California Documentary Project
Research and Development Grant
Deadline: October 1, 2008
Production Guidelines
Please include the following information in your proposal in this order using our headings:
Proposal narrative
1. Program description. Please answer each of the following questions (suggested length, 3 pages):
- What is the story your project will tell? What topics, issues and themes will your project address? Please remember that only proposals with an explicit California focus will be considered for funding.
- What is the style of the documentary and how will you develop it?
- How will the humanities inform your project? Explain what roles the three (or more) humanities experts will play and how they will be involved in the design and implementation of the project.
- What is the current status of the project?
2. Project personnel (suggested length, one paragraph each).
- Tell us who will be managing the project. (Please note: A resume for the project director should be uploaded directly to our website as part of your application.)
- Please provide short bios for key project personnel (project director, humanities experts, technical staff, etc.). Bios should include full contact information (phone number, e-mail, and mail address) and background information about each person’s technical or substantive expertise. Be sure to briefly explain each person’s role in the project. At a minimum, CCH requires information about the project director and the three humanities experts.
3. Target audience (suggested length, one paragraph).
- What audiences will be interested in your documentary? Please describe the target audience(s) for your project, including any underserved audiences.
4. Goals (suggested length, a paragraph)
- Tell us what you hope this project will accomplish.
5. Sponsoring organization (suggested length, a paragraph).
- Please provide a brief description of the sponsoring organization.
- Describe the sponsoring organization’s role in the project.
6. Plan of work (suggested length, 1-2 pages).
Provide a month-by-month outline of your project’s activities from the beginning of the grant period, January 1, 2009. Please provide details of major project activities, including meetings with humanities experts. Be sure to list the names of those involved or responsible for particular activities. Keep in mind that project activities for which you seek CCH funding cannot occur prior to funding notification AND that the maximum term of this grant is two years (project must conclude by December 31, 2010).
7. Required sample work and explanation of selection (suggested length, half a page).
The following sample material is required:
- One copy of previously completed work on DVD or CD. The sample should be produced, edited, directed or written by the project director. It should reflect the work of the project director and/or key project staff.
Please explain the choice of prior work and briefly outline what role(s) current project staff played in its creation. Note: Work samples are weighed heavily in the review, so be sure to submit your best work and to test your DVD or CD before mailing it. Sorry, materials cannot be returned.
Sample work should be mailed directly to CCH’s San Francisco office and must arrive before 5 pm on October 1, 2008 to be considered for review. All work samples should be labeled clearly with the project title, the name of the sponsoring organization, and the name and contact information of the project director. Please do not use label stickers on DVDs or CDs.
8. Fundraising strategy (suggested length, half a page).
- Describe the strategy for raising any additional funds necessary to complete the project.
- Provide information on additional sources of project expenses. List other sources of funding currently under consideration.
9. Full Project Budget and Budget Narrative
Each project may request up to $10,000 in outright funds. The grant request must be matched by at least an equivalent amount of cash or in-kind contributions from local sources, and these contributions must be included in your full budget. (Funds from NEH, state humanities councils or other federally assisted programs may not be used for the matching funds. See our FAQ for in-kind details.)
- The itemized project budget in Excel (to be uploaded separately).Please use the project budget template provided on our website (click on the budget button to your left to download). The budget should reflect all costs associated with the project, including CCH grant funds and related matching funds. Provide itemized breakdowns of all costs: For example, under equipment, be specific about the type of production equipment used (camera, sound, editing) and its respective cost. Indirect administrative fees can account for up to 10% of your request. For other eligible costs covered by the grant, see the FAQ.
- Budget Narrative. (suggested length, half a page) Explain any added budget line items and clarify any budget items that need a narrative explanation. For example, if “travel” is described as “staff travel to L.A.,” explain here why this is necessary for the project. The narrative should also identify other sources of funding. Be sure to provide the names of other foundation and corporate support to the proposed project and include the amount of each grant. Give an estimate of individual support (names not necessary). Please enter the budget narrative at the end of the budget form.