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JustFilms 2025-2026 LOI - FAQs
Table of Contents
Will I be able to save my LOI before I submit and come back to it?
When is the deadline? When will I hear from Ford about whether I have received a grant award?
Who do I contact with problems or questions?
You may reach out to justfilmsnotifications@fordfoundation.org. Please allow 3-5 business days for a response. Before contacting us, see if your question is answered in this FAQ sheet or on the OpenWater platform. Please do not contact the Creativity & Free Expression Director with LOI inquiries.
Who is allowed to submit an LOI?
This is an invite-only process. Program Officers and external advisors have identified potential invitees, with a goal of inviting about four times the number of available grant slots.
Both non-profits and fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible, although non-profits and its equivalents are prioritized. For-profit organizations are considered an exception.
Organizational budgets up to $1 million are prioritized, though organizations with budgets up to $5 million may be considered.
Demonstrate alignment with JustFilms’ goals to advance racial, gender, and disability justice through storytelling.
Read more about eligibility here.
How do I begin the process?
Through OpenWater, you have access to our Overview page and the LOI form. Go to the bottom of this page and click "Start Application" to begin.
You will be prompted to enter a password, which you can find in the email you received inviting you to submit. You only need to enter this password once unless you sign into your account from a new device or browser.
Make sure your submission is complete before you submit your organization’s LOI.
Will I be able to save my LOI before I submit and come back to it?
Yes. You can revise your application as many times as you want before you submit. In order for your responses to be recorded, you must hit “Save” or “Save and Next” at the bottom of the page you are working on. When you arrive at the final page you can hit either “Save” or “Save and Submit”.
Please note that once you submit you will no longer be able to edit your responses.
Can other people work with me on the application?
For your convenience, you may allow other individuals to work on this application alongside yourself. To add a collaborator to your application, click the "Manage Collaborators" button at the top of this form and follow the "Add Collaborator" button.
Please note the following about this feature:
The individual who starts the application is the "Primary Collaborator" by default.
Only the Primary Collaborator can submit the completed form.
If required, you are able to reassign this role to another collaborator.
Only one person can edit the application at one time in order to avoid overwriting another collaborator's work.
When is the deadline? When will I hear from Ford about whether I have received a grant award?
The LOI deadline is September 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET. Applicants may be contacted during the review process for additional information. Finalists will be notified in October 2025 about next steps, including how to submit a full grant proposal. Grant start dates will not be earlier than January 1, 2026.
Can I receive funding over multiple years?
Yes. Applicants will be considered for three-year general & core support grants.
Can I apply for more than one project?
We encourage applicants to submit one project idea through the LOI. However, if you feel it is necessary to present two projects, you may do so within a single LOI submission. Both projects must be described in detail within the same form. Multiple submissions will not be accepted.
How much funding should I request for my organization?
Include your entire budget, highlighting projected and confirmed funding sources. JustFilms expects to be one of many partners supporting your work. Please contact justfilmsnotifications@fordfoundation.org with specific budget-related questions.