Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund
OVERVIEW: The Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund supports documentaries and narrative projects.
IP TAKE: Eastman lacks transparency, which makes it challenging for grant seekers to attract Eastman's attention.
PROFILE: The Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund has been around since the mid-1940s, awarding grants to groups that work for positive social change. In the filmmaking space, the fund often supports documentaries and narrative projects.
According to tax filings, grants are modest, typically $2,500 to $5,000. Rarely, if ever, does this funder offer grants over $5,000. Although Eastman supports projects all over the United States, it appears to have a fondness for those in or related to New York City. Eastman provides completion funding rather than development funding. This low-profile funder does not operate a website and does not appear to have a formal or paid staff.
Tax filings show that the board meets three times per year—in January, June, and September—to make grant decisions. Ten to 15 projects are funded each round. Note that not all grants in each cycle go to filmmaking efforts: Eastman funds a variety of art forms, including opera, folk music, and theater.
Eastman does not accept unsolicited requests for funding at this time.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund
43-07 42nd St., Apt. 5C
Sunnyside, NY United States 11104-2853
(631) 438-0315