Data Mining, NCME
These sources of data about communities and issues can help you assess a need and target a particular audience, strengthening your arguments for support.
Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media Database, GFEM
The GFEM database is designed to help grantmakers find projects to support. Note that funders can search by specific topics, geography and audiences. Funders want a return on their investment, and the more targeted and clear you are about your project’s beneficiaries and design, the more likely you are to match with a funder.
Assessing Creative Media’s Impact, Fledgling Fund
This report, published in December 2008, was created to help funders make better decisions about which projects to support. Review the Key Lessons section for a rundown of what some funders consider to be the basic ingredients of an impactful project.
Assessing Impact, A Funder’s Perspective, Working Films and the Fledgling Fund
In this video produced by Working Films, Fledgling Fund executives discuss why impact matters to them, how they want to achieve it through creative media, and how they measure it.
The PreNups: What Filmmakers and Funders Should Talk About Before Tying the Knot , Active Voice
Active Voice explores successful strategic partnerships between filmmakers and funders. While not detailed about engagement strategies, the information about types of funders and the styles of collaboration may be helpful in imagining your media engagement project.
NEH's America's Media Makers Grants
Government agencies care about media engagement. Review the grant description and guidelines for the National Endowment for the Humanities’ America’s Media Makers grants. Also note that NEH has featured WETA’s proposal narrative for the Latino Americans as a sample. In section E of the proposal, Format, you will see a high-level rundown of the project’s multiplatform activities and purposes.
APTS Grant Site
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) has launched a site to help public radio and television stations locate foundation, federal and other grants. If you will be presenting your program through a station, ask them to search the site for potential engagement funding.
39 Steps
“39 Steps” is a useful guide for approaching funders who may be interested in supporting your engagement work. This PDF is provided courtesy of United States Artists and its authors: Katharine DeShaw, James Toscano, and Becky Glass of United States Artists.
Identifying Partners, NCME
This NCME document provides a clear map of partnership sources and types that is relevant to both local and national engagement planning.
Characteristics of Successful Partnerships, NCME
NCME provides a concise overview of healthy partnerships – keep this handy as you look for alliances.
Prenuptial Agreement for Partners, NCME
A whimsical and astute analysis of partnerships.
Sample Letter to Potential Partner
Here’s a sample letter to help you communicate with potential engagement partners.
