Ford Foundation JustFilms grants application now open

Beginning in 2011, we are investing $10 million a year over five years in documentary projects that address urgent social issues and help us understand our past, explore our present and build our future. Our goal is to expand the community of emerging and established filmmakers who often lack funding, and help them to realize their visions and reach audiences.

What We Fund

JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure and sustainable world. Initiative funds will be distributed through three distinct paths:

• Partnerships with major organizations such as the Sundance Institute, the Independent Television Service and the Tribeca Film Institute
• Collaboration with other Ford Foundation grant-making programs where the introduction of documentary film could help draw attention to an issue or advance a movement, and
• An ongoing open-application process that will help JustFilms stay attuned to fresh ideas and stories wherever they may emerge.

Approximately one-third of JustFilms support is dedicated to finding projects through our open-application process. If you would like to seek a grant for your documentary, we ask that you take the time to review a few questions that set the basic criteria for the work we are likely to support and will help you determine whether your project will be considered for funding.

Eligibility Questions

1. Does the subject of your project align with our mission? Does it have a social justice focus or theme?
2. Does your project fit into any of the following categories: Health, sports, early childhood, advocacy, educational, scientific, industrial? Or, is it a student film, feature film, or fictional television show? If so, it is not eligible for funding. In addition, we do not fund university academic programs.
3. International subjects: Does the Ford Foundation have an office in the region where your film occurs? If yes, you will need to contact that regional office first to gain support for consideration before applying for a JustFilms grant. If we do not have an office in the region where your project takes place, it is not eligible for funding.
   
   Exception: If you are a filmmaker from outside the Arab region who is interested in producing documentary work about the region, you may submit your application by following the instructions below. You do not need to contact our Middle East and North Africa office before doing so.
4. Finally, do you have a trailer, selects or a rough cut we can review? If no, then we recommend you apply when your project is more evolved.

What We Do Not Fund

JustFilms only makes grants to films that relate to our social justice focus. Again, we do not fund films related to the following:

• Projects in pre-production
• Health issues
• Sports issues
• Early childhood issues
• Projects for educational purposes
• Industrial
• Scientific
• Student projects
• Advocacy projects
• Fictional television shows
• International projects that do not focus on a region where Ford works

After reviewing the four eligibility questions and reading about what we do not fund, if you still believe your project is eligible for support, you may apply for a grant through the online application process that begins below.
At the end of the application process, you will be given the option to attach a document to the form.
For documentary film and media support, we request a letter be attached with a brief description of your project and creative approach, the primary purpose of the project, the current stage of the project, and whether any other funds have been raised for the film. This letter should also include your brief responses to the Eligibility Questions previously listed.

To Apply for a Grant

Follow these steps:

• Review the Initiative(s) most relevant to your work.
• Read our JustFilms Grant Application Guide, which describes our grant-making process.
• If you determine that your work aligns with our priorities, submit a Grant Inquiry. (While we welcome submissions, please keep in mind that our funds are limited in relation to the large number of worthwhile inquiries we receive. In a typical year, less than 1 percent of unsolicited inquiries result in a grant.)

Please Note:

It is important that you use our grant inquiry form—and refrain from contacting program officers directly. Given the volume of inquiries we receive, this allows us to log, track and respond quickly to your application.

Fellowships

The vast majority of foundation grants go to organizations. We provide a very limited number of fellowship opportunities for individuals through the Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships Program, which aims to diversify the faculties of American colleges and universities.
The foundation does not have any other active fellowship opportunities at this time.

USAID Grants for Vulnerable Communities in Uganda

Deadline: 2 December 2014

 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications to fund one or more organizations from Uganda through a five year cooperative agreement. The program will enable more than 600,000 Ugandan children, youth and their caregivers to access core services for improving health, nutrition, food security, education, and psychosocial well-being and prevent, and respond to child abuse, exploitation and neglect.

The goal of this five-year investment is to improve wellbeing of children and youth orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV. The program will be focusing more in central and western part of Uganda. Districts targeted in these two regions include: Hoima, Kasese, Kibaale, Kyenjojo, Wakiso, Mityana, Kampala, Luweero, Kamwenge, Bushenyi, Kanungu, Kabale, Ntugamo, Kiruhura, Rukungiri, Isingiro, Mukono.

The funds available for the program are approximately $38,500,000 to be allocated over the five year period. The anticipated start date of the program is 5 February 2015.

Program objectives

1. Orphaned and vulnerable children, youth and their caregivers are better economically empowered to access core services.
2. Local governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) increase and improve core services for orphaned and vulnerable children, youth, and their caregiver.
3. Improved coordination of community-based and socio-economic services.

Eligibility criteria

• Any U.S. or non-U.S. organizations, non-profit, or for-profit entity is eligible to apply.
• Applications from potential new partners are encouraged.
• Minimum cost share of 5% is a requirement.

How to apply?

Applications shall be submitted via email. Certifications are not to be submitted with the application. Technical and Cost Applications must be submitted in separate files. USAID will consider only applications conforming to the prescribed format in Times New Roman 11pt, compatible MS Word and PDF versions and budgets as text accessible, Excel spreadsheets.

For more information visit grants.gov and search for funding opportunity number RFA-617-14-000014.

10YFP Trust Fund of USD 500,000 for Developing Countries on Sustainable Public Procurement

Deadline: 14 December 2014

The Secretariat of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP) trust fund has announced a first call for proposals in the domain of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) for Governments and non-profit organizations in developing countries. The theme of the programme is Implementation of Sustainable Public Procurement with funds allocation of USD 500,000. Selected projects will contribute to the sustainable development challenges and strengthen the capacities of developing countries.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be from government institutions/agencies and stakeholders from developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
  1. For Non-Profit organizations forms must submit directly to the Secretariat, with a mandatory copy to the National Focal Point of their country.
  2. For Executing Agencies like UN Agencies and other IGOs, not-for-profit organisations, or governmental institutions/agencies could receive and administrate funds for the project implementation.
• Several applicants can be considered in the case of a multi-country project.
• The budget form, the information form and letters of support ,if any, are to be accommodated with submission form.

The 10YFP, adopted at Rio+20 in June 2012, is a global framework of actions that supports sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in both developed and developing countries, provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries thereby enhancing international cooperation.

For more information, please visit Call for Application

USAID Funds for Vulnerable Population in Rwanda

Deadline: 26 November 2014

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications from qualified and eligible organizations for a five-year activity to improve and sustain the health and social well being of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Rwanda.

Program Objectives

1. Increased capacities of families and communities to provide better care for vulnerable individuals.
2. Improved household and community care and support practices for vulnerable populations, especially children.
3. Increased access to education and social services for vulnerable populations.

The funds available are approximately $37 million to be allocated over the 5-year period. The estimated start date for funds allocation is on 24 February 2015. Applicants are required to submit both technical and cost application separately. The best application evaluated will be chosen for award.

The following development challenges impact this program

1. Malnutrition
2. HIV and AIDS
3. Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health
4. Orphans and Vulnerable Children
5. Education
6. Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must be U.S. or non-U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), private voluntary organizations (PVOs), for-profit companies willing to forego profit, and Public International Organizations (PIOs).
• Faith-based and community organizations that fit the criteria above are also eligible to apply.
• Potential new partners are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants having previous experience with USAID are ineligible to apply.
• Applicant should match the cost sharing of at least 15% of the total estimated amount of the USAID support which must be used for the accomplishment of program objectives.
• Applicants must submit only one (1) application.

For more information visit grants.gov and search for funding opportunity number RFA-696-14-000002.