The Redford Center is a US-based nonprofit dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking, developing and investing in narrative tools that strengthen and broaden the reach of grassroots efforts powering the environmental movement.
Redford Center Inc backs environmental documentary work with unusually large project grants. Its recent awards include multiple seven-figure commitments to film production and documentary filmmaking, including Big Picture Ranch LLC in Ojai, California and Groundswell Movie LLC in Rushville, Ohio. That scale fits a funder built around environmental storytelling rather than general arts support: the foundation’s mission pairs film with environmental solutions, and its grantmaking repeatedly supports feature-length documentary projects, docu-series, and production work tied to climate, clean energy, water, biodiversity, and environmental justice. The grant list also shows support for films at different stages of development. Some awards are labeled documentary filmmaking, while others are framed as grants for film production, suggesting the foundation funds both completion and production needs. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including Big Picture Ranch LLC, Groundswell Movie LLC, We Are the Land LLC, Green New Deal Documentary LLC, Starhouse Media LLC, and Prettier in the Dark LLC. That pattern points to sustained project-based backing for environmental stories over time, rather than one-off support only.
Environmental documentary film is the clearest throughline. Redford Center Inc gave $356,747 to Shane Andersonswiftwater Films LLC in Olympia, Washington for documentary filmmaking, and $165,769 to Culture Crossing Llclisa Landers in Larkspur, California for the same purpose. The foundation also uses production grants to support film work, such as $260,250 to Green New Deal Documentary LLC in Brooklyn, New York and $150,878 to Barrelmaker Productions LLC in Bozeman, Montana. Youth engagement appears in the active program list through the Redford Center Stories — Youth Filmmaking Challenge, which solicits short films from students and young filmmakers on environmental topics. The fiscal sponsorship program adds another layer of support for film projects and impact campaigns by enabling tax-deductible donations and grants through The Redford Center’s nonprofit status. Across these programs and grants, the emphasis stays on environmental storytelling tied to solutions and public engagement.
Typical awards cluster around project funding, with a p25 of $20,000, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $145,350. The recent grant list also shows much larger commitments for selected film projects, including multi-year support to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring pattern includes several repeat grantees, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is structured as a nonprofit funder, funds organizations rather than individuals, and does not make program-related investments. It also operates both an open-call grant program and fiscal sponsorship, which can support project-specific fundraising.
$5.9M
$6.4M
$8.1M
$9.3M
Most grants fall between $20K and $145K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$145K
HANNAH ABUZAINEH
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Grantmaking is national, and every recent recipient in the list is in the United States. California appears often, including Ojai, Larkspur, Fairfax, Marina del Rey, Sherman Oaks, and San Francisco. Outside California, the grants reach Rushville, Ohio; Olympia, Washington; Brooklyn and New York, New York; Bozeman and Galletin Gateway, Montana; Knoxville, Tennessee; Basalt, Colorado; Washington, DC; and Hogansburg, New York. The top state by grant count is Oregon, while 34% of grants go to recipients in California.
It funds environmental storytelling through documentary film and related production work. The grant list includes documentary filmmaking and film production awards, and its stated focus areas include climate change, clean energy, water and watershed restoration, biodiversity and conservation, environmental justice, environmental education and youth engagement, and impact storytelling.
Typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $145,350 at the 75th percentile. The recent awards list also includes much larger project grants, showing that funding can reach well above the median for selected films.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Big Picture Ranch LLC, Groundswell Movie LLC, We Are the Land LLC, Green New Deal Documentary LLC, Starhouse Media LLC, and Prettier in the Dark LLC. That pattern suggests repeat support for ongoing projects.
Yes. The Redford Center Grants program is listed as an open call and accepts unsolicited applications. It supports environmental documentary filmmakers creating feature-length documentaries and docu-series, and selected projects receive grant funding plus year-long support and mentorship.
Yes. The Redford Center Stories — Youth Filmmaking Challenge solicits short films from students and young filmmakers on environmental topics, with winners showcased through the program.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundswell Movie LLC | Rushville, OH | $3,397,500 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Swiftwater Films LLC | Olympia, WA | $588,833 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| LNOLH LLC | Washington, DC | $446,500 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Big Picture Ranch LLC | Ojai, CA | $239,500 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Culture Crossing LLC | Larkspur, CA | $177,548 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| My Giant Squid Friend LLC | San Francisco, CA | $141,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Feeding Tomorrow LLC | Los Angeles, CA | $94,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Peter McBride Productions LLC | Basalt, CO | $85,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| The Center for Independent | Newton, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Idle Wild Films Inc | Holladay, UT | $75,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| By the Creek Productions LLC | Brooklyn, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Encompass Productions Inc | Truckee, CA | $64,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Refashionable LLC | Knoxville, TN | $56,444 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Understory Films LLC | Beacon, NY | $56,400 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Mellifera Cine LLC | Los Angeles, CA | $45,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Sound Off LLC | Miami, FL | $43,800 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Sea Change Film LLC | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Fire Frog Media LLC | East Provo, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Duckbear LLC | Victor, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Tikkun Olam Productions | Somerville, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Here Now Project LLC | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Silence is Golden LLC | Portland, OR | $20,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| The Black List Llc | Encino, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Carbon Table LLC | New York, NY | $14,100 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Wool Film LLC | Mosier, OR | $10,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Colleen Thurston | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Bee Film LLC | Dr Ojai, CA | $9,500 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| Brick City TV LLC | New York, NY | $9,400 | 2026 | Documentary filmmaking |
| BIG PICTURE RANCH LLC | OJAI, CA | $3,178,298 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| GROUNDSWELL MOVIE LLC | RUSHVILLE, OH | $2,606,481 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| SHANE ANDERSONSWIFTWATER FILMS LLC | OLYMPIA, WA | $356,747 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| CULTURE CROSSING LLCLISA LANDERS | LARKSPUR, CA | $165,769 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| PRETTIER IN THE DARK LLC | NEW YORK, NY | $147,250 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| REFASHIONABLE LLC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $104,678 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| PETE MCBRIDE PRODUCTIONS | BASALT, CO | $96,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| HARVEST DOCUMENTARY LLC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $70,500 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| LNOLHLLCALEXANDRA NORRIS | WASHINGTON, DC | $56,400 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| TWO ROW PRODUCTIONS LLC | HOGANSBURG, NY | $54,618 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| JOHN ANGIULOSURFING SAVES LLC | WEST BABYLON, NY | $44,367 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| ENCOMPASS PRODUCTIONS LLC | TRUCKEE, CA | $41,800 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $37,650 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| JULIANNE PARKERHAMAKO FILMS LLC | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| ELIVIA SHAWLONG TAKE FILMS LLC | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| IDLE WILD FILMS INC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| FIRE FROG MEDIA LLC | PROVO, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| RENIQUA SIMONE ALLEN-LAMPHERE | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| BLIND FILMS LLCMARIA KARPOUKHINA | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| SOUND OFF LLC | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| TO USE A MOUNTAIN LLC | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
| SEA CHANGE FILMS LLC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING |
Groundswell Movie LLC
$3,397,500Documentary filmmaking
Swiftwater Films LLC
$588,833Documentary filmmaking
LNOLH LLC
$446,500Documentary filmmaking
Big Picture Ranch LLC
$239,500Documentary filmmaking
Culture Crossing LLC
$177,548Documentary filmmaking
My Giant Squid Friend LLC
$141,000Documentary filmmaking
Feeding Tomorrow LLC
$94,000Documentary filmmaking
Peter McBride Productions LLC
$85,000Documentary filmmaking
Idle Wild Films Inc
$75,000Documentary filmmaking
By the Creek Productions LLC
$75,000Documentary filmmaking
Encompass Productions Inc
$64,000Documentary filmmaking
Refashionable LLC
$56,444Documentary filmmaking
Understory Films LLC
$56,400Documentary filmmaking
Mellifera Cine LLC
$45,000Documentary filmmaking
Sound Off LLC
$43,800Documentary filmmaking
Sea Change Film LLC
$25,000Documentary filmmaking
Fire Frog Media LLC
$25,000Documentary filmmaking
Duckbear LLC
$20,000Documentary filmmaking
Here Now Project LLC
$20,000Documentary filmmaking
Silence is Golden LLC
$20,000Documentary filmmaking
The Black List Llc
$15,000Documentary filmmaking
Carbon Table LLC
$14,100Documentary filmmaking
Wool Film LLC
$10,000Documentary filmmaking
Colleen Thurston
$10,000Documentary filmmaking
Bee Film LLC
$9,500Documentary filmmaking
Brick City TV LLC
$9,400Documentary filmmaking
BIG PICTURE RANCH LLC
$3,178,298DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
GROUNDSWELL MOVIE LLC
$2,606,481DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
SHANE ANDERSONSWIFTWATER FILMS LLC
$356,747DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
CULTURE CROSSING LLCLISA LANDERS
$165,769DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
PRETTIER IN THE DARK LLC
$147,250DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
REFASHIONABLE LLC
$104,678DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
PETE MCBRIDE PRODUCTIONS
$96,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
HARVEST DOCUMENTARY LLC
$70,500DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
LNOLHLLCALEXANDRA NORRIS
$56,400DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
TWO ROW PRODUCTIONS LLC
$54,618DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
JOHN ANGIULOSURFING SAVES LLC
$44,367DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
ENCOMPASS PRODUCTIONS LLC
$41,800DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG INC
$37,650DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
JULIANNE PARKERHAMAKO FILMS LLC
$30,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
ELIVIA SHAWLONG TAKE FILMS LLC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
IDLE WILD FILMS INC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
FIRE FROG MEDIA LLC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
RENIQUA SIMONE ALLEN-LAMPHERE
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
BLIND FILMS LLCMARIA KARPOUKHINA
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
SOUND OFF LLC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
TO USE A MOUNTAIN LLC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
SEA CHANGE FILMS LLC
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING