Documentary grants & funds for filmmakers in the United States (2026)
The documentary funding open to filmmakers based in the United States — national and regional programmes plus the global funds that accept applications from anywhere.
85 verified funds · 13 open with a live deadline right now · updated 11 Jun 2026 · each checked against its official source
A few well-known ones, for orientation:
Sundance Institute
Documentary Fund Grant
OPEN — closes 15 Jun 2026
DevelopmentProductionPost
Award amount, full eligibility & how to apply → in the Vault
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Media Projects
OPEN — closes 25 Jun 2026
DevelopmentProduction
Award amount, full eligibility & how to apply → in the Vault
IDFA (Amsterdam)
IDFA Forum
OPEN — closes 25 Jul 2026
DevelopmentProduction
Award amount, full eligibility & how to apply → in the Vault
Pulitzer Center
Global Reporting Grants
ROLLING — apply anytime
Production
Journalism
Award amount, full eligibility & how to apply → in the Vault
85
verified funds fit
this category
this category
🔒+81locked — unlock in the Vault
Those are a few household names. 81 more funds fit — and you can't see them here. Each one — with its award amount, eligibility, required materials and live deadline — is filtered to your film inside the Vault, including the specialised programmes most lists never mention.