The Art of Funding Your Film by Carole Lee Dean

I read this book to check my intuition about how a grant proposal to fund a documentary film would be constructed since I have never written such a proposal and I have a prospective client who wants me to try. Mostly this type of proposal follows the same pattern as every other grant request according to Carole Lee Dean who is a grantmaker for documentary films. Her book is full of really good tips that could be applied, almost without any revisions, to any new, small, or transitioning nonprofit organization - the niche I target to serve as a consultant who helps with strategic planning, grantsmanship, development, and fund-raising. The most important idea that I will take away from Dean's book is the word "urgency." Not only does she encourage filmmakers who are seeking funding to demonstrate their passion and creativity as they approach prospective funders, she pushes for them to identify what makes their project urgently important. The question of "Why now?" will forever be added to my arsenal of must-identifies that will become a prerequisite before I write grants for a new client. In addition to just plain good fundraising advice, Dean presents really helpful information about how to approach corporations as well as links to specific resources online including film funders who have a proven track record. She also makes great points about the legal issues that result when an organization recruits investors which can be avoided by recruiting donors. Besides sharing her own generous tips, the book includes detailed interviews that add other perspectives. This should be a much more widely known and consulted resource for any nonprofit organization. I highly recommend it.

Dean, Carole Lee. The Art of Funding Your Film: Alternative Financing Concepts. c. 2003. Dean Publishing. Oxnard CA.