Procedure and Checklist for the Catapult Development Grant:

Catapult accepts applications online twice a year through the online platform Submittable. Our application is based on the Nonfiction Core Application, a collaborative effort to standardize application requirements for documentary filmmakers. We do not accept unsolicited pitches for individual projects outside of application cycles.

How To Apply:

Applicants must have a Submittable account to access the application. This process is free and requires a username, password, and contact information. Communications regarding your submission will be sent to your registered email.

The application procedure includes:

• Application: After logging into Submittable, click the Apply button (below) to begin the application. You can save and return to it as often as needed until you are ready to submit. To request reasonable assistance for applicants with a disability, contact info@catapultfilmfund.org or leave a message at 415-738-8553.

• Submission: Catapult accepts applications until 5 p.m. PST on the grant deadline. We highly recommend early submission to avoid technical difficulties. Please inform us immediately about platform-related issues and reach out to Submittable for further assistance. We cannot offer extensions due to staff capacity and in fairness to other applicants.

• Review: Each application is reviewed through a rigorous process, including several rounds of independent review that inform final decisions by Catapult staff. During this process, we may contact finalists with additional project questions.

• Notification: Award notifications typically take between four to five months, based on the volume of submissions. Applicants will be notified directly via your registered email once a decision has been made. We have limited capacity to give individual project feedback.

Checklist:

Catapult uses the Nonfiction Core Application, in addition to supplemental grant-specific questions. Preview Nonfiction Core Application questions (available in English and Spanish)»

The application checklist includes:

• Contact information: director name, email, and address

• Project information: title, length, logline, story or concept summary, topic summary, creative control, and project stage and timeline

• Approach and ethics: artistic approach, connection and access, perspective, protagonist agreement, accountability, community care and safety, and accessibility

• Key creative personnel: brief team bios, relevant expertise, and project role

• Funding: fundraising strategy, total budget, funding raised and spent to date,

• Catapult requirements: previous application update, grant impact, and fundraising piece (required deliverable for this grant)

• Fiscal sponsor: a fiscal sponsor is not required to apply but if selected, must be confirmed in order to accept grant award; Catapult can provide a list of recommended organizations upon request

• **Work sample(s): **may include project material and/or representative work

Please carefully review the Guidelines and Eligibility and FAQ sections before applying. If you still have questions, email info@catapultfilmfund.org with the full title of your project in the subject line. We are a small team and will do our best to respond in a timely manner, with limited capacity to reply during peak application periods.