The Filmmaker Fund
The Filmmaker Fund is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut. Its website says it supports proven and emerging filmmakers at stages from production and post-production through distribution, with a focus on documentary films that make meaningful social statements.
The Filmmaker Fund at a glance
In short: The Filmmaker Fund gave $123K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $123,466
- -35.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +36.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,116
- -52.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,021
- Total assets
- $3,510,759
- +1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (15 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (39% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Filmmaker Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 15 Roosevelt Road, Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (415) 398-4510
Website: HTTP://WWW.FILMMAKERFUND.COM
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Filmmaker Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brooklyn College ($30K). Together the top 10 received $85K.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 93 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 39% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 38% to Connecticut, and 16% to California. Virginia and Utah each received 2%. These figures describe the locations of 2024 grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Filmmaker Fund open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 30 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 70% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2021) to $192K (2023). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY | Community | $30,000 |
| Covenant House Oakland, CA | Community | $10,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity New London, CT | Community | $10,000 |
| ASPCA New York, NY | Community | $5,000 |
| CT Food Bank Stamford, CT | Community | $5,000 |
| CT Humane Society Newington, CT | Community | $5,000 |
| Da Lasalle Academy New York, NY | Community | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood New Haven, CT | Community | $5,000 |
| Staples Tuition Westport, CT | Community | $5,000 |
| Uc Berkeley Journalism Berkeley, CA | Community | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Filmmaker Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,510,759 | $189,392 | $138,828 | $123,466 | 30 | $118,954 | $172,298 | $179,322 |
| 2023 | $3,460,648 | $116,179 | $209,586 | $191,938 | 22 | $191,938 | $98,718 | $170,236 |
| 2022 | $3,553,161 | $47,457 | $113,165 | $99,622 | 17 | $99,622 | $70,245 | $171,535 |
| 2021 | $3,645,937 | $160,151 | $100,106 | $72,774 | 15 | $74,542 | $130,892 | $184,536 |
| 2020 | $3,585,759 | $176,252 | $211,676 | $140,657 | 9 | — | $73,461 | $165,346 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Filmmaker Fund reported a distributable amount of $179K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund says it aims to remove obstacles to filmmakers’ work and supports a balanced slate addressing the environment, gun safety legislation, poverty, immigration, education, discrimination, and distinctive stories of artistic expression. Its website also describes support for documentary and multimedia journalism education at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, including the Fine Cut Fund and the Marlon T. Riggs Fellowship.
The 2024 grants also show support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Aspetuck Land Trust says its mission is to protect land and connect people with the natural world; CT Food Bank is among the fund’s listed grantees; and animal-welfare recipients include Wise Animal Rescue, which says it helps place animals in foster or adoptive homes, and Muddy Paws Rescue, which says it works to end unnecessary euthanasia of companion dogs.
Grantmaking
The fund’s 2024 filing reports 30 grants totaling $123,466. Individual grants ranged from $250 to $30,000, with a median of $2,020. The largest listed grants included $30,000 to Brooklyn College, $10,000 each to Covenant House and Habitat for Humanity, and $5,000 each to ASPCA, CT Food Bank, CT Humane Society, DA LaSalle Academy, Planned Parenthood, Staples Tuition, and UC Berkeley Journalism. The filing records each of these grants’ purpose as “community.”
The fund’s website describes a separate filmmaking-support offer of grants up to $75,000, alongside non-grant services for selected projects. It also invites people or organizations with a story to share to contact the fund for help with narrative exploration, director contacts, and production strategies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Eckles as chairman and president and Minette Nelson as director. The fund’s website identifies Eckles as founder and business director and Nelson as founder.
The Filmmaker Fund is led by David Eckles, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Eckles
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Minette Nelson
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Filmmaker Fund
How much does The Filmmaker Fund give each year?
The Filmmaker Fund gave $123K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $192K across 22 grants.
What is The Filmmaker Fund's typical grant size?
The Filmmaker Fund's median grant in 2024 was $2,021, and its average grant was $4,116, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Filmmaker Fund that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Filmmaker Fund give grants?
The Filmmaker Fund's top state is New York, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (38%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westport, CT (4 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does The Filmmaker Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on The Filmmaker Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (30 grants).
Who are The Filmmaker Fund's largest grantees?
The Filmmaker Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Brooklyn College ($30,000), Covenant House ($10,000) and Habitat for Humanity ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Filmmaker Fund?
The Filmmaker Fund reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $119K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $179K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Filmmaker Fund fund?
The fund says it aims to remove obstacles to filmmakers’ work and supports a balanced slate addressing the environment, gun safety legislation, poverty, immigration, education, discrimination, and distinctive stories of artistic expression. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Filmmaker Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Filmmaker Fund's EIN?
The Filmmaker Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2982027. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Filmmaker Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Filmmaker Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Filmmaker Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-filmmaker-fund-morg_2f2d6292ceb2443b8cd475bfd3c2900e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452982027_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Filmmaker Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-filmmaker-fund-morg_2f2d6292ceb2443b8cd475bfd3c2900e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Filmmaker 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.
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