made in or about the South and prioritizes underrepresented voices, particularly those with long connections to the region, in order to empower Southern creators to tell their own stories. Through our sponsored projects, we aim to bring injustice to light and reveal truths, large and small, about the world around us. To learn more about our mission and values, please visit our website.

NOTE: If your project has special circumstances regarding eligibility, please feel free to reach out to our Artistic Director: chris@southerndocumentaryfund.org
Review Criteria:

• Subject matter of project is relevant to the mission of SDF.
• Primary team members have a strong connection to the story.
• Proposal is well-researched and clearly presented.
• Project has a feasible budget and fundraising plan.
• Project Director and collaborators posses the skills necessary to successfully complete the project.
• The applicant shows an understanding of their intended audience and how to reach them.

For more information regarding Fiscal Sponsorship, please visit: southerndocumentaryfund.org/programs/fiscal-sponsorship