International Documentary Foundation Inc
The International Documentary Association (IDA) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization established in 1982 that supports nonfiction filmmaking and filmmakers. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and serves the documentary community through multiple program areas including resources, funding, advocacy, and public programs and events.
Key facts about International Documentary Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 95-3911227
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,173,160
- Grants made (2024)
- 106
- Average grant
- $67,671
- Median grant
- $31,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (61 of 105, 2024)
- Total assets
- $9,630,830
- Primary geography
- California (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who International Documentary Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for International Documentary Foundation Inc's 106 itemized 2024 grants were California (45%), New York (26%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (18 grants), Brooklyn, NY (10 grants), New York, NY (7 grants) and San Francisco, CA (5 grants). None of its 106 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fiscal Sponsorship" (96 grants) and "Enterprise Fund" (8 grants).
Is International Documentary Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 61 of 105 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $59K; repeat grants $81K. How we count
Medians: $29K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.6M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.2M
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
106
-7.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$68K
+0.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
IDA supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. The organization empowers documentary creators worldwide through resources, funding opportunities, and events while protecting their rights and advocating for the form.
The organization's primary activities include:
- Funding: Distributing grants to documentary filmmakers and community-based documentary organizations through multiple grant funds
- Fiscal Sponsorship: Providing fiscal sponsorship for approved documentary films and related projects
- Artist Services & Education: Serving the documentary community through educational and training programs
- Advocacy: Protecting documentary creators' rights and advocating for the form
- Community Building: Fostering community through digital platforms and publications, including a quarterly magazine called Documentary
Grantmaking
IDA distributes grants to documentary filmmakers annually through several grant-making funds:
Ready to take the next step with International Documentary Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization operates nationally and internationally, empowering documentary creators worldwide. The organization has a primary presence in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 106 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,778,720
- Total Revenue: $14,226,333
- Total Expenses: $14,885,483
- Total Giving: $9,670,510
- Number of Employees: 32
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,630,830 | $9,778,720 | $8,198,815 |
| Revenue | $12,821,550 | $14,226,333 | $12,252,709 |
| Expenses | $12,858,359 | $14,885,483 | $12,676,121 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $23,756 | $34,010 | $63,767 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
568 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from International Documentary Foundation Inc
IDA Emergency Assistance Grants
International Documentary Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund
International Documentary Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
IDA Field-Building Fund
International Documentary Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Brand Renewable LLC ($537,825), Conmoto Creative Company LLC ($466,028), Upper East Films LLC ($458,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRAND RENEWABLE LLC Austin, TX | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $537,825 |
| CONMOTO CREATIVE COMPANY LLC Los Angeles, CA | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $466,028 |
| UPPER EAST FILMS LLC New York, NY | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $458,250 |
| UBANTU MOTION PICTURES Pasadena, CA | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $366,275 |
| 110TH STREET FILMS LLC New York, NY | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $355,435 |
| ONE LAST HUG 2 Agoura Hills, CA | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $297,600 |
| TERRACE FILMS LLC Portland, ME | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $259,500 |
| NICK MOLLE PRODUCTIONS INC Estes Park, CO | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $204,600 |
| FOOD LANDSCAPE LLC Los Angeles, CA | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $188,957 |
| LOVE YOUR BIRTH MOM Mountain Brook, AL | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | $160,263 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dominic Asmall Willsdon serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Clinton Perry | Director | 5 | — |
| Amir Shahkhalili | Director | 5 | — |
| Chris Perez | Director | 5 | — |
| Grace Lee | Director | 5 | — |
| Hallee Adelman | Director | 5 | — |
| Marcia Smith | Director | 5 | — |
| Michael a Turner | Co-President | 5 | — |
| Ina Fichman | Co-President | 5 | — |
| Maria Agui Carter | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Chris Albert | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Orwa Nyrabia | Director | 5 | — |
| Dominic Willsdon | Executive Director | 40 | $108,814 |
| Brian Davis | Director of Development | 40 | $144,718 |
| Keisha Knight | Director of Ida Funds | 40 | $130,126 |
| Abby Sun | Director of Artist Programs | 40 | $130,068 |
| Zaferhan Yumru | Director of Marketing | 40 | $120,893 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
IDA has announced multiple grant cycles through its documentary funds, including awards totaling $245,000 to 15 films through the Enterprise and Pare Lorentz Documentary Funds, and $435,000 in grants to 11 documentaries through the Enterprise Documentary Fund.
IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund Provides $435,000 in Grants to 11 DocumentariesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does International Documentary Foundation Inc fund?
IDA supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. The organization empowers documentary creators worldwide through resources, funding opportunities, and events while protecting their rights and advocating for the form. The organization's primary activities include: • **Funding**: Distributing grants to documentary filmmakers and community-based documentary organizations through multiple grant funds • **Fiscal Sponsorship**: Provi…
How do I apply for a grant from International Documentary Foundation Inc?
IDA distributes grants to documentary filmmakers annually through several grant-making funds: • **Enterprise Documentary Fund**: Supports quality documentary journalism • **Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund**: Supports artful, creative expression • **Logan Elevate Fund**: Creates opportunities for women and non-binary nonfiction storytellers of color In fiscal year 2023, IDA distributed $1,079,780 supporting a diverse slate of independent filmmakers and community-based documentary organizations. Th…
Where does International Documentary Foundation Inc make grants?
The organization operates nationally and internationally, empowering documentary creators worldwide. The organization has a primary presence in California.
What size grants does International Documentary Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, International Documentary Foundation Inc awarded 106 grants totaling $7.2M — an average of about $68K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is International Documentary Foundation Inc's EIN?
International Documentary Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3911227. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.