California Documentary Project is a grant from California Humanities that funds nonfiction film, audio, and digital media productions exploring California subjects and issues.

Open to filmmakers and media organizations regardless of California residency, the program offers two funding tiers: Research and Development grants of up to $15,000 support early-stage projects, while Production grants of up to $50,000 help propel projects toward completion. Both categories emphasize humanities-informed storytelling and seek projects with the potential to reach statewide and national audiences.

California Humanities particularly encourages applications from Indigenous and Native American communities and voices historically excluded from the broader California narrative. Since 2003, over 250 documentary projects have been supported. Note: the program is currently suspended pending restoration of federal NEH funding.

California Documentary Project Grants - California Humanities California Documentary Project Grants California Humanities has received official notice from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that the termination of our FY25 federal funding has been rescinded, and a portion of that funding has been reinstated.

As a result, we can now begin processing grant payments for existing commitments to nonprofit partners across California. Following the abrupt termination of federal NEH funding, California Humanities has suspended all programs and grant cycles until further notice .

This includes our core initiatives: California Documentary Project Emerging Journalist Fellowships We’re doing everything we can to protect the future of the humanities in California. Learn more and get involved by visiting our Advocacy page. California stories, national audiences California?

It’s complicated, almost 40 million people and 40 million stories. California Documentary Project (CDP) grants support nonfiction film, audio, and digital media productions that explore California in all its complexity and tell stories from every corner of the state.

We invite applications for the 2024 round of CDP grants in support of film, audio, or digital media projects that document California subjects and issues, have the potential to bring essential California stories to audiences throughout the state and beyond, and that use the humanities to provide context, depth, and perspective. California residency is not required to apply.

We are particularly interested in supporting stories and projects from communities, regions, and individuals whose voices and perspectives have traditionally been excluded from the broader California narrative. As we center equity in the work of California Humanities, we encourage stories that focus on and highlight Indigenous and Native American experiences in California.

Funding is currently available in two categories: CDP Research and Development Grants Research and Development grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of documentary media productions in their earliest stages. Eligible applicants may apply for funding up to $15,000. Deadline November 4, 2024.

2024 R&D Grant Guidelines 2024 R&D Budget Template (hit File > Download > Excel) CDP Production grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of documentary media productions and help propel projects toward completion. Eligible applicants may apply for funding up to $50,000. Deadline November 4, 2024.

2024 Production Grant Guidelines 2024 Production Budget Template (hit File > Download > Excel) Join our next CDP informational session! **Our last CDP webinar was held on September 17, 2024** April 1, 2025-March 31, 2028 April 1, 2025-March 31, 2027 For almost 50 years, California Humanities has been the leading funder of documentaries by, for, and about Californians.

Since 2003, we have supported over 250 documentary media projects through the CDP grant program, each adding a new layer to a growing portrait of this state, and that together help us better understand who we are and where we live. Documentaries supported through CDP include the films FREE CHOL SOO LEE , CRIP CAMP , FRUITS OF LABOR , ROMEO IS BLEEDING , TRY HARDER!

, WE WERE HERE , UNITED SKATES , and HOLLYWOOD CHINESE ; radio productions and podcasts THE OTHER CALIFORNIA , THE STOOP , and WHAT FIRE REVEALS ; and the interactive media productions K-TOWN 92 and THE MOJAVE PROJECT . See a list of recently supported CDP projects Grantees, please find information on managing your grant and logos in the Grant Portal .

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