Up to $50,000 California Documentary Grants
- Organization: California Humanities
- Type: Grant
- Location: United States
- Deadline: October 14, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
California Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, funds nonfiction film, audio and digital media projects that explore the histories, cultures and experiences that shape California. The California Documentary Project has backed more than 250 projects since 2003, including Crip Camp and Free Chol Soo Lee, and it is especially interested in stories that mainstream narratives have overlooked. Applying starts with a short Letter of Intent, and about 30 applicants across the two grant types are invited to send a full proposal. **What you get:** - Research and Development grants of up to $15,000 for projects in their earliest stages - Production grants of up to $50,000 for projects actively in production; awards typically range from $20,000 to $50,000 - Funds can cover salaries and fees, stipends for humanities advisors, travel, pre-production costs and fiscal sponsor fees of up to 10 percent - A two year grant period for Research and Development and three years for Production, both starting 1 April 2027 **What you'll do:** - Submit a Letter of Intent through the California Humanities grant portal, with a sample of previously completed work - If invited, submit a full proposal and budget by 1 February 2027 - Work with at least one humanities advisor, who can be a scholar, a community historian or a culture bearer - Take part in reporting, cohort calls and learning activities during the grant, and credit California Humanities on the finished work **Key dates:** - Applications opened 14 September 2026 - Letters of Intent close 14 October 2026, 5:00 PM Pacific Time - First-round decisions and proposal invitations 14 December 2026 - Full proposals due 1 February 2027, 5:00 PM Pacific Time, by invitation only - Awards announced and grant period begins 1 April 2027 **More information:** - Separate guidelines and FAQs for Research and Development and for Production are linked from the programme page - A recording of the 18 September 2026 application webinar is linked from the programme page - Requests for application assistance or accommodations should reach the grants team by 5 October 2026

