1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Between cycles — next round expected later in 2026
The Catapult Development Grant is a grant from the Catapult Film Fund offering $5,000 to $25,000 in early-stage support to independent documentary filmmakers who have secured access to their subject and are ready to raise critical production funding. Eligible applicants must have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
The program funds fifteen grants per year across two cycles, with application deadlines in winter and summer, using a two-step application process on Submittable. Grants may be used for a variety of development needs and must result in the creation of a fundraising piece as the final deliverable. The Catapult Film Fund prioritizes artful storytelling across documentary features and shorts.
Get alerted about grants like this
Get emailed when new opportunities from “Catapult Film Fund” or related funders appear. Free, weekly, unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Sugarcane, directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie Natchez, director Suzannah Herbert The Dating Game, Director Violet Du Feng Union, director/producer Stephen Maing, Brett Story Black Snow, director Alina Simone Guidelines and Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions Guidelines and Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions Launched in 2010, the Catapult Development Fund provides early-stage support to documentary filmmakers when funding is hardest to find.
Catapult has two funding cycles per year, with application deadlines in the winter and summer. In 2025, we will offer fifteen (15) grants of up to $25,000 USD to filmmakers in development with a documentary feature or short. We do not support docuseries at this time.
Learn more about previous Catapult Development Fund grantees» Our flagship program is geared toward independent filmmakers who have a strong story to tell, have secured access, and are ready to unlock critical production funding. This grant can be used for a variety of development needs and must result in the creation of a fundraising piece as the final deliverable.
We prioritize artful, moving storytelling and are not tied to any specific social issue agenda. Learn more about Frequently Asked Questions» The Catapult Development Grant has moved to a two-step application process. Please review each opportunity’s Guidelines and Eligibility and submit Step 1 by the deadline.
Selected projects will be invited to advance to Step 2 and submit a full application for funding consideration. August 6, 2025: Step 1 application opens on Submittable September 8, 2025: Step 1 application closes at 5 p. m.
PT Mid-October: Invitations sent to top projects for Step 2 (full application) Winter 2025: Applicants notified of status, finalists may receive follow up questions Early 2026: Full slate of 2025 Development grantees announced Connect with us info@catapultfilmfund. org Catapult accepts applications in rounds. Visit the How to Apply page for more info and dates.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Documentary feature or short films in development stage. Docuseries not supported. Independent filmmakers with strong stories, secured access, and readiness to pursue production funding. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $25,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The most recent published deadline was April 20, 2026, which has passed. This is a twice per year program, so a new cycle should follow. Check the funder's website for the next application window.
Catapult Development Grant is funded by Catapult Film Fund. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This listing is flagged as international in scope. Check the official notice for country-specific restrictions before applying.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.