This is a list of foundations that provide funding to individual artists. Please
contact them directly for more specific information about their programs.

The Roy W. Dean Grants

Offers grants annually to films that are unique and benefit society. Three grants (Spring, Summer, Fall) offer services, discounts, a cash award, and other benefits to film and video makers.
The foundation also sells the book, The Art of Film Funding.

Artist Trust

Grants, fellowships, and other opportunities for Washington State artists in all disciplines.

Creative Capital

Offers grants to individuals in the Performing & Visual Arts, Film/Video, Literature, and Emerging Fields. Creative Capital provides each funded project with up to $50,000 in direct funding and career development services valued at $40,000, for a total commitment of up to $90,000 per project.

Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc.

Grants to poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, visual artists, and for a mixed-genre category (illustration and text) to feminist women in the arts; amount ranges from $500 to $1,500. Two application deadlines each year: December 31 (Visual Art, Mixed Genre, and Fiction) and June 30 (Nonfiction and Poetry). Application materials are online in PDF form or by mail (send them a SASE.) Application fee is $25.

The Puffin Foundation

Grants up to $2,500; average grant is approximately $1,250. Applications will be available September 1, 2013, for the 2014 grant cycle for artists in music, photography, theater, and public interest.  Application deadline is December 27, 2013.

Kentucky Foundation for Women, Inc.

Giving to feminist visual artists in Kentucky working in painting, sculpture, puppetry, crafts, photography exhibits, multi-media, with the goal of bringing about social change through the arts. Each year the KFW awards $200,000 through two grant programs. Other opportunities include retreats, residencies, workshops, and an informative e-newsletter, the “KFW Hot Flash”.

Independent Television Service (ITVS)

ITVS seeks proposals for public TV programs that take creative risks, serve underrepresented audiences and express points of view seldom seen on commercial or public TV. Applicants must be independent producers with previous film or TV production experience in a principal role. Students are not eligible.

Open Call provides finishing funds for single non-fiction public television programs on any subject, from any viewpoint. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress video.

International Initiative provides production funds for single documentaries that bring international perspectives, ideas, stories and people to television and other media platforms. Please read our new submissions guidelines carefully. We no longer have a submission deadline but consider projects on a rolling basis. You may submit a project inquiry at any time.

The Diversity Development Fund provides up to $15,000 in research and development funding to producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Producers must be U.S. citizens or legal residents.

LOCAL INDEPENDENTS COLLABORATING WITH STATIONS (LINCS) provides matching funds (up to $100,000) to partnerships between public television stations and independent producers. LINCS funds single non-fiction public television programs and demonstration projects that include both broadcast and transmedia elements on any subject and from any viewpoint. LINCS proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis. Producers must be U.S. citizens or legal residents.

Series and Special Projects — ITVS accept proposals on an ongoing basis for commissioned documentary projects that fall outside of the parameters of the standing initiatives (DDF, LINCS, OPEN CALL).

Lambda Literary Foundation

Awards in a variety of categories for published work and for three categories of writers.

San Francisco Film Society

Grants to encourage new and diverse works by film and video artists who have little likelihood of being supported through traditional funding sources. Has recently taken stewardship of all former Film Arts Foundation programs.

The Leeway Foundation

Grants to support women and transgender artists in the Delaware Valley Region who create art for social change. Art and Change Grant provides up to $2,500 for project-based work and the Leeway Transformation Award gives $15,000 in unrestricted funds to artists who demonstrate a long-term commitment to social change work by having done work in this area for the past five years or more,.

NOTE:  Many state arts agencies also fund individual artists.