Perspective Media Initiatives Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10,891,378 (2024)
• Success Rate: Highly selective (invitation-only for full applications)
• Decision Time: 1 month for initial LOI review
• Grant Range: Varies by project needs (median $82,000)
• Geographic Focus: National/International

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.perspectivefund.org
• Email: hello@perspectivefund.org
• Address: 10 Times Square, Room 1600, New York, NY 10018
• Film Inquiry Form: https://airtable.com/shreH2NsvdKmX4Sn2
• Organization Inquiry Form: https://airtable.com/shr75mXWpH7CTlG88

Overview

Founded in 2014, Perspective Fund (legally Perspective Media Initiatives Inc) is a private grantmaking foundation with $21.1 million in assets that champions storytelling as a tool for social transformation. The foundation distributed $10.9 million in charitable disbursements in 2024, supporting documentary films and organizations that advance equity, justice, and human rights. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Jacob Taylor, Perspective Fund has grown significantly, increasing from 35 grants in 2022 to 60 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $82,000. The foundation operates with the belief that first-rate media can equip audiences with the knowledge, willpower, and community infrastructure to bring about a more socially and economically inclusive world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Film Production Grants: Development, production, and post-production support for feature-length documentaries (rolling basis)
• Impact Campaign Support: Planning and implementation of social impact campaigns for completed films (rolling basis)
• Documentary Subject Support: Compensation, coaching, legal support, and therapy for film subjects (rolling basis)
• General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding for documentary organizations (rolling basis)
• Envision Impact Lab: $150,000-$300,000 over 2 years for innovative projects (applications August 8 - September 21, 2025)
• G.R.O.W. Program: Tailored non-financial resources for operational wellbeing (ongoing for grantees)

Priority Areas

• Social justice documentaries exploring significant policy or economic themes
• Projects centering communities directly affected by issues
• Collaborative and equitable filmmaking practices
• Films with clear impact potential (shifting attitudes, supporting movements)
• Documentary infrastructure and ecosystem support
• Innovation in distribution and audience engagement

What They Don't Fund

• Narrative fiction films
• Short films (primarily)
• Podcasts
• Series production
• Projects without clear social impact goals

Governance and Leadership

Jacob Taylor - Chief Executive Officer & Founder: Founded Perspective Fund in 2014 and leads the cross-medium funding strategy, focusing on expanding the portfolio and leveraging the impact potential of storytelling.

Eliana Kraus Piper - Chief Operating Officer: Builds operational and financial systems, oversees internal culture and day-to-day operations.

Andrew Catauro - Program Officer: Manages direct film support grantmaking and identifies documentary projects with social justice impact.

Denae Peters - Senior Program Officer: Oversees the Infrastructure program and supports the non-fiction media impact ecosystem.

Abby Lord - Strategic Projects Manager: Manages the G.R.O.W. program and grantee resources.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review the FAQ page and funding criteria on the website
2. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) via the appropriate Airtable form (films or organizations)
3. Wait up to one month for initial response
4. If advanced, engage in conversations with a program officer
5. Receive invitation to submit full grant proposal (invitation-only basis)

Note: No budget minimums or maximums apply, and no co-production credits or IP ownership are required.

Decision Timeline

• Initial LOI review: Up to 1 month
• If no response within one month, the project has not advanced
• Full application timeline provided by program officer after initial conversations
• Rolling submissions accepted year-round (except special programs like Envision Impact Lab)

Success Rates

The foundation is highly selective, with an invitation-only process for full applications. In 2023, they awarded 60 grants totaling $7.89 million, up from 35 grants in 2022, showing significant growth in their grantmaking capacity.

Reapplication Policy

While not explicitly stated, the rolling submission process allows applicants to resubmit inquiries at any time if their project evolves or better aligns with funding priorities.

Application Success Factors

Based on Perspective Fund's portfolio and stated priorities:

• Demonstrate mastery of storytelling craft: The foundation has funded Oscar-nominated films like "Crip Camp" and "Time," showing they prioritize editorial excellence
• Show clear social impact strategy: Projects like "Union" (Amazon labor organizing) and "Coded Bias" (facial recognition bias) demonstrate specific change objectives
• Center affected communities: Films like "Writing with Fire" (Dalit women journalists) show authentic community representation
• Evidence of collaborative practices: The foundation values equitable and inclusive filmmaking approaches
• Align with current portfolio themes: Recent grants focus on labor rights, criminal justice reform, climate justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equity
• No geographical restrictions: International projects like those in Nairobi and Ciudad de Mexico have been funded
• Focus on feature-length documentaries: While they may consider impact campaigns for other formats, production funding primarily supports feature films

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Perspective Fund operates on a rolling submission basis with no fixed deadlines (except special programs), allowing flexibility in application timing
• The median grant size is $82,000, but amounts vary based on project needs with no stated minimums or maximums
• Full applications are by invitation only after successful LOI review and program officer conversations
• The foundation does not require co-production credits, IP ownership, or editorial oversight beyond standard grant monitoring
• With $19.5 million in contributions received in 2024, the foundation shows strong financial capacity and growth trajectory
• They support the full lifecycle of documentary projects: development through impact campaigns, plus subject support
• The Envision Impact Lab offers larger grants ($150,000-$300,000) for innovative, transformational projects with US-based lead organizations

References

• Perspective Fund Official Website: https://www.perspectivefund.org (accessed February 4, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/874236519 (accessed February 4, 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/874236519 (accessed February 4, 2026)
• Media Impact Funders Member Spotlight: https://mediaimpactfunders.org/member-spotlight-perspective-fund/ (accessed February 4, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/perspective-media-initiatives-inc (accessed February 4, 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/87-4236519 (accessed February 4, 2026)