Organizations I Support

With the intense funding drops this year I want to share a number of organizations that I support in case you are looking for places to spend your end of year hard earned charitable cash.

Funding has been decimated for many film support organizations over the past year - and I understand that times are tough for everyone these days as the economy suffers under constant misdirection in addition to the structural issues with late hyper extractive capitalism. I wanted to call out a few that I support in case you might be looking for places to spend that end of year giving.

The past year has been particularly challenging for filmmakers and arts nonprofits. Like many peer organizations, Film Fatales lost National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding and has faced increasing difficulty securing replacement grants. At the same time, corporations have quietly scaled back or shuttered initiatives supporting underrepresented voices, reducing sponsorships and partnerships for organizations.
Despite these challenges, Film Fatales remains committed to its mission. Tax-deductible donations directly support ongoing efforts to dismantle systemic inequities in the film industry and to create meaningful, long-term change at a moment when diverse perspectives are more critical than ever.

Brown Girls Doc Mafia continues to be a critical resource for documentary filmmakers from historically underrepresented communities. As funding for the arts contracts and support structures disappear, their work remains essential. Donations directly sustain programming, advocacy, and community-building that help filmmakers develop, connect, and reach audiences.

This holiday season, Creative Capital’s mission to champion freedom of expression by supporting individual artists through grants and services has never been more vital to the future of creativity and innovation in our country.

In Fiscal Year 2025, Creative Capital’s open call grant program provided unrestricted project funding to 176 artists creating new works in the visual arts, film, dance, theater, jazz/music, literature, technology, socially engaged and multidisciplinary forms in 85 cities across America.

Every year, thousands of artists—from Alaska to Texas to Puerto Rico—turn to the Creative Capital Artist Lab, online professional development courses on artist statements, managing multiple income streams, social media and more, and Artist Opportunities to help build sustainable practices and bring bold ideas to life. These resources are free-of-charge to artists, serving them year-round in rural, regional, and urban communities.

For 25 years, Firelight Media has empowered documentary filmmakers to produce and distribute films that authentically represent themselves and their communities.

You can support this by making a tax-deductible contribution to their end-of-year fundraising campaign using the link below or by buying their merch.

For decades, The D-Word has been a cornerstone of the documentary community. It has supported thousands of filmmakers through candid discussion, peer knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving across every stage of the documentary process. As the field continues to shift and funding grows more precarious, sustaining institutions with this kind of institutional memory and community value matters. Consider donating to help ensure The D-Word remains a resource for years to come.