Doris Duke Foundation For Islamic Art - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $4,034,967 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (multi-stage review process)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $300,000 (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: United States (national)
Total Grants Awarded: 18 grants in 2023
Median Grant Size: $100,000

Contact Details

Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
Building Bridges Program
650 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 974-7000
Email: bbp@dorisduke.org
Website: www.dorisduke.org/funding-areas/building-bridges

Program Director: Zeyba Rahman

Overview

The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA) operates the Building Bridges Program, the grant-making arm of DDFIA and part of the larger Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Launched in 2007 in response to anti-Muslim sentiment following 9/11, the program has distributed over $48 million to support arts- and media-based projects working with U.S. Muslims to advance relationships and understanding among diverse communities. The foundation is unique as the only program of its kind among private U.S. foundations specifically dedicated to elevating U.S. Muslim storytelling through media and entertainment.

Inspired by Doris Duke's devotion to global Muslim cultures, the program explores how media and entertainment can serve as platforms for reinforcing shared humanity. Under the leadership of President and CEO Sam Gill (appointed April 2021) and Program Director Zeyba Rahman (promoted 2022), the foundation has significantly expanded its commitment to Muslim creative communities, announcing $6 million in new funding in 2024 to combat rising Islamophobia and support authentic Muslim narratives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Annual Grant Competition (Currently Closed)

Amount: Up to $125,000 for organizations with budgets $100K-$500K; up to $300,000 for organizations with budgets over $500K
Maximum: 25% of annual expense budget
Description: Funds planning and implementation of projects engaging U.S.-based Muslims and non-Muslims in arts- and media-based experiences
Application Method: Two-stage process (Letter of Interest, then full proposal by invitation)

2. Building Bridges Documentary Fund (via CAAM - Regranting Partner)

Amount: $10,000 - $100,000 per project
Description: Supports independent documentaries about U.S. Muslim experience at development, production, and post-production stages
Application Method: Annual RFP through CAAM's Submittable platform
Current Deadline: May 18, 2025
Total CAAM Grant: $4.5 million over three years (2024-2027) to support up to 10 projects annually

3. Building Bridges Fellowship (via Sundance Institute)

Amount: $10,000 unrestricted artist grant plus mentorship and support
Description: Supports filmmakers telling U.S. Muslim stories with financial resources, creative support, and industry connections
Application Method: Through Sundance Institute and Islamic Scholarship Fund partnership
Total Grant: $1 million over three years (2024-2027)

4. Building Bridges Completion Fund (via Sundance Institute)

Amount: Up to $25,000
Description: Post-production, marketing, PR, or premiere costs for films at Sundance Film Festival
Eligibility: U.S.-based directors, writers, or producers with projects amplifying U.S. Muslim narratives

5. Staff-Curated Grants

The program also identifies organizations advancing its goals and provides funding through staff-curated grants outside the annual competition

2024 Major Regranting Partnerships

In January 2024, DDFIA announced $6 million in new commitments:

Center for Asian American Media (CAAM): $4.5 million for U.S. Muslim Documentary Fund
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau: $1.425 million over three years for The Muslim House™ at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca
Islamic Scholarship Fund: $100,000 for Fellowship Program with experiential learning

Priority Areas

What They Fund:

Arts- and media-based projects advancing relationships between U.S. Muslim and non-Muslim communities
Documentary films bearing witness to U.S. Muslim experiences
Performing arts projects engaging diverse communities
Literary media projects
Contemporary Muslim arts and culture (not solely historical)
Projects with engaging, immersive, and interactive experiences
Collaborative projects with community partnerships
Projects tailored to specific intended audiences
Authentic narratives told by U.S. Muslim creatives

Eligible Organizations:

501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations operating in the United States
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may work with nonprofit fiscal sponsors
Minimum annual operating budget: $100,000
Minimum arts-related programming: $25,000

What They Don't Fund

Initiatives focusing solely on historical (as opposed to contemporary) arts and cultures from Muslim-majority regions
Film production or distribution of a single film (generally not competitive)
Projects supporting a single artist performance or single performance production
Direct costs for development and installation of exhibitions (though public programs associated with exhibitions are eligible)
Physical infrastructure or capital campaigns
Individual artists directly (must apply through organizational fiscal sponsor)
Singular artistic projects, including standalone exhibitions and publications
Projects primarily serving non-U.S. audiences
Thesis projects or student films co-owned or copyrighted by schools

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Leadership

Sam Gill - President & CEO (appointed April 2021)
A Rhodes Scholar, Gill leads the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Duke Farms Foundation, and Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. He has been vocal about the entertainment industry's role in combating hate and supporting Muslim representation.

Key Quote: "Media shapes our culture and has often perpetuated negative stereotypes about the Muslim community. We need more Muslim creatives in front of and behind the camera."

In a Hollywood Reporter op-ed, Gill noted that of the 10 films nominated for best picture at the Oscars, only one featured a self-identified Muslim in "a meaningful, nonstereotypical role," highlighting the need for greater representation.

Building Bridges Program Leadership

Zeyba Rahman - Program Director (promoted March 2022)
Rahman joined DDFIA as senior program officer in 2013 and has led the Building Bridges Program's evolution toward supporting documentary film and entertainment industry partnerships. She oversees grantmaking to support national efforts working with U.S. Muslims to increase mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations.

Key Quotes from Rahman:

On authentic storytelling: "When we learn about characters' nuances in a very intimate way, it helps us to dislodge or reexamine popularly held views about others. So it's important that we focus, like a laser beam, on supporting authentic narratives that U.S. Muslims can tell."

On documentary's role: "Documentary films are among the most authentic methods of storytelling, offering unfiltered and honest perspectives that help to understand issues and open hearts and minds to shift narratives."

On the power of art: Art "opens us up" and "makes us consider and reconsider positions. Provokes us to think more deeply."

On program need: "In this time more than ever before, such a program is very much needed."

On collaboration: "What really was needed was this layer of support and also equally importantly, a network of grantees and allies who work together. It's in the working together very intentionally that we can advance and really maximize opportunities."

Board Governance

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is governed by a board of 10 trustees, currently chaired by Samsher Gill, with Anthony Fauci serving as Vice Chair.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: There are no open grant competitions at this time for the general Building Bridges Program. The foundation states that "most of our grants are by invitation" but they do "accept unsolicited proposals" and "have open calls from time to time."

To Stay Informed: Sign up for the foundation's newsletter at www.dorisduke.org to receive announcements about future grant competitions.

Alternative Application Routes:

CAAM Building Bridges Documentary Fund: Apply directly through CAAM's Submittable platform for documentary projects (open through May 18, 2025)
Sundance Building Bridges Fellowship: Apply through Sundance Institute and Islamic Scholarship Fund partnership
Letter of Inquiry: Contact the foundation at bbp@dorisduke.org or grants@dorisduke.org to inquire about funding opportunities

Application Process (When Competition Is Open)

Two-Stage Process:

Stage 1: Letter of Interest (LOI)

Submit brief preliminary proposal through online portal
External expert panel reviews all LOIs
Panel provides recommendations to Building Bridges staff on which applicants advance

Stage 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)

Selected applicants invited to submit comprehensive proposal
Typical components include:
- Project Narrative (2-3 pages) covering project overview, team, goals, methods, intended audience, involvement of literary media/performing arts, and how the project advances understanding
- Budget Overview (up to 1 page)
- Description and clarification of all partnerships

Evaluation Criteria

All grants are evaluated based on:

Significance: Does the project address a significant funding gap or support a critical opportunity related to the foundation's mission?
Alignment: How well do applicant objectives align with Building Bridges Program goals?
Impact: What is the potential for long-term impact through replication, reach, visibility, or field changes?
Capacity: Does the applicant organization have the capacity to execute the project effectively?
Leverage: Is there opportunity to leverage additional resources through DDF funding?

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed and vary by grant cycle. Historical example from 2017 cycle:

LOI deadline: September 8, 2017
Full proposal invitation: December 1, 2017

The foundation conducts ongoing evaluation through:

Monitoring and assessment (site visits, grantee consultations, annual progress reviews)
Initiative evaluation (intensive 3-5 year reviews using outside consultants)
External program review (systematic 5-year field analysis)

Success Rates

Application statistics and success rates are not publicly disclosed. In the 2020 grant cycle, the foundation announced 22 recipients receiving more than $4 million—the largest cohort in the program's history, awarding approximately $1.6 million more than initially intended.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in available materials. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

Program-Specific Insights

1. Authentic Muslim Voices Are Central

The foundation prioritizes projects where U.S. Muslims have "artistic, budgetary and editorial control" and own the copyright. As Rahman emphasized, "Instead of someone else telling our story, we must tell our own stories."

2. Focus on Contemporary Experiences

Projects must address contemporary Muslim arts and cultures, not solely historical perspectives. The program seeks to counter "negative stereotyping or popularly held notions of what Muslims are" through current, relevant narratives.

3. Relationship-Building, Not Just Awareness

Successful projects engage both Muslim and non-Muslim communities in experiences that "advance relationships and understanding for mutual well-being." The goal is interaction and connection, not just education.

4. Documentary Film Has Special Importance

Rahman stated documentary "very often come[s] from bearing witness, from lifting up a particular point of view, and do so with authenticity." The foundation views documentaries as particularly effective for shifting narratives.

5. Collaboration and Partnership Matter

Applications must "describe and clarify all partnerships involved in the project." The foundation values intentional collaboration: "It's in the working together very intentionally that we can advance and really maximize opportunities."

6. Nuance Over Stereotypes

The foundation seeks projects that help audiences "learn about characters' nuances in a very intimate way" to "dislodge or reexamine popularly held views about others."

7. Experiential and Immersive Approaches

Proposed projects should offer "engaging, immersive and interactive experiences" tailored to specific audiences, rather than passive programming.

8. Ecosystem Building

The foundation increasingly focuses on building infrastructure and networks, not just individual projects. Rahman noted the need for "a network of grantees and allies who work together" and "a named space" to establish presence (as with The Muslim House at festivals).

Recent Successful Projects (Examples)

2020 Grant Recipients included:

Battery Dance Corporation (New York): $94,543 for "Building Bridges Through Spoken Word and Dance"
BoomGen Studios' Starfish Accelerator Project (Los Angeles): $345,000 for the Starfish Accelerator
California Shakespeare Theater (Orinda): $108,100 for "Shahrazad Squad"
Duke University (Durham, NC): $201,250 for "Building Bridges: Black Muslims in America"
Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation: $101,200 for "Manuscripts of the Muslim World"

Notable Funded Work: "Stranger at the Gate" - Oscar-nominated short documentary

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Wait for the right opportunity: With no current open competition, focus on the regranting partners (CAAM Documentary Fund, Sundance Fellowship) or sign up for the newsletter to be notified when applications reopen.
Center authentic Muslim voices: Projects must be led by and give creative control to U.S. Muslim creators. Co-ownership or external control significantly weakens applications.
Emphasize relationship-building over education: Frame your project around how it will create connections and advance mutual well-being between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, not just raise awareness.
Think ecosystem, not just project: The foundation increasingly values infrastructure-building, networks, and collaborative initiatives over standalone projects. Show how your work connects to or builds the field.
Documentary filmmakers have multiple pathways: Beyond the main competition, explore CAAM's Documentary Fund ($10K-$100K), Sundance Fellowship ($10K plus support), or Sundance Completion Fund (up to $25K).
Contemporary, nuanced storytelling wins: Avoid historical-only projects and stereotypical narratives. Show how your project reveals complexity and challenges "popularly held notions."
Align with current strategic direction: The foundation is "leaning into partnerships with the entertainment industry," so projects connecting to film, TV, and media have particular resonance right now.
Partnership strength matters: Clearly articulate all partnerships and demonstrate how collaborative work amplifies impact. The foundation values "working together very intentionally."

References

All sources accessed December 2024