Fiscal sponsorship allows individual artists or production companies to solicit charitable donations for a specific project under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Many foundations and government agencies require that you have a fiscal sponsor to be eligible for grants. As your fiscal sponsor, SDF becomes the nonprofit tax-exempt organization that allows you to receive contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies that may not otherwise be available to you. Cash donations received on behalf of your project are tax-deductible for the donor. SDF consults regularly with our sponsored projects regarding fundraising, but our staff does not do grant writing, crowdfunding, or other types of fundraising for you. 

Fiscally sponsored projects are eligible and encouraged to apply for SDF grants, but are not guaranteed funding from SDF. Click here for more information on grants.

You can apply for fiscal sponsorship with SDF at any phase: research and development, pre-production, production, or post-production. Filmmakers have also used SDF as a sponsor for distribution grants or to accept donations to do outreach and related community engagement projects.

SDF sponsors projects by filmmakers who are living in the South, and/or filmmakers living anywhere in the country or around the world who are telling stories about or related to the American South. You do not need to live in a southern U.S. state to apply for fiscal sponsorship with SDF, but your project must be related to our mission to tell stories about the American South. These guidelines vary when applying for grants, please see specific grant guidelines for eligibility requirements.

Yes, as long as your project is non-fiction focused. We sponsor short and feature-length documentary films, and documentary series. We also sponsor audio, photography, and multimedia projects, along with organizations presenting documentary programs. If you are not sure if your project fits our criteria, feel free to email us at fiscal@southerndocumentaryfund.org before applying.

SDF will be in contact with you within 14 days of receiving your application. 

If your application is rejected, we will provide feedback. If we feel your project requires further guidance, we will put you in touch with an SDF staff member for consultation.

Yes. There is a one-time $25 application fee. There is a $55 annual service fee that will be charged by February 28th of each year your project is sponsored.

As an SDF supported maker, you will have access to the SDF Mentorship program that includes specialized mentorship from industry experts. You will have access to one-on-one mentorship sessions, work-in-progress feedback, and mentorship roundtables.