Overview
The Golden Globe Foundation is the philanthropic organization formerly known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) charitable arm. The Foundation was formally created in 2023 following the sale of the Golden Globes to Dick Clark Productions. Its grantmaking traces back to 1989, and since then the organization has donated more than $60 million to entertainment-related nonprofits, academic programs, and press freedom organizations. It has funded the restoration of over 150 classic films.
For the 2025-26 grant cycle, the Foundation awarded $3 million across 86 nonprofit organizations, film schools, and journalism programs. Funding comes from licensing fees generated by the Golden Globe Awards broadcast. Adam Tanswell serves as Foundation president. Gregory Goeckner serves as CEO.
The Foundation does not accept applications from individual students. It awards grants directly to accredited film schools, universities, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. Students access the money through their institution's financial aid office, scholarship programs, or production funding pools.
History
The Foundation's philanthropy began in 1989 under the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. After the HFPA dissolved and sold the Golden Globe Awards to Eldridge Globes LLC in 2023, the philanthropic arm was restructured as the Golden Globe Foundation. The grantmaking mission continued without interruption.
Key milestones:
- 1989: HFPA begins formal grantmaking to entertainment-related organizations
- 2015: $2 million gift to CSUN for technology upgrades and scholarships
- 2023: Foundation formally established following Golden Globes sale
- 2024-25: $3 million awarded to 83 organizations; 165 classic films restored
- 2025-26: $3 million awarded to 86 organizations, including $100,000 for Napoleon (1927) restoration
The Foundation has donated more than $60 million since inception and funded the restoration of over 150 classic films.
Award Value
The Foundation funds six categories of activity. Grant sizes vary significantly depending on the institution and program:
| Institution | Grant Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| NAACP Hollywood Bureau | $400,000 | Organizational support |
| Cinematheque Francaise | $100,000 | Restoration of Napoleon (1927) |
| IndieCollect | $75,000 | Restoration of 6 independent films |
| Cal State LA | $38,000 | Television, Film, and Media Fund |
| Santa Monica College | $43,000 | Film production capstone class |
| Cal State LA | $17,000 | Diversity in Journalism Fund |
| CSUN | Unspecified | 8 senior capstone films, scholarships, facility support |
The Foundation does not provide cash stipends or cost-of-living components to individual students. All grants go to institutions, which then distribute funds through their own scholarship and production funding pools.
At CalArts, the GGF Fellows Scholarship Program and GGF Endowed Scholarship Fund have supported over 24 students in the School of Film/Video. At Glendale Community College, the Foundation funds 20 student scholarships plus production funding. At CSUN, the Foundation funds 8 capstone senior films per year and has provided nearly $4 million in total support over 30 years.
Eligibility
For institutions: Accredited film schools, universities with film or journalism programs, community colleges with media arts departments, and registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on film education, journalism, or press freedom. The Foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in the Los Angeles area.
For individual students: You cannot apply directly. You must be enrolled at an institution that receives Foundation grants. Check with your school's financial aid office or film department. Selection at the institutional level typically combines merit, financial need, and fit with the Foundation's diversity mission. At CSUN, the Scholars Program targets students from groups underrepresented in the industry.
The Foundation does not accept direct student applications. There is no open application process for individuals.
Past Recipients
The Foundation does not award grants to individual students, so there is no public list of individual scholarship recipients. Impact is visible at the institutional level.
CSUN (30-Year Partnership)
CSUN has received Foundation support for 30 consecutive years as of 2026. The 2025-26 grant supports 8 capstone senior film productions. Recent CSUN senior films have been recognized by the DGA Student Film Awards, PBS SoCal Fine Cut, BAFTA Student Film Awards, and Student Academy Awards. The 2026 Senior Film Showcase screened 5 films at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre at AMPAS, all directed by Golden Globe Foundation Fellows:
- Beaten Down (dir. Anmol Bajaj) - Undocumented South Asian immigrant facing a family crisis
- The Trembles in My Voice (dir. Ana de Jesus) - A teenager coping with a stutter and grief
- S.N.A.F.U. (dir. Robert Kutruff) - An Iraq war veteran with PTSD
- For Which They Stand (dir. Natalie Shousha) - Post-9/11 discrimination
- The Beat of Our Souls (dir. Balcha) - An Ethiopian couple with disabilities in dance therapy
Balcha, an Ethiopian-American CSUN student, stated: "Their support has been world-changing. A great reason that it was made was the money that I got from the Golden Globe Foundation."
Other Institutions
Santa Monica College has received over $455,000 cumulatively. Glendale Community College receives 20 student scholarships plus production funding. The Foundation also funds Film Independent, Sundance Institute, Women In Film, NALIP, and Film2Future.
What Made Their Application Stand Out
Because the Foundation does not accept direct student applications, "standing out" means being selected by your institution for the Foundation-funded scholarship or production grant pool.
- For scholarships: Institutions allocate Foundation-funded scholarships based on merit, financial need, and fit with the Foundation's diversity mission. At CSUN, the Scholars Program targets students from groups underrepresented in the industry who demonstrate financial need and creative potential.
- For senior capstone films: Institutions select which senior films receive production funding. At CSUN, 8 capstone films per year are funded. Selected films demonstrate directorial vision, production readiness, and the ability to leverage the HFPA Wing of Manzanita Hall facilities.
- For nonprofit grants: Organizations are selected based on track record, alignment with the Foundation's mission, and Los Angeles-area presence.
Professor Nate Thomas, head of CSUN's film production program, noted that past showcase participants like Michelle Mizner and Arielle Kilker have won either an Oscar or Emmy for their subsequent work.
Renewal Requirements
The Foundation's grants to institutions are annual and renewable at the institutional level. Individual student awards are managed by the receiving institution under that institution's own renewal policies:
- Institutional grants: Renewed annually through the Foundation's grantmaking cycle. CSUN has received support for 30 consecutive years. The 2025-26 grantees were announced September 18, 2025.
- Individual student scholarships: Renewal depends on the institution's policy. At CSUN, the Scholars Program Endowment provides scholarships for up to 3 years, subject to maintaining academic standards and continued eligibility.
- Senior capstone film production funding: One-time per film. A student receives production funding for one capstone film.
The Foundation itself does not administer individual student renewals. All individual-level renewal questions are handled by the receiving institution.
Application Process
Students: Contact your film school's financial aid office or department chair. Ask specifically whether your institution receives Golden Globe Foundation grants and what the application process is for those funds. Each institution manages its own scholarship and production funding allocation. There is no central student application portal.
Institutions: The Foundation manages its institutional grantmaking process directly. The 2025-26 grantees were announced on September 18, 2025. A Grantee Mixer was held on October 25, 2025. Institutions interested in applying should contact the Foundation through ggfdn.org.
The Foundation concentrates its higher education giving on Los Angeles-area institutions. If you attend a film school outside Los Angeles, this grant program is unlikely to fund your institution directly.
What Filmmakers Should Know
If you attend one of the 20+ Los Angeles-area higher education institutions receiving Foundation grants, you may already have access to Foundation-funded scholarships or production grants without realizing it. At CSUN, Foundation-funded senior films have been recognized by the DGA Student Film Awards, BAFTA Student Film Awards, and the Student Academy Awards. At Santa Monica College, the Foundation funds the capstone short film class where students produce professional-level work.
The key trade-off is geographic concentration. The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on Los Angeles. If your school is not on the recipient list, look at national scholarship programs instead. For nonprofit organizations, the Foundation funds a wide range of groups beyond schools, including Film Independent, Sundance Institute, and NALIP.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how grants fit into a funding strategy, see Film Grants and Funding. To estimate production costs for a scholarship-supported project, use the Budget Breakdown Calculator. For evaluating the cost of applying against projected returns, use the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator.
Scholarship and Education Resources
The Scholarship Handbook
A comprehensive guide to finding and winning scholarships, with strategies for application essays and interview preparation.
The Film School Handbook
A practical guide to choosing, applying to, and funding film school, covering undergraduate and graduate programs.
Student Filmmaking Gear
Browse B&H Photo's selection of affordable camera kits, audio recorders, and lighting for student productions.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Tools for Film earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. This support helps us keep our calculators and tools free.
