Catapult Film Fund
Catapult Film Fund is a public charity based in San Francisco, California. It provides early-stage funding and mentorship to nonfiction filmmakers developing distinctive, story-driven documentary films.
Catapult Film Fund at a glance
In short: Catapult Film Fund gave $518K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), top state California. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $517,500
- -39.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -29.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,441
- -14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $638,059
- +110.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Catapult Film Fund
- How to Apply
-
The 2026 Development Grant and Research Grant application windows are closed. The Development Grant process used two steps: applicants first submitted an application, with selected projects invited to submit a full application. Catapult’s general application procedure calls for a Submittable account, review through several rounds of independent review, and possible follow-up questions for finalists; notifications typically take four to five months. Development applicants must be at least 18, not enrolled in an academic institution, have prior principal-role film or television production experience, and retain copyright and artistic, budgetary, and editorial control. Projects must be documentary features or shorts of at least 28 minutes in development or early production, and funds must be used to create a fundraising piece. Catapult does not fund docuseries, fiction films, branded content, student projects, works-for-hire, or projects in production, post-production, or completed. It does not make grants to individuals: selected applicants must receive funds through a qualifying 501(c)(3) organization. The filing states that grantees must use U.S.-based fiscal sponsors in good standing and submit narrative and financial reports.
- Review Cycle
- The Development Grant’s Step 1 application closed April 20, 2026; this is a past deadline.
- Deadline
- The Development Grant’s Step 1 application closed April 20, 2026; this is a past deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: 39 Mesa Street 105, San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone: (510) 841-4023
Website: https://catapultfilmfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Catapult Film Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Women Make Movies ($93K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $440K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 95 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Development Grant website describes support for filmmakers internationally. The Research Grant is for U.S.-based filmmakers. For the past Project Accelerator opportunity, Catapult stated a preference for stories from under-represented communities and described U.S.-based projects as case-by-case.
In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in California (36%) and New York (32%), followed by Massachusetts (12%), Utah (10%), and Connecticut (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Catapult Film Fund open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $518K (2025) to $851K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $518K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Film Independent Los Angeles, CA | Development Grants | $75,000 |
| Women Make Movies New York, NY | Momentum, Accelerator, Cons. Grant | $67,500 |
| Utah Film Center Salt Lake City, UT | Development Grants | $50,000 |
| Camera News Inc New York, NY | Development & Research Grants | $35,000 |
| Walking Iris Media San Francisco, CA | Development Grant | $35,000 |
| The Filmmaker Fund Westport, CT | Accelerator & Consulting Grants | $27,500 |
| Cinema Tropical New York, NY | Development Grant | $25,000 |
| International Documentary Ass Los Angeles, CA | Development Grant | $25,000 |
| Realize Impact Bainbridge Isla, WA | Development Grant | $25,000 |
| Redford Center San Francisco, CA | Development Grant | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Catapult Film Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $638,059 | $1,529,142 | $1,305,852 | $517,500 | 17 | $10,916 |
| 2024 | $302,752 | $1,513,452 | $1,513,934 | $850,500 | 24 | $9,658 |
| 2023 | $143,011 | $1,388,653 | $1,421,352 | $674,500 | 18 | $6,694 |
| 2022 | $159,125 | $894,759 | $1,192,801 | $545,000 | 16 | $-9,366 |
| 2021 | $445,496 | $1,284,935 | $1,045,655 | $643,462 | 20 | $-2,982 |
| 2020 | $207,935 | $955,055 | $906,618 | $557,000 | 15 | $-1,332 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Catapult’s stated mission is to help story-driven, cinematic documentary films get off the ground. It says it is not tied to a specific social-issue agenda and supports a broad range of stories and approaches.
The Development Grant supports documentary features and shorts in development or early production, with funding used to create a fundraising piece. The Research Grant supports U.S.-based filmmakers in the early conception phase of a documentary feature or short. A 2025–2026 Project Accelerator opportunity, now past, offered development grants and advising for projects examining technology’s effects on people and communities.
Among the organizations receiving grants in 2025, Film Independent says it champions creative independence and inclusion in visual storytelling; Women Make Movies says it facilitates the production, promotion, distribution, and exhibition of independent films by and about women; and Utah Film Center says it uses film exhibition, education, and artist support to engage diverse audiences. Other 2025 recipients include Camera News Inc., which describes its work as fostering independent film and video by and about people of color and social justice issues, and the Redford Center, which says its mission is to advance environmental solutions through stories.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Catapult reported 17 grants totaling $517,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $75,000, with a median of $25,000. The listed grants include $75,000 to Film Independent for Development Grants; $67,500 to Women Make Movies for Momentum, Accelerator, and Consulting Grants; and $50,000 to Utah Film Center for Development Grants. Other listed awards included $35,000 each to Camera News Inc. and Walking Iris Media, and $25,000 each to Cinema Tropical, the International Documentary Association, Realize Impact, the Redford Center, and the Center for Independent Documentary. The filing lists two separate $25,000 grants to the Center for Independent Documentary.
For individual filmmaker programs, Catapult’s Development Grant offered up to $25,000, while its Research Grant offered $10,000. The filing describes additional Momentum and Consulting Grants for existing recipients, and the website describes the Rough Cut Retreat as a mentorship program run with the True/False Film Festival.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Megan Gelstein as Director/Program Officer, Theresa Navarro as Director/COO, Lisa Kleiner Chanoff as Chairman, and Bonni Cohen as Secretary. It also lists Caroline von Kuhn, Tabitha Jackson, and Jenny Raskin as directors. Catapult’s website identifies Gelstein as Co-Director and Chief Program Officer and Navarro as Co-Director and Chief Operations Officer.
Catapult Film Fund is led by Lisa Kleiner Chanoff, Chairman on the 2025 filing; 2 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Kleiner Chanoff
Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Megan Gelstein
Director & Program Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$116K (2022) → $125K (2025)
Theresa Navarro
Director & COO
Director & Opps Officer → Director & COO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$121K (2023) → $104K (2025)
Caroline von Kuhn
Director
University Avenue & Berkeley → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tabitha Jackson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Raskin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonni Cohen
Secretary
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Lisa Kleiner-Chanoff (2022–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Dion Griffin (2022) — CFO
- Former: Bonni Cohen SecTreasurer (2020–2021) — University Avenue & Berkeley
- Former: Dion Griffin CFO (2020–2021) — University Avenue & Berkeley
- Former: Lisa Kliener Chanoff President (2020–2021) — University Avenue & Berkeley
- Former: Elisabeth Wagstaffe Asst Sec (2020) — University Avenue & Berkeley
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $125K, to Megan Gelstein (Dir/Prog Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Catapult Film Fund
How much does Catapult Film Fund give each year?
Catapult Film Fund gave $518K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $851K across 24 grants.
What is Catapult Film Fund's typical grant size?
Catapult Film Fund's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $30,441, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Catapult Film Fund that year got $25K on average.
Where does Catapult Film Fund give grants?
Catapult Film Fund's top state is California, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (32%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Newton, MA (2 grants).
Does Catapult Film Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Catapult Film Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Development Grant" (8 grants).
Who are Catapult Film Fund's largest grantees?
Catapult Film Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Women Make Movies ($92,500 across 2 grants), Film Independent ($75,000) and The Ctr for Indy Documentary ($50,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Catapult Film Fund?
Catapult Film Fund reported $638K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does Catapult Film Fund fund?
Catapult’s stated mission is to help story-driven, cinematic documentary films get off the ground. It says it is not tied to a specific social-issue agenda and supports a broad range of stories and approaches. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Catapult Film Fund?
The 2026 Development Grant and Research Grant application windows are closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Catapult Film Fund's EIN?
Catapult Film Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2942570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
Live grants for the work Catapult Film Fund funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Catapult Film Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Catapult Film Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/catapult-film-fund-morg_db6b45c0238a45ae8b9ad2683eeec281
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472942570_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Catapult Film Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/catapult-film-fund-morg_db6b45c0238a45ae8b9ad2683eeec281},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Catapult Film Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Catapult Film Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?