Media Grant Guidelines

Overview

MacArthur's goal in media grantmaking is to provide the public with high-quality, professionally-produced documentary films, deep and analytical journalism, and well-produced news and public affairs programming. In a media environment characterized by proliferating information sources of varying degrees of reliability, the Foundation seeks to support serious, fact-based journalism for television, radio and the web, the type of original reporting that is likely to be blogged about, linked to, tweeted, and otherwise circulated throughout the Internet. Programs supported by the Foundation inform and educate their viewers about important and under-reported topics, provide balance and accurate information, encourage global conversations, and use technology to tell stories in engaging and interactive ways.

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Key staff officers for this program are Media, Culture, and Special Initiatives Vice President Elspeth Revere and Media, Culture, and Special Initiatives Director Kathy Im. Inquiries about grantmaking should be sent to macarthurmedia@macfound.org.

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What MacArthur Funds

Documentary Films

MacArthur supports the production of social-issue documentary films on important contemporary topics, intended for a broad audience, particularly in the U.S.  Over the last 30 years, we have supported over 200 films by some of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers in the country.  Their documentary work combines exceptional storytelling with in-depth journalism. Many of these films have had a long life beyond festivals and broadcast, and been used in educational, community, and policymaking settings over many years, sparking conversations and activities that contribute to social and policy change. 

The program seeks to fund documentary projects that address the significant social challenges of our time or explore important but under-reported topics.  Domestic and international topics are welcome, and preference will be given to projects that align with one of MacArthur’s grantmaking areas. Support will be provided primarily for production and post-production activities, and to experienced filmmakers based in the U.S. with track records of completing excellent feature-length films that have been broadcast nationally and internationally and received critical recognition.

This is a highly selective process.  We see many more qualified projects than we are able to fund, and must make difficult choices. In each round, the Foundation is able to support just 8-12 projects, from the 300-400 proposals submitted. View full proposal criteria.

Public Media and Nonprofit Programs

Public media and nonprofit programs that identify, co-produce, broadcast, and/or disseminate high-quality documentary films on important social issues like P.O.V., Wide Angle, Sundance Documentary Fund, and the International Media Development Fund of ITVS

Projects that use technology

Projects that use technology to aid the production and/or distribution of the types of nonfiction content supported by the MacArthur Foundation like Bay Area Video Coalition's Producers Institute for New Media Technologies and Public Radio Exchange

National and international nonprofit news organizations

National and international nonprofit news organizations that report, produce, and distribute news content for public television, radio and the web, such as National Public Radio, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, Center for Investigative Reporting, and LinkTV.

An organization wishing to approach the Foundation may submit a letter of inquiry to the Foundation describing the proposed project. The format for these letters can be found in Info for Grantseekers. (This set of instructions does not apply to individuals and organizations applying for a documentary film grant; please follow the guidelines above.) Based on this information, the Foundation may invite proposals from prospective projects and organizations.