Funding for public radio is intended to maintain and strengthen its program-production infrastructure. The General Program supports documentary films through grants for production, distribution, and outreach associated with the broadcast of documentaries, and through support to organizations serving the field. Production grants are highly competitive. Only documentary films are supported by the Foundation, and those documenting the work of an organization or the life of an influential individual are rarely funded. Proposals more likely to be successful are those whose subject reflects the grantmaking priorities of the MacArthur Foundation coupled with a distribution plan and high likelihood of national broadcast.
Series are more likely to receive support than individual films.
The General Program supports distribution through annual support for P.O.V., a PBS series that showcases independent work, and WorldLink, a new DBS channel that broadcasts international news, public affairs, and cultural programs. MacArthur accepts proposals and makes occasional grants for distribution of single, independent films and series. By funding outreach projects the Foundation seeks to multiply the use of film beyond the time of broadcast. Outreach projects typically help schools, colleges, and community groups make use of MacArthur documentaries for classroom education or for community discussion and problem-solving. MacArthur accepts proposals and makes occasional grants for outreach, especially when connected with films supported by the Foundation in the production stage.