MacArthur supports film and nonfiction media makers of color
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced on August 15, 2017, that $5.7 million in grants would go toward filmmakers and nonfiction media artists from diverse backgrounds. The initiative supported organizations that train, fund, and distribute work by storytellers often underrepresented in mainstream media.
The grants went to seven organizations: National Black Programming Consortium, Bay Area Video Coalition, Sundance Institute, Center for Asian American Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, Southern Documentary Fund, and Working Films. Several of these groups continue to appear on current MacArthur partner lists and have received follow-on support in the years since.
Grant Announcement and Recipients
National Black Programming Consortium later became Black Public Media. The organization maintains grantmaking activities and continues to support Black media makers. Other original recipients have also sustained relationships with the foundation through ongoing programs and new rounds of funding.
Allocation and Use of Funds
Of the $5.7 million, a total of $2.25 million was re-granted directly to independent film projects over three years starting in 2017. The remaining funds supported fellowships, workshops, training programs, and professional development. Working Films and other recipients have since received additional grants in 2024 and 2025 for operations and project work.
Evolution of MacArthur’s Journalism & Media Program
The program continues to fund nonfiction storytelling and documentary organizations with an emphasis on equity. Recent grants include support for Firelight Media and Working Films. Guidelines have been updated to include open calls, fellowships, labs, and networks for diverse storytellers. MacArthur’s Journalism & Media program maintains enduring commitments to nonfiction multimedia storytelling and equity through partner organizations including several of the original seven.
Challenges Facing Grantees in 2025
Kathy Im noted 2025 as a devastating year due to political and financial challenges for grantees. Impacts included freezes on funding and dismantling of DEI programs. Emphasis has remained on supporting principled leaders in difficult times. Im, director of journalism and media at MacArthur, remarked in the original announcement, “Together, these seven organizations deepen the pool of people who tell the nation’s stories through documentary, including new media storytelling platforms, formats, and technologies.”
Additional Recipients and Ecosystem Partners
Current partners include Firelight Media, BlackStar Projects, and Asian American Documentary Network. Sundance Institute continues focus on filmmakers of color through its Documentary Film Program. Black Public Media has evolved from the former National Black Programming Consortium and maintains grantmaking activities. The foundation’s portfolio has expanded while retaining several of the original organizations as steady collaborators.
Broader MacArthur Media Investments Since 2017
MacArthur has awarded significant additional journalism and media grants in recent years. These include a $4 million grant to LION Publishers in 2024 for local news and a $36.5 million commitment, including MacArthur’s share, to protect public media in 2025. Ongoing annual grantmaking across the foundation totals in the hundreds of millions overall.
For more details on the organizations or the disbursement of the award, go to macfound.org.
