Introducing the Documentary Funding Database
A Practical Search Tool for Finding Grant Opportunities
Finding the right funding for a documentary has always been harder than it should be.
Opportunities are scattered across dozens of sites. Deadlines are easy to miss. Eligibility requirements are often buried in PDFs or half-updated web pages. And it is rarely obvious which grants are actually worth your time.
To address that, I built the Documentary Funding Database: a free, searchable tool designed to help filmmakers discover, filter, and track documentary funding opportunities in one place. Currently, the database includes over 200 opportunities and I will be updating this throughout the year.
Why I Built This Tool
I built this database out of personal necessity.
As a documentary filmmaker, I have spent years maintaining spreadsheets, bookmarks, email threads, and half-remembered notes just to stay on top of funding opportunities. Even with experience, the process is fragmented and inefficient.
The goal of this tool is simple: reduce the friction between you and the funding opportunities that are actually relevant to your project.
Instead of searching dozens of sites individually, you can now search one database and quickly narrow results based on your project’s needs.
How the Documentary Funding Database Works
The database is intentionally straightforward. It is designed to be fast, scannable, and flexible, whether you are actively applying or planning ahead.
Smart Filtering System
You can combine multiple filters to narrow opportunities with precision:
Available filters include:
Keyword search – search by grant name, organization, or description
Geographic focus – U.S. only, Canada, international, or regional
Fiscal sponsor requirements – required, accepted, or not required
Subject matter – human rights, environment, health, arts and culture, and more
Production stage – development, production, post-production, distribution
Grant status – open or closed
Funding amount range – set minimum and maximum values
Deadline range – focus on opportunities with upcoming deadlines
All filters work together. For example:
Show me open grants for environmental documentaries, in production, U.S. only, offering $10,000–$50,000, with deadlines in the next three months.
The database returns only the opportunities that match those criteria.
Clean, Scannable Results
Search results are displayed as cards in a grid layout so you can scan quickly:
Each card includes:
Grant name and organization
Current status (open or closed)
Deadline
Funding amount or range
Geographic focus
Fiscal sponsor requirements
Subject tags
Eligible production stages
This allows you to evaluate fit before clicking deeper.
Detailed Information When You Need It
Clicking a card expands the full opportunity details:
The expanded view includes:
Full eligibility requirements
Detailed description of what the grant supports
Application or website links
All relevant criteria in one readable layout
No additional tabs. No hunting through PDFs unless you want to. As you apply filters, the database updates the number of matching opportunities in real time:
This makes it easy to tell whether your search is too narrow or still manageable.
Example Use Cases
Here are a few common scenarios where the database is especially useful.
Scenario 1: Early-Stage Filmmaker
You are developing a documentary focused on immigration and human rights. You do not yet have a fiscal sponsor and need development funding.
Suggested filters:
Production Stage: Development
Subject: Human Rights
Fiscal Sponsor: Not Required
Grant Status: Open
The database immediately shows development-stage opportunities that match those constraints.
Scenario 2: Deadline-Driven Search
It is early February and you want to see what is due in the next two months.
Suggested filters:
Deadline From: February 1
Deadline To: March 31
Grant Status: Open
This view helps you prioritize applications based on time, not just relevance.
Scenario 3: Research and Long-Term Planning
You are planning a future environmental documentary and want to understand what funding sources have historically supported similar work.
Suggested filters:
Subject: Environment
Grant Status: Closed or All
Browsing closed opportunities is useful for identifying funders to track for the next cycle and for planning your production timeline more strategically.
Built for Working Filmmakers
Every feature in this tool reflects a real workflow problem:
One searchable database instead of multiple spreadsheets
Deadline filtering to reduce missed opportunities
Clear eligibility information before you invest application time
A research mode that supports long-term planning, not just urgent deadlines
This is not a theoretical resource. It is a tool I actively use.
What’s Included
The database currently includes opportunities from:
Major foundations (Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and others)
Broadcasters and commissioning bodies (PBS, CBC, Netflix Documentary Fund)
Regional film funds and arts councils
Subject-specific and community-focused grants
International funding programs
The database is updated regularly as new opportunities are announced and deadlines change.
Access the Tool
The Documentary Funding Database is live and free to use.
You can access it here:
Tips for Getting the Most Value
Start broad, then narrow your filters
Check the database regularly, especially during peak funding seasons
Use deadline filters based on realistic application timelines
Browse closed grants to plan ahead
Always read full eligibility details before applying
What’s Coming Next
Planned improvements include:
Email alerts for new opportunities that match your criteria
Saved searches and favorites
Expanded categorization and tagging
Optional application tracking features
Feedback from filmmakers will shape what comes next.
Final Thoughts
Documentary funding will never be easy, but it should not require constant guesswork.
This database is meant to give you back time and focus, so you can spend less energy searching and more energy making work that matters.
If you have questions, suggestions, or funding opportunities to add, feel free to reach out.
Ready to find your next funding opportunity?