Independent Television Service (ITVS)
Contact information:
651 Brannan Street, Suite 410
San Francisco CA 94107
Email: itvs@itvs.org
Phone: 415-356-8383, x284
Fax: 415-356-8391
Website: http://www.itvs.org/funding
Type of foundation: Public charity
Types of grants: Production, outreach. Most ITVS funds are not grants, but are structured as production contracts.
Description: Describing itself as “public media’s independent voice,” ITVS was launched in 1991, the result of a Congressional mandate to champion independently produced broadcast programs that take creative risks, spark public dialogue and serve underserved audiences. ITVS is funded by CPB. It funds, presents and promotes documentaries and dramas on public and cable television, and new media projects online. ITVS looks for programs that bring new audiences to public television and that bring diverse voices into the public sphere. It produces three series: Independent Lens, Global Voices and True Stories: Life in the USA.
ITVS leads multiple major projects, including:
- Women & Girls Lead: This multi-year public media initiative, launched in 2011, aims to focus, educate and connect women and girls and their allies around the globe. It will combine documentary film, television, new media and global outreach partnerships. It evidently plans to integrate radio content as well. The initiative is offering micro-grants to stations to support small-scale local outreach activities (through September 15, 2011 or until funds are expended). It will also offer grants to stations for participation in Community Cinema projects associated with Women & Girls Lead.
- Global Perspectives Project: A “two-way television exchange,” this project brings documentaries from international producers to U.S. audiences and delivers U.S.-produced documentaries to international audiences. This project was launched in 2005 and has funded more than 80 films to date.
ITVS is active in the areas of community engagement and education:
- Community Cinema, produced by ITVS, is the largest public interest outreach program in television. Community Cinema is an annual series of local and national screenings and panels.
- Community Classroom is a free resource for educators that offers short-form film modules and standards-based lesson plans for use in high schools, community colleges, NGOs and youth organizations.
There are several funding opportunities available through ITVS:
- Open Call provides finishing funds for single non-fiction public television programs on any subject and from any viewpoint. Projects must have begun production.
- International Call enables independent producers from outside of the United States to create documentaries for U.S. television.
- LINCS – Linking Independents and Co-Producing Stations – provides matching funds of up to $100,000 to partnerships between public television stations and independent producers. To apply, independents must first approach a public television station and establish a partnership. LINCS funds single non-fiction public television programs and demonstration projects that include both broadcast and transmedia elements. LINCS proposals are accepted year-round.
- Diversity Development Fund provides up to $15,000 in research and development funding to producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Projects should reach underserved audiences often overlooked by conventional programming. Projects must be in the research or development phase, and cannot have begun production.
- Commissioned Funding grants support projects in all genres that fall outside of the parameters of the above initiatives. R&D funds may be requested for early phase activities (travel, research, script development or the production of a fundraising reel). Production funds are intended for limited documentary series. Commissioned Funding proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Most ITVS support is different from grant funding. Producers who are awarded funds sign a contract, the Production Agreement, which assigns ITVS exclusive broadcast rights in the United States. In some cases, ITVS participates in revenue-sharing.
Fit for public broadcasting: ITVS is a major funder of independent documentary film for public television. It is expanding its work in digital media, education and community outreach, with some funds available in those areas.
Eligibility: Applicants must be independent producers or independent entities producing television, film or video. Producers may apply to only one ITVS funding initiative per round. Some funding opportunities require station partnerships. Some grant opportunities are available directly to stations (e.g., engagement).
Deadline: All materials must arrive at ITVS by 5:00 p.m. on the specified deadline. Guidelines and deadlines vary by program. Find application guidelines and deadlines here.
How to apply: Applications must be filled out and submitted online. The online application is made available two months prior to each funding deadline.
Giving range: Varies, depending on program.
