Reference Guide for Media and Communications

The Foundation Center has identified a range of materials useful to individuals in the media and communications field who are seeking funding. Feel free to refer to them, read introductions, scan indexes, and think of all the subjects and terms by which you can identify your project. A knowledge of support available from appropriate organizations will also be to your benefit. You need to be both creative and flexible in your approach to seeking funding.

Because most private foundations make grants only to incorporated nonprofit organizations, individual grantseekers must follow a different funding path than organizations with tax-exempt status. If you are unfamiliar with the process of grantseeking, you may want to start with the Individual Grantseekers area of the Foundation Center's web site. Information on proposal writing for individual grantseekers can be found in our FAQ "Where can I find information on proposal writing for individual grantseekers?"

Recommended Books

Annual Register of Grant Support: A Directory of Funding Sources. New York, NY: R.R. Bowker, annual. Describes over 3,500 grant programs in all subjects. Covers government, public, and private foundation, corporate, association, and other special-interest support programs.

Foundation Grants to Individuals. New York, NY: The Foundation Center, annual. Profiles more than 6,000 foundation programs that make grants to individuals for education, arts and culture, general welfare, and more.

The Journalist's Road to Success: A Career and Scholarship Guide. PRINCETON, NJ: Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. A collection of articles that helps aspiring journalists select colleges, find internships, refine resumes, and apply for jobs. Section on grants specifically designed for minority students. Also available at http://djnewspaperfund.dowjones.com/fund/pubcareerguide.asp .

Schlachter, Gail Ann and R. David Weber. How to Pay for Your Degree In Journalism & Related Fields. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, biennial.

Warshawski, Morrie. Shaking the Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video Projects. 2nd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2003 A step-by-step guide that covers planning a project, doing research, writing a proposal, soliciting donations from individuals, and more. The appendices include a bibliography of publications and resources, a listing of media arts centers, sample proposals, a sample direct mail letter, and how to host a special event.

Web Resources

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online (http://gtionline.fdncenter.org)
The Foundation Center's online database of more than 6,000 grantmakers that provide support to individuals. Now available at a low monthly subscription rate.

Independent Television Service (http://www.itvs.org/producers/funding.html)
Funds proposals by independent producers and provides production, promotion, marketing and distribution support.

International Documentary Association (http://www.documentary.org/resources/index.php) Resources area of web site includes numerous listings of funding agencies, foundations, and government offices.

Michigan State University Library - Communications (http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3communi.htm)
A comprehensive listing of funding opportunities including Web sites, databases, books, and announcments.

Morrie Warshawski (http://www.warshawski.com)
Provides an extensive bibliography on fundraising for independent film and video projects.

National Endowment for the Humanities (http://www.neh.gov/)
Supports learning in all areas of the humanities and funds research and education.