2009 Guidelines

The SHMF Grant Process

The Southern Humanities Media Fund will not be accepting applications from Summer 2009 until Summer 2010. Please check back Summer 2010 for the new application schedule.

Generally, the Southern Humanities Media Fund has an annual grant cycle with a two-step application process. A prospective grantee must first submit a preliminary application in November.

Following a competitive review of all preliminary applications, the Fund selects finalists and invites them to submit work samples with full proposals, including detailed budgets and scripts or comprehensive treatments. Final applications are due in April.

Grant awards are announced in early July.

SHMF guidelines for the year 2011 will be distributed in August, 2010.

How to Apply

A preliminary application should be concise, generally no more than ten single-spaced pages, yet should make a compelling case for further review and funding of a project. An original and seven copies of the proposal must be submitted AS WELL AS an electronic copy of the application on CD. The application should contain the following information and be ordered as indicated:

1. The likely title of the proposed project;
   
2. Its proposed format (film, video, audio), style (documentary, docudrama, narrative, etc.), and estimated length;
   
3. The name, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the project director and applicant organization;
   
4. A narrative description of the proposed project (generally no more than 2,500 words), including enough detail for reviewers to judge of its signifigance, development and appeal, as well as a short discussion of its relation to the humanities and the culture of the South;
   
5. A list of key humanities consultants, their qualifications in brief, and a description of their roles in the project;
   
6. A statement concerning the intended audience and a preliminary publicity and distribution plan that is regional or national in scope;
   
7. A production timetable and schedule of proposed activities.
   
8. The estimated total funding required for the project and amount requested from the SHMF and other listed sources; and
   
9. A list of key media production personnel with brief descriptions of their experience and achievements.

Applicants wishing to consult with SHMF staff are encouraged to do so at least two weeks before a deadline.

Budgets, work samples, and supporting letters are not required and will not be considered at the preliminary stage of review.

An original and seven copies of the proposal must be submitted AS WELL AS an electronic copy on CD. Applications should be forwarded to:

SOUTHERN HUMANITIES MEDIA FUND
145 Ednam Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903-4629
(434) 924-6895
shmf@virginia.edu
www.southernmediafund.org

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