Get Money and Guidance to Make Your Film

From The Heart Productions has been helping filmmakers get their projects made for over 30 years through the Roy W. Dean Grant. 

We pioneered fiscal sponsorship for filmmakers.  Through our Fiscal Sponsorship program, From The Heart continues its mission to encourage and bring to fruition unique projects with compelling stories that might otherwise have never been made.

Your job is to create.  Our job is to make it possible for you to see your creation become a reality.

As a 501(c)(3) public charity, From The Heart Productions Inc (FTH), sponsors projects with our nonprofit status. This allows you to solicit donations that are tax deductible  for your donors.  That gives people a powerful incentive to give money to your project.

 

We want you to be able to spend as much time producing it as possible while we guide you to bring in money.

 Why You Should Choose From The Heart Productions as Your Fiscal Sponsor:

• Donations Paid in 10 days.
  

  “La Juala de Oro” Fiscally Sponsored by From The Heart Winner of A Certain Talent award for directing and the ensemble cast at Cannes Film Festival

• Donations are Tax Deductible for Donors.
• We Do Not Charge a Yearly Fee
• Films Get Their own Project Page on our own fundraising platform.  It was created with non-profit fundraising experts Allyra. You can add video, pictures, call to actions. You can link your project’s page to your website as your donation page. Each project page comes with a unique web address that you can send out to potential donors.
• Get Your Own PayPal Donation Button for Your Website.  We’ll send you information on how to embed it in your website along with a link you can send out in emails and share on social media. You will also receive a QR Code to collect donations at events.
• Donors are Asked to Cover the Credit Card Fees and over 50% Do That.  On both our Allyra platform and through a PayPal Donation Button, donors are given the opportunity to cover the credit card fees for their donation. 
• Raise Money on Kickstarter, Seed&Spark, and Indiegogo.  We partner with them so you can use your fiscal sponsorship at a reduced fee to allow your donors to make tax deductible donations to your campaign.
• Bi-Monthly Film Funding Guidance Class – Every two weeks, Carole Dean and staff have a weekly conference call for all the fiscally sponsored filmmakers.  Calls offer tips on crowdfunding, manifesting money, and setting goals.  You can even practice your pitch!  
• Free 3 Hour “How to Fund Your Film” Course by Carole Dean – Fun, easy-to-follow, in-depth power-point recorded video class on film funding that gives you the tools and secrets you need to fund your film. By the end, you will be INSPIRED, MOTIVATED, and CONFIDENT that you are on track to finally getting your film funded! Learn More
• Special Fiscal Sponsorship Rate to Help Create Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns. Email CaroleLeeDean@gmail.com or call 805-984-0098 to discuss rates.
• Reduced Fees for the More You Raise. Email CaroleLeeDean@gmail.com for our reduced fees for sponsorship based on the funds you raise.
• Get Support on Developing a Fundraising Strategy. Carole Dean and FTH staff will discuss with you how to construct a creative, successful fundraising campaign that will meet your goals.
• Apply for Grants That Require Fiscal Sponsorship – There are hundreds of grants for filmmakers offering thousands to help complete our project.  Many require being associated with a non-profit.
• Personalized Research for Prospective Donors and Grantors – For a small donation to From the Heart, we will use Grant Advance, a massive database of charitable donation records, to provide you a curated list of granting organizations and foundations you can apply for grants. These are largely private foundations that do not list their grants publicly. 
• Get Help Creating a Great Grant Proposal.   We know what grantors want and can advise you how to create your proposals and submit materials.
• Personal Attention.  We will be there for you when you need us with advice drawn from years of experience.  We are even available for face to face meetings.
• Special Discount on Film Production Insurance – Courtesy of Deborah West of Movieinsure.com, who is brilliant at researching and finding the best prices for your insurance needs.  Once you are supported through sponsorship with from the heart productions then Debbie will help you with your insurance needs.
• Accounting Services – From the Heart Productions will do special accounting services for you.  Contact Carole Dean at CaroleLeeDean@gmail.com and she will help set up a program for you. 
• We accept non-cash donations of equipment, materials and reduced fees. We send a letter to the donor and give them a tax deduction for the donation of goods or equipment or discounts.  This is included with your sponsorship. 
• We can set up recurring payments from donors.
• Improve Your Pitch to Investors. Carole Dean, president of From The Heart Productions and author of “The Art of Film Funding: Alternative Financing Concepts” will help you create a “stick story pitch” for maximum returns.
• Fine Tune Your Trailer.  We’ve seen thousands through the Roy W. Dean Film Grant. We give you trailer tips for fundraising and crowdfunding.
• Donations Can be by Check, Credit Card, Stocks, Bonds and Crypto.  
• We Can Pay Your Vendors for You Out of Funds Received.  For more information email CaroleLeeDean@gmail.com.

Have Questions About the Program and Donations.  Check out our FAQ here

 

Not Sure About Fiscal Sponsorship?  Get a FREE Consultation

Take advantage of a free 15-minute consultation that will explain the benefits of fiscal sponsorship and the advantages of working with a top-rated non-profit like From the Heart Productions. 

Choose service: Discuss Fiscal Sponsorship when booking

 

What is Required for Fiscal Sponsorship with From the Heart Productions

1. Your project must be a film or media project.

2. You must have the potential of getting the project completed.

3. The project for which you are fundraising must have a goal of at least $10,000.

4. You must be a US citizen or have proper U.S. tax reporting status.

4. You must submit the online application.

Fees

There is a $80 non-refundable application processing fee which is tax deductible. 

Our fee is 6% for checks and wires and 7% for credit cards using either Paypal or through our Allyra fundraising platform. 

You can also use your fiscal sponsorship to fundraise on Indiegogo, Seed&Spark, and Kickstarter in order to give donors a tax deduction for their donations for an additional 3% above each platform’s standard fees. 

There is an additional 1% fee for all credit card transactions made from outside the U.S. 

These fees cover our legal, administrative, and accounting costs. 

We have a sliding scale. For films that reach $500,000, our fee goes to 5% for check and wire and 6% for credit card donations.

Also, we set our discounted structure by the filmmaker, not the film. That means by staying with From the Heart Productions as your fiscal sponsor for multiple projects,  we count the funds you raise on each film towards your reduced fees.  For more information email caroleleedean@gmail.com

How to Apply

Complete the From the Heart fiscal sponsorship application form and be sure to follow instructions.   After your application is submitted and reviewed.   If accepted, we will send you a contract.

Apply Now