Overview
The Caucus Foundation Student Grant Program provides completion funding for undergraduate and graduate students at accredited US institutions who are finishing thesis films, television programs, videos, or interactive projects. The Caucus Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors, a professional organization of senior-level television industry professionals including showrunners, executive producers, and directors.
In its 22-year history, the foundation has awarded 201 grants totaling over $2 million in finishing funds and awards to college and university students across the United States. The program is specifically designed to combat the lack of diversity behind the camera by supporting students who need completion money after other fundraising sources have been exhausted.
Unlike many scholarships that fund tuition or living expenses, the Caucus Foundation grant is specifically for project completion. This means you need to have a film or project in post-production with a rough cut assembled before applying. The grant covers finishing costs such as professional color grading, sound mixing, and other post-production expenses that students often cannot afford.
History
The Caucus Foundation was established in 2000 as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. Chuck Fries, known as the "Godfather" of the TV Movie, was instrumental in creating the foundation and guiding its mission to promote diversity in the entertainment industry. The foundation focuses on helping launch the professional careers of student filmmakers from groups currently underrepresented in the industry.
Over 22 years, the foundation has built a track record of supporting emerging talent. Each round brings 10 to 20 entries from film and television schools across the country. A judging committee made up of Foundation Board members and Caucus membership screens the submissions and selects grantees. Selected grantees are then judged a second time each fall, and 2 receive Gold Circle Awards at the annual Caucus Awards Dinner.
The foundation has partnered with industry leaders including Panavision, illuminate Hollywood, and the Annenberg Foundation to provide in-kind services alongside cash grants. These partnerships have expanded the value of each grant well beyond the cash award.
Award Value
The award ranges from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000, based on the completion needs of the individual project. No single grant can amount to more than 40 percent of the total amount awarded in that funding session.
Awards are made twice per year:
- Round 1: Applications due March 15
- Round 2: Applications due June 15 (extended to July 15 in some years)
The Gold Circle Awards recognize the 2 outstanding films each year from among the grant recipients. The 1st Place Chuck Fries Gold Circle Award includes $2,500 from the Foundation plus a $60,000 Panavision camera package. The 2nd Place Vin Di Bona Gold Circle Award includes $1,000 from the Foundation plus a $40,000 illuminate Hollywood editing package. The foundation also presents a Television and New Media Award of $6,000.
In 2023, the 21st Student Grant Awards distributed over $100,000 in combined cash and in-kind services to 6 grantees.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a US citizen
- Be registered in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program that requires a thesis project in film, television program, video, or interactive project
- Be either the producer or director of the project
- Be enrolled at an accredited university, college, or conservatory at the time of submission, or have graduated within 3 months of the application due date
- Have exhausted other means of fundraising before applying (the grant is specifically for completion money)
The program is open to all students at accredited institutions, not just a fixed list of partner schools. The foundation has historically received strong applications from schools including USC, UCLA, Chapman University, Columbia University, and Emerson College.
Submissions can be structured films (narrative, documentary, experimental), TV programs of any genre (game show, reality, sitcom, variety, documentary, webisodes), or interactive projects. Documentaries may be up to 60 minutes. All other genres may be up to 30 minutes.
Past Recipients
The 2022 grantees included Zani Wilson (New York University), Chris Sonnenschien (Columbia College Chicago), Khiam'e Fields (UCLA), Taylor Dominique Mason (Columbia College Chicago), Maria Valdez (UCLA), and Jesse Randall Reid (Los Angeles City College). Alfonso Ribeiro hosted the 21st Student Grant Awards ceremony in May 2023.
The 2019 Gold Circle Award winners included Aaron Fink from Chapman University (1st Place) and Kelly Pike from UCLA (2nd Place). Pike used the grant for professional color grading and sound mixing, stating the funds allowed her to finish her film properly and create a calling card she was proud to present.
Notable past recipient Jimmy Keyrouz won the 2016 Gold Circle Award for Nocturne in Black from Columbia University. The short film went on to win the Gold Medal at the 2016 Student Academy Awards and was shortlisted for the 2017 Oscars in the Live Action Short category. Keyrouz later expanded the project into the feature film Broken Keys, which was Lebanon's official submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Other Gold Circle winners include Ellie Foumbi (Columbia University, 2016), Julio Vincent Gambuto (USC, 2016), Jesse Gustafson (Columbia University, 2015), and Alexis Korycinski (AFI, 2015).
What Made Their Application Stand Out
Successful Caucus Foundation applicants share a key trait: they have a rough cut that demonstrates the project is close to completion. The foundation evaluates rough cuts to determine whether grant money will actually finish the film. Applicants whose rough cuts show strong storytelling, clear vision, and professional-level craft tend to advance.
Projects that reflect diverse perspectives and creative voices align with the foundation's mission to promote diversity behind the camera. The foundation looks for students who have exhausted other funding sources and genuinely need completion money. A well-organized application with a clear financing plan, realistic post-production schedule, and detailed budget gives applicants an edge.
Gold Circle Award winners typically demonstrate exceptional craft in their finished films. The second round of judging evaluates completed projects, so the quality of the final cut determines which 2 films receive the top prizes each year.
Renewal Requirements
The Caucus Foundation grant is a one-time award for a specific project. Recipients cannot reapply for the same project. However, students working on a new thesis project in a subsequent year may apply again if they meet all eligibility requirements.
There is no post-grant obligation, but recipients are encouraged to participate in the mentor program and attend the annual awards dinner. The foundation asks grantees to credit the Caucus Foundation in their finished film.
Application Process
Applications are submitted online through the Caucus Foundation website at caucus.org/foundation-grant-program. The process requires:
- A completed application form (submitted online)
- A final script
- A final budget
- A rough cut of the project (uploaded to Dropbox)
- A financing plan
- A shooting and post-production schedule
- A crew list
- Proof of student status
The rough cut is a mandatory requirement. The foundation evaluates the rough cut to determine whether the project is close enough to completion that the grant money will actually finish it. Applicants who do not have a rough cut assembled should not apply.
| Milestone | Timing |
|---|---|
| Round 1 deadline | March 15 |
| Round 2 deadline | June 15 (sometimes extended to July 15) |
| Grantees notified | Approximately 6-8 weeks after deadline |
| Gold Circle judging | Fall |
| Awards dinner | December |
What Filmmakers Should Know
The Caucus Foundation grant fills a specific gap in student film funding. Most scholarships cover tuition or living expenses, but few programs help students finish their thesis projects. This grant targets that gap, providing money for the final stage of post-production.
Students who have not yet started production or who do not have a rough cut are not eligible and should wait until they are further along. The foundation receives 10 to 20 entries per round, so competition is focused but manageable compared to national scholarship programs.
The mentor program sets this grant apart from pure cash awards. Caucus members, who are senior-level television industry professionals, provide guidance to help grantees transition from student to industry professional. This networking access can be as valuable as the cash grant itself.
The program is particularly suited to students whose projects demonstrate diverse perspectives and creative voices. The foundation's stated mission is to promote diversity behind the camera, and the selection process reflects this priority.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how grants fit into a funding strategy, see Film Grants and Funding. To plan your thesis film production budget, use the Budget Breakdown. For evaluating the cost of applying against projected returns, use the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator. For understanding how awards help with distribution, see Film Awards That Help With Distribution.
