IDA Fiscal Sponsorship Program Application

IDA Fiscal Sponsorship Program Application
IMPORTANT: The last day to submit applications for review before our end-of-year holiday closure is Monday, December 8. Any applications submitted after December 8 will be reviewed in 2026.

Thank you for your interest in IDA's Fiscal Sponsorship Program!

Please read the following bullet points carefully:
- Our typical turnaround time for all applications is 4-6 weeks.
- You must be an active Doc Maker-level member of IDA to apply for fiscal sponsorship.
- Our $75 application fee is non-refundable, so please make sure you are filling out the correct form.
- If you are a Doc Pro-level IDA member, please contact us for a fee-waived application form.
- You can save your progress and return to your application at a later time by clicking "Save" at the bottom of the page, then "Skip create an account" and "Get draft link" in the popup window. Drafts are only saved for two months. If you plan on working on your submission longer than that, please save it in an external document.
- If you plan to use generative AI to realize any part of your project, describe how in the relevant section(s). For guidance, reference the AI Addendum and APA Guidelines.
- Please read through our full guidelines carefully here. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
IF YOU NEED AN EXPEDITED REVIEW, DO NOT FILL OUT THIS FORM.
Instead, please contact us at the email below and we will send you the link to our expedited application.

If you have any questions, please contact us at sponsorship@documentary.org or call us at +1 (213) 232-1660.
Documentary Core Application Proposal Checklist
Sample Project Budget

Are you applying for expedited review?

YesNo

STOP!

This form is for our regular application, which has a 4-6 week turnaround time.

Click here for the expedited application.

Logline: Please provide a 2-3 sentence summary of the project that captures the most important elements — setting, participants*, key issues, and form.*

0/150
*Participants is used throughout this document, but depending on the specifics of your project you may want to refer to your participants as characters/contributors/subjects/protagonists etc.
Topic Summary: Explain the topic, theme, context, stakes, relevance, or questions that you’re exploring in your project. *

0/750
Film Summary: Give an overview introducing the main participants and plot points in the film. If your project is non-narrative or not character-driven, what is your concept, and how is it constructed? Please be clear about the elements of your story that remain unknown or unclear and highlight the questions that may steer its direction.*

0/750
Artistic Approach: Describe your artistic vision for your project. What are the formal elements of the project, including any artistic devices, visual and audio elements? Does this project fit within or reference any specific filmmaking or narrative traditions?*

0/750
Filmmaker(s) Statement(s): Explain who you are as a filmmaker, and if applicable, how this project is expanding or evolving your creative practice. What does success look like for you as an artist? What are the creative, professional, or holistic barriers and challenges you are facing? - OPTIONAL

0/250
Connection and Point of View: What is your connection to the story (i.e., to the participants, themes, community, location, archives, etc.)? How do your interests, motivations, and/or worldview shape your approach to this story? What lens, perspective, insights, or bias do you bring to the story?*

0/250
Accountability and Community Care: Describe your ethical considerations and practices of accountability in your filmmaking process. This can include a description of your guiding values, processes of establishing and maintaining ongoing consent, providing transparency about your filmmaking processes, collecting feedback etc. For example: How do you reflect on and address the potential consequences of your storytelling choices on participants, audiences, your crew, and/or other stakeholders? What activities or strategies do you use to implement your values as they relate to care for yourself and others?*

0/250
For further guidance, reference DAWG’s Framework for Values Ethics and Accountability in Nonfiction Filmmaking.
Safety and Security: If relevant, please reflect on any known safety and security concerns throughout the lifecycle of your project — from development through distribution. How will you mitigate risks (digital, physical, legal, etc.) to your participants and crew?*

0/100
For further guidance, reference the Safe and Secure Handbook.
Accessibility: If applicable, how do you intend to make your film and/or production accessible to D/deaf, blind/low vision, disabled, and neurodiverse crew, participants, and audiences? Please ensure that these accessibility costs (captions, audio descriptions, transcripts) are reflected in the submitted budget. - OPTIONAL

0/100
For further guidance, reference the FWD-Doc Toolkit and the FWD-Doc Engagement Pack.
Audience Consideration: Describe the audiences you would like your film to reach and why. How do you plan to reach and engage them? *

0/100
Intended Impact: Describe your vision for the influence the film will have. If relevant, what are the impact goals and strategies for your project?*

0/100
For further guidance, reference The Impact Field Guide.
Key Creative Personnel: Provide brief biographies for each key creative team member. Include information about relevant expertise and the individual’s role in the project. Bullet-list names and titles of any confirmed advisors who are attached. (50 - 100 words per bio)*
Creative Control: In one or two sentences please describe who has creative control and legal ownership of the project.*

0/50
Current Stage of Production*
Project Stage and Timeline: In list form, outline the projected production timeline from the development of the project to the anticipated completion date. Please include major project activities, production schedules, and anticipated post-production and release dates. *

0/250
Total Project Budget*
in US Dollars (example - $300,000)
Fundraising Strategy: Describe the overall fundraising strategy and who from the team will lead these efforts for the film. Please provide as much detail as possible.*

0/250
Funding Detail: List all sources of funding and amounts. Include types of funding (i.e. government, foundations, pre-sales, private sources, other) and status (to apply, applied, confirmed, received).*
Ex. Chicken & Egg Films - Private Foundation - Applied - $20K
National Endowment for the Humanities - Government - To Apply - $300K
Sundance Institute - Private Foundation - Received - $40K
Private Donor - Confirmed - $5K


Proposal/ Core application

Please do not upload DECKS! Incomplete proposals will not be viewed.
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Comprehensive Line-Item Expense Budget: Please provide a budget, from development through release, in U.S. dollars, including a budget total. Please ensure that any accessibility, safety, and duty of care costs mentioned in your above responses are reflected in the submitted budget.*

Please submit in Excel or PDF format.
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For further guidance, reference A (Revised!) Introduction to Documentary Budgeting.
Director's Prior Work: We encourage applicants to include a link to a previous work (any length or genre) by the director. Emerging filmmakers with no previous directing experience may also apply without a previous directing sample or may provide a past work sample from another creative team member if attached (producer, cinematographer, editor, etc). Discuss the relevance of the work to the current project. If the current project is a departure from the previous work, how will this film differ? - OPTIONAL

0/100
Director's Prior Work Link - OPTIONAL
Director's Prior Work Password - OPTIONAL
If your sample work requires a password to view, provide it here. Please note that passwords are case sensitive.
Current Sample/Rough Cut: What should reviewers be looking for in your sample? Explain what is present and absent in the sample, and how it will differ as a finished film. Describe how it is representative of the intended story, style, subject, or other aspect of the project. We encourage applicants not to spend extra resources creating a sample for each individual fund. If your current sample is outside of the suggested length requirements, please provide reviewers with the time codes of the portion of the sample that best reflects your intended style and approach (e.g., 3:15-12:15). - OPTIONAL

0/100
Current Sample/ Rough Cut Link - OPTIONAL
Current Sample/ Rough Cut Password - OPTIONAL
If your sample work requires a password to view, provide it here. Please note that passwords are case sensitive.
Project Director's Resume*

The project director is the person responsible for communicating with IDA's fiscal sponsorship program. Please submit in PDF or Word format.
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Charitable Purposes and Statement of Public Benefit: Please describe the charitable purposes of your project and how it will benefit the public through its educational and/or artistic value.*

0/300
Was Generative AI used to assist in answering the applicaiton questions and/or creating the work samples? (For example, ChatGPT assisted answers to questions.)*

YesNo
OPTIONAL Current Work Sample Link- if you wish to share one, provide the URL to view a current sample work.
A sample work is NOT required.
Sample work password (optional)
If your sample work requires a password to view, provide it here. Vimeo passwords are case sensitive.
(Optional) Letter of support, supplemental materials, decks, etc.

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If accepted into IDA's fiscal sponsorship program, you will be asked to review and sign a grant agreement. The fiscal sponsorship grant agreement is a legal contract between IDA and the grantee. The grantee does not have to be the Project Director. A project can only have one grantee.

The grantee is legally responsible for the funds they receive through IDA's fiscal sponsorship program.
Are you an international (non-US) based filmmaker?*

NoYes
As an international filmmaker, are you planning to spend any expenses in the US? (e.g. hiring a US editor, travel expenses in the US, etc.)*

NoYes
Some of my expenses are going to be spent in the US. What paperwork do I need to fill out?

If you're planning on filming in the US and spending any funds to pay US individuals or companies (such as vendors, caterers, rental houses, or local crew), you will need to fill out the W-8 ECI form.

You will need a US tax ID number to fill out the W-8 ECI form. For instructions on obtaining a US tax ID number, please click here.
If accepted, who will be signing the fiscal sponsorship grant agreement?*

My company: LLC, Inc., Limited, etc.Myself (or another individual)
You've indicated that the company will be the grantee. The company is legally responsible for all funds they receive through IDA's fiscal sponsorship program. The company representative should be one of the followings:
- Legal owner/ proprietor of the company
- Director or Executive Producer
- Executive Director, President, CEO, etc.
- Deputy Director, Vice President, CFO, etc.
- Trustee, Board Members, etc.
Company Name*
Please don't forget to include LLC, Limited, Inc. etc. at the end of the company name.
Company representative name*

First NameLast Name
Company representative title*
Company representative email*
Company representative phone number*
Federal tax classification*
You've indicated that an individual will be the grantee. The individual is legally responsible for all funds they receive through IDA's fiscal sponsorship program.
Signatory's name*

First NameLast Name
Signatory's primary role in the project*
Signatory's email*
Signatory's email*
example@example.com
Signatory's phone number*
Federal tax classification*

Statements of Agreement

Read and select "I agree" below
i. The enclosed application (“Application”) and all of the information submitted in connection therewith to the International Documentary Association (IDA) is accurate.*

I agree
ii. IDA is not responsible for loss or damage to the Materials, or for any misuse by any third party unless done under IDA's express direction or authorization.*

I agree
iii. I own or control all of the Materials and all right title and interest including copyright of the film or project described in the Application (the “Project”).*

I agree
iv. The Project and the Material are wholly original with me and do not infringe upon, violate the rights or constitute a libel, slander, or an unfair competition against, or infringe upon or violate the copyright, common law rights, or literary, dramatic, photoplay rights or privacy or publicity, or any other rights of the person, firm, corporation or other entity.*

I agree
v. I have read and understand the guidelines and eligibility requirements at www.documentary.org/sponsorship/apply and to the best of my knowledge am eligible to apply to IDA's Fiscal Sponsorship Program with the Project described in the Application.*

I agree
Click "submit form" to proceed to payment options and complete your application.
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Fiscal Sponsorship Application Fee
$75.00
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IDA Fiscal Sponsorship Program Application

Statements of Agreement

Click "submit form" to proceed to payment options and complete your application.