SIFT Members and their guests (Limit 12 ) in person. 50 participants online via Zoom. Network with peers, write and create.
Working on a grant application is often a solitary task. We never associate joy with the actual process of writing a proposal for funding. But there can be joy when we undertake the monumental task of extracting an idea from our heads and hearts into words and action in the real world.
How can this process be joyful you ask? Because every application is an opportunity to inspire, to speak truth, to preserve a footprint. And if we undertake that journey with friends, it will not be lonely because we will be walking the path together in community.
“Never leave money on the table” should also be followed by, “Lift as we climb”. For there is truly nothing more joyous than to create something that sustains oneself and others. We need to abandon the capitalistic Hunger Games Highlander approach to fundraising of “There can o be only one”. And think of it as a communal farming endeavor where we all participate in the planting and receive bounty from the harvest.
And when a funder turns downs your application, at least you will have created a document that clarifies you artistic vision and purpose as it will serve as the blueprint for your project. Grant writing is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and your film project. It helps to clarify your vision. So that when you woo your cast and crew to work on your film, you will be better at sharing your vision and your passion. And as we know nothing happens without a plan and purpose.
Some of the questions we will delve into include the following:
How do you explain an unusual project to a potential funder or supporter?
How do you decide how much to ask for?
How do you determine which fund to apply to, or who to ask for support?
How do you describe the team of people who will work on the project with you?
Do you need a teaser trailer for your application?
How can you previous work demonstrate your ability to complete your new project? Why should you get on a panel to review applications for a funder and why that is key to advancing your career?
If you are interested in taking the workshop, please send your name, a brief project description, and general budget range to: siftmedia215@gmail.com
Subject Line: It Takes A Village
Other things we will do in the sessions:
- Learn Your Own Story by Practicing Your Elevator Pitch (for Individual and Institutional Funders)
- Researching potential funders
- Learn OG Ways of Moving and Building Community
- What is a fiscal conduit and why you should have one
- Outlining your project proposal
- Creating your project budget
- Meet your peers, learn from them, and create community
- Complete a draft for your next funding application
Each participant will work on an actual grant application and pair with people in the class who will provide constructive feedback and be your ‘accountability partners’. You have one week to work on a draft of your application and then present it to the workshop the week of July 18th for critique and review.
So let’s take the plunge together.
This is an HYBRID EVENT- SIFT Members and their guests (Limit 12 ) to attend in person at THE COLORED GIRLS MUSEUM. Social distancing or wear a KN95 Mask inside.
SIFT Members apply Promo Code to subtract the $2.00 Fee and Register for In Person.
FREE 50 Public Attendees and/or SIFT Members to participants online via Zoom.
REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
About the Instructor: Nadine Patterson has been making independent films through Harmony Image Productions since 1995 with her production partner and mother Marlene G. Patterson. She holds her BA from Franklin and Marshal College, her MS from West Chester University and her MA from the London Film School. She has worked as a Programing Consultant at the Philadelphia Foundation and served on many funding panels. She served as Outreach Producer on Fran McElroy’s BLACK BALLERINA which was broadcast on over 200 PBS stations.
Her films include: SHIZUE, ANNA RUSSELL JONES, MOVING WITH THE DREAMING, LOQUEESHAASHLEYFRANKLINJOSEBROWN, WE ARE FREE BECAUSE OF HARRIET TUBMAN and TANGO MACBETH.
She has received grants for projects and fellowships from The Philadelphia Foundation, The Independence Foundation, The National Black Programming Consortium, The Bartol Foundation, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Leeway Foundation, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Independence Public Media Foundation. Her most recent project, executive producing SIFT’s COVID1619 PROJECT will premiere at the Moms Film Festival and the Women Film Festival in Philadelphia.
She is the Co-founder and Resource Strategist for SIFTMEDIA 215 COLLECTIVE.
She will start pre-production on her long anticipated THE UNKNOWN TALES OF LEWIS & MARY LATIMER in the fall of 2023.