The deadline for grant applications for calendar year 2006 has passed. The next deadline will be in spring 2007.

HFPA Philanthropy – The HFPA Trust

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Charitable Trust (the HFPA Trust) was established to oversee the HFPA's cultural and educational activities. The HFPA Trust is the philanthropic arm of the HFPA, which distributes the HFPA's income from the Golden Globe Awards. In the past 11 years, the HFPA Trust has bestowed nearly $6 million in financial grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and film schools. 2005 was another banner year for the HFPA Trust—it distributed more than $1 million to support an array of far-reaching programs and services throughout the world. An additional $250,000 was donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund In Support of Hurricane Relief, in response to the unprecedented tragedy in New Orleans.

Our purpose and goals

Throughout its history, the majority of HFPA's funding has been dedicated to advancing and preserving the culture and art of motion pictures. Its funding is principally directed to the following goals:

1. Nurture the development of young artists in film and television through support for:
   • Scholarships and other support to undergraduate and graduate film schools in the United States (see separate guidelines under Applying for Funding from the HFPA Trust);
   • Pre-professional education and training programs for talented young artists from diverse backgrounds, primarily in the Los Angeles region; and
   • High-caliber professional training and mentoring that successfully advance the projects, skills and industry relationships of outstanding new filmmakers worldwide.
2. Preserve the culture and history of motion pictures by supporting:
   • Film preservation and archival programs with national and international significance; and
   • Major film retrospectives that showcase master works and prominent filmmakers of world cinema to advance knowledge and appreciation among diverse audiences, primarily in the Los Angeles area; and
   • Projects that protect Hollywood's rich motion picture history and recreate the early movie going experience for audiences.
3. Promote cultural exchange and understanding through support for major programs and exhibitions that utilize film to ignite critical dialogue and promote global understanding. Priority is given to activities and events in the Los Angeles area.
4. A small amount of funding may be considered on a selective basis to support educational and cultural activities of nonprofit organizations connected with the entertainment industry.

Applying for funding from the HFPA trust

The HFPA Trust considers grant applications in the spring of each year. The Trustees of the HFPA Trust carefully review all grant requests and make recommendations to the entire HFPA membership. 2006 applicants will be notified in July if a grant has been approved. Grant awards are presented during the HFPA Annual Installation Luncheon, usually held in the late summer.

Grant parameters and restrictions

To be considered for funding, organizations must have either a valid tax-exemption from the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 charitable organization and not as a private foundation or be a public institution.

While the majority of its grants are given to Los Angeles-based organizations, the HFPA Trust also supports educational institutions and selected wider reaching programs that are national, and in limited cases, international in scope.

Grants are made on a yearly basis. The HFPA Trust does not consider proposals extending over more than one year. Past grantees must submit HFPA's required reporting on previous grant expenditures and activities before additional funding will be considered.

The HFPA Trust does not provide grants to individuals, for fundraising events and drives (memberships, benefits, etc.) or for excessive overhead and/or administrative costs. With few exceptions, grants are not made to film festivals, for film production costs, or for education outreach programs sponsored by arts organizations.

Application procedures

Please make sure that your grant request falls within the Trust's goals and grant parameters otherwise we cannot support you, no matter how worthy your cause. All eligible organizations must complete a grant application, which includes an Application Cover Form, a narrative proposal and required attachments.

Note that separate application information is required for General Financial Grants and for Graduate and Undergraduate Film School Grants. See these linkages for specific application requirements. We suggest that you complete the Application Form online before printing. If you have problems printing the form, please request a preprinted form from info@hfpa.org.

Please submit two (2) sets of your organization's completed Application Form and required attachments plus one (1) copy of other items (brochures, videos, etc) that you feel may support your application.

Because the HFPA Trust's resources are limited, we are not able to fund all the worthy applications received. Unfortunately, some applicants may be declined regardless of their individual merit. In such a case, we urge you to apply again the following year.

2006 grant applications must be recieved by Thursday, March 30, 2006.

Given the large volume of applications recieved, the HFPA is not able to accept faxed, e-mailed, late or incomplete proposals.

Send completed applications to:

HFPA Trust Grants Committee
c/o Grants Officer
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
646 N. Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069-5022

For inquiries regarding the HFPA Trust's grants program, contact our Grants Officer at grants@hfpa.org or (310) 657-1731.