California Documentary Project: Research and Development Grant

Overview

California Documentary Project Grants

The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program that supports the research and development and production stages of film, audio, and digital media projects that seek to document California in all its complexity. Projects should use the humanities to provide context, depth and perspective and reach and engage broad audiences through multiple means, including but not limited to radio and television broadcasts, podcasts, online distribution and interactive media, community screenings and discussions, in classrooms and libraries, at cultural centers, film festivals, and beyond.

Since 2003, California Humanities has awarded over $5 million to projects that document California and its cultures, peoples, and histories, and that together help us better understand who we are and where we live.

CDP Research and Development Grants

CDP Research and Development grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of documentary media productions in their earliest stages. Projects must actively involve at least three humanities advisors to help frame and contextualize subject matter throughout the research and development phase.

Eligibility

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Application Details

California Documentary Project
California stories, national audiences
Research and Development Grant Overview and Application Instructions
Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5 pm PT
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Grant Portal: https://ch-grants.smapply.io
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
California? It’s complicated—almost 40 million people and 40 million stories. The California Documentary
Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program that supports the research and development and production stages
of humanities-based documentary film, audio and digital media projects that explore California in all its
complexity and tell stories from every corner of the state. We seek compelling projects that bring new and
previously unheard perspectives to light; reveal the breadth and range of California’s cultures, peoples, and
histories; and use the humanities to provide context, depth, and perspective. Projects should be suitable for
both California and national audiences through public and educational screenings and presentations, broadcast,
streaming and other forms of distribution. Eligible formats include, but are not limited to, features, shorts,
podcasts, web series, broadcast series, VR, etc.
Since 2003, California Humanities has awarded close to $7.5 million through the CDP grant program to
nonfiction film, audio, and interactive media projects. Each CDP project adds a new layer to a growing portrait of
this state, and together help us better understand who we are and where we live. Some recent documentary
media projects supported through CDP include the films FREE CHOL SOO LEE, CRIP CAMP, FRUITS OF LABOR, TRY
HARDER!, and NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS; podcasts THE OTHER CALIFORNIA and WHAT
FIRE REVEALS; and the interactive, 360-degree video installation A LIFE IN PIECES: THE DIARY OF STANLEY
HAYAMI; and many more.
CDP Research and Development Grants
CDP Research and Development grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of
documentary media productions in their earliest stages. Projects must actively involve at least two humanities
advisors to help frame and contextualize subject matter throughout the research and development phase.
Eligible applicants may apply for funding up to $15,000.

THE ROLE OF THE HUMANITIES
CDP supports film, audio, and interactive documentary projects that use the humanities to provide social,
cultural, and/or historical context and broadened perspective. The humanities grow out of an interest in the
language, literature, thought, and history of humankind. They emphasize analysis, interpretation, and exchange
of ideas. Humanities disciplines include, but are not limited to, history, philosophy, literature, folklore, ethnic
studies, religious studies, ethics, jurisprudence, and qualitative approaches in the social sciences. These fields
are differentiated from—though not exclusive of—the creative expression of the arts or the quantitative
explanation of the sciences or social sciences.
California Humanities encourages applicants to make use of relevant humanities expertise in planning and
implementing projects and to approach subject matter from a perspective informed by the humanities—e.g.,
make use of existing or new scholarship and research on the topic for context and perspective; ask informed,
critical questions; and seek to foster insight, reflection and thoughtful analysis on the part of the audience. CDP
NextGen Grants also require that a humanities expert (academic scholar, humanities professional, or culture
bearer) serve as an advisor to the project. Please see the FAQ for more information.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations or municipal/public agencies (including public libraries,
museums, schools, universities and colleges, and tribal governments). California Humanities does not make
grants directly to individuals; however, individuals may apply through an eligible tax-exempt fiscal sponsor (see
FAQ for details).
Eligible applicant organizations (including fiscal sponsors) and project directors must:
• Be in good standing with California Humanities (e.g., without unfulfilled reporting requirements), if a
previous grant recipient.
• Not have an open grant or application under consideration or submit more than one application per
California Humanities deadline, unless acting as a California Humanities-approved, multi-application
fiscal sponsor or a college, university or arts council. See FAQ for more information.
FUNDING LEVEL
Eligible applicants may apply for CDP R&D Grants up to $15,000. California Humanities grant funds must be
matched during the grant period by at least a 1:1 amount of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal
sources.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
All CDP Research and Development projects must meet the following criteria:
• Be currently in the research and development stage; if you wish to apply for production support, please
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see the CDP Production Grant
• Document California subjects and issues of relevance to both statewide and national audiences
• Approach the subject matter from a perspective informed by the humanities
• Actively involve at least two Humanities Advisors (e.g., scholars, journalists, curators, culture bearers) in
significant phases of the project
• Be conducted by mediamakers with a previously completed work sample to submit
• Seek to reach and engage a broad range of audiences, both statewide and nationally, through public and
educational screenings and presentations, broadcast, distribution, and/or online
ELIGIBLE COSTS
Grant funds may be used to support eligible project-related activities and expenses during the grant
period, including but not limited to:
• Salaries and professional fees for production staff and technical consultants
• Honoraria and stipends for Humanities Advisors
• Pre-production expenses
• Travel, lodging, and per-diem expenses for staff, Humanities Advisors, consultants, etc.
• Supplies and materials for pre-production activities
• Equipment to produce a pilot or trailer (rental, unless purchase cost is less)
• Administrative expenses directly related to the project
• Fiscal sponsor or indirect administrative fees (up to 10% of the total CDP grant request)
GRANT REQUIREMENTS
If funded, California Humanities requires grantees to:
• Submit a grant agreement signed by the authorizing official of the applicant organization/fiscal sponsor
and the project director
• Participate in California Humanities’ grant reporting and evaluations processes and provide a full
resolution copy of final productions once completed
• Collaborate with California Humanities on exhibition, distribution and promotional opportunities as
available
CDP GRANTS DO NOT SUPPORT
• Advocacy (projects aimed to advance a specific policy or partisan agenda)
• Projects that are primarily promotional in nature
• Projects already entirely in post-production
REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated by peer reviewers and California Humanities staff and board members for
eligibility, completeness, and competitiveness according to the following criteria:
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Review Criteria
Quality
• Clarity and strength of concept, style, and approach
• Access and relationship of project team to subjects and participants
• Californian and national relevance
• Depth of humanities content and approach
• Experience of project staff and advisors
• Significance of project goals and impact
Capacity
• Feasibility of budget, timeline, fundraising strategy, outreach, and evaluation
• Potential to reach and engage broad audiences
TIMELINE
August 2022 Guidelines posted at www.calhum.org
September 15 Application webinar (register here) and advising
November 1 at 5pm PT Deadline for submission of application
April 1, 2023 Grant awards announced, grant award period begins, funds disbursed
March 31, 2025 End of grant R&D period (two years)
APPLICATION WEBINAR
An informational webinar on how to apply to the CDP grant program will be held on September 15 at 10:00 am
PT. Register here in advance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Please check www.calhum.org for
more information or sign up for the California Humanities’ eNews on our website to find out about important
grant deadlines, upcoming workshops, local events, and more.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for CDP Grants are submitted through an online process. Hand-delivered, faxed, or emailed
applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted by the deadline, 5 pm on November 1, 2022.
To submit electronically by 5 pm on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022, please include:
• Online application with URLs to media work sample
• Proposal narrative (Word or PDF attachment)
• Budget (Excel template attachment)
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To start a new application or return to one already in progress, use the following link:
https://ch-grants.smapply.io
Applicants will need to complete an online form, provide a brief project synopsis (100 words), provide contact
information for the Project Director and Authorizing Official of the applicant organization, and supply other
pertinent information including physical address, legislative district information, demographics of the service
area, federal tax ID (EIN), and DUNS number, available through Dun & Bradstreet. To obtain a DUNS number,
contact Dun & Bradstreet.
An active SAM.GOV registration is no longer required as part of the application.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
California Humanities provides assistance to applicants through several means:
• Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs (including technical assistance/troubleshooting). Applicants are
strongly encouraged to read and review the grant guidelines and FAQ thoroughly. We make every effort
to anticipate questions and clarify areas of confusion in these documents, so please start there.
• Informational application webinars will be held prior to the grant deadline. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to attend. Dates will be announced at http://calhum.org/funding-opportunities/california-
documentary-project/, or join our mailing list at www.calhum.org to receive the most recent
information about upcoming webinars and grant resources.
• Please contact Director of Media & Journalism Programs John Lightfoot (jlightfoot@calhum.org) for
questions about guidelines or grant requirements.
• Please contact Grants Manager Brett Connor (bconnor@calhum.org) for technical assistance with the
online application submission process.
ACCESSIBILTY
California Humanities is committed to making this application accessible. Applicants requiring assistance to
accommodate a disability may contact Program Associate Kirsten Vega at kvega@calhum.org or 415.391.1474
ext. 304.
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2022 R&D Guidelines
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California Documentary Project
California stories, national audiences
Research and Development Grant Guidelines
Application Deadline: Monday, November 1, 2022, 5 pm PT
Grant Portal: https://ch-grants.smapply.io
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Proposal Narrative (to be uploaded as an attachment to the online application)
Please address each of the following sections in this order using the numbered headings.
1. Project Information
Please clearly indicate the following information at the top of the first page:
• Title
• Format
• Project Director
• Applicant Organization/Fiscal Sponsor
2. Project Description (maximum length: two pages)
• Synopsis: Provide a brief synopsis that includes the project’s anticipated running length, as applicable
(100 words maximum).
• Story, issues, and characters: What is the specific story your project will tell and what are the associated
issues it will explore? Why are these stories or issues important or timely? Who are the characters?
• California: What is this story’s connection to California? How will it enhance our understanding of
California and its cultures, peoples, and histories? How will this story be relevant and of interest to both
statewide and national audiences?
• Status: Describe the current stage of the project. Provide an estimated completion date.
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3. Relationship to Subject and Participants (suggested length: half a page)
• Describe the production team’s relationship to the project’s subject and its participants. If telling the
story of another community, please explain your access to this community and how you will address
their needs and interests. What role(s) will the participants or community play in the production and/or
distribution stages?
4. Creative Approach (suggested length: half a page)
• How are you going to tell this story? Provide a short treatment detailing the proposed style, structure,
content, and interactive elements (as applicable).
5. Humanities Themes, Content, and Approach (suggested length: one page)
• Describe the humanities ideas and themes that the project will address.
• What central questions do you plan to explore and address through this project and how will the
humanities be used to inform the R&D process? E.g., how will you use the humanities to develop the
broader social, cultural, or historical context for your subject?
• What sources and scholarship will you consult and research to provide insight and context?
6. Humanities Advisors
• Provide one-paragraph bios for the two (or more) Humanities Advisors, describing area of expertise,
relevant scholarship, research, or writing; and position and institutional affiliation, if applicable; and
explain the role each advisor will play in the design and implementation of the project (e.g., content
advisor, research consultant, interview subject, rough cut reviewer, etc.). See FAQ for more information
on humanities advisors’ roles and other requirements.
7. Project Personnel
• Project Director: Provide a one-paragraph bio, an email address, and a list of production credits and/or
major broadcast, screening, exhibition, and award information.
• Key Project Personnel: Provide one-paragraph bios detailing relevant technical and/or substantive
expertise
8. Target Audience (suggested length: half a page)
• Describe the intended audience(s), including any underserved audiences, and how you plan to reach
them.
9. Goals and Impact (suggested length: half a page)
• What specific goals do you have for the research and development stage of this project (e.g. identifying
interview subjects, archival research, a treatment and script, a fundraising trailer, etc.)?
• What impact do you hope this project will have when completed?
• What do you hope audiences will take away from your project?
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10. Fundraising Strategy (suggested length: one paragraph)
• Describe the strategy for raising additional funds necessary to complete the project. List all sources and
amounts of project income received to date or currently under consideration.
11. Applicant Organization/Fiscal Sponsor (suggested length: one paragraph)
• Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and explain the organization’s role in the
project. Please state whether the fiscal sponsor is confirmed or pending. If fiscal sponsorship is not yet
confirmed with an eligible nonprofit organization or public agency by the application deadline, you must
submit this information within 30 days after the application due date. If we do not receive confirmation
by this date, your application is incomplete and will not be considered. Upon submitting your
application, you will receive further instruction via email.
12. Timeline (suggested length: half a page)
• Provide a timeline detailing major project activities and stages from the beginning of the grant period,
April 2023, until completion of the R&D stage. Please note that project activities for which you seek
California Humanities funding cannot occur prior to funding notification and that the maximum term of
this grant is two years (funded project activities must conclude by March 31, 2023). Please provide the
timeline in this format:
TIME PERIOD ACTIVITY
April-July 2023 Research and consult with humanities advisors
August 2023 Plan, schedule, and conduct first round of preliminary interviews
October 2023 Develop shooting script for fundraising trailer
Etc.
13. Required Sample Work and Explanation of Selection (suggested length: one paragraph)
Explain the selection of prior work and briefly outline what role(s) the Project Director played in its
creation. Required sample materials to submit online:
• Internet link and password, if applicable, to a prior work sample in its entirety
All online work samples should remain accessible through March 2023.
14. Project Budget (Excel template to be attached to your online application)
Please use the CDP RD BUDGET form template. Note that you may add, delete or rename lines as
appropriate for your project.
• Section A Income: List the amount and source of all cash or in-kind contributions, whether they are in
place at the time of application or anticipated. Include names of funders and other sources.
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• Section B Expenses: Itemize all R&D costs associated with the project, including allocations of previously
spent funds, California Humanities grant funds, matching funds, and funds yet to be secured.
o Matching Funds. The total CDP grant request amount must be matched by at least a 1:1 total
amount of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources. Note that these funds do not
need to be in place in order to be eligible to apply but must be expended during the CDP grant
period to qualify as matching funds. If selected for funding, matching funds will need to be
confirmed at project completion.
o Other Funds (Federal). Funds from the NEH, NEA, state humanities councils, or other federally
assisted programs may not be used as matching funds.
15. Budget Narrative (to be included in proposal narrative)
• Clarify any budget items that need a narrative explanation.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION
• Download and thoroughly review the CDP Guidelines, FAQ, and budget form. Most questions will be
answered in these documents; however, you may contact staff for additional guidance if necessary.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an informational workshop or webinar on how to apply
prior to the grant deadline. Check www.calhum.org for upcoming workshop and webinar information.
• Prepare your proposal narrative and budget form before starting the online application.
• Legislative district numbers for the applicant organization must be provided. This information can be
obtained ahead of time at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ by using the organization’s
zip+4 postal code.
• Know your DUNS number. Most organizations already have a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System)
number assigned to them. A DUNS number is a nine-digit number established and assigned by Dun and
Bradstreet, Inc. to uniquely identify business entities who receive federal government contracts. If you
are not sure what the number is, or if your organization has one, you can search on the Dun &
Bradstreet website. If you do not have one, it must be requested from Dun & Bradstreet. DUNS number
assignments are FREE and may be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or at
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
• We strongly encourage you to start the online form as soon as possible to apply in case you experience
serious technical difficulties that might affect your ability to complete the application process by the
deadline.
• If applying with a fiscal sponsor, applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm this relationship at the
earliest possible date prior to the deadline. If fiscal sponsorship is not yet confirmed with an eligible
nonprofit organization or public agency by the application deadline, you must submit this information
within 30 days after the application due date. If confirmation is not received by this date, the
application is incomplete and will no longer be considered eligible.
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• Plan ahead to acquire the signature of an Authorizing Official at the applicant organization or fiscal
sponsor on the final application as this is required for submission.
Thank for your interest in the California Documentary Project grant program.
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