2025 Top-Rated Nonprofit

From the Heart Productions Inc

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities

Mission: To support and educate filmmakers on funding films that are unique and make a contribution to society. To support films partially completed by gifting goods and services and cash donations to complete important historic and timely documentaries and features.

Community Stories

10 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

3

RHesse, Client Served

Rating: 5

02/20/2023

I've been working with Carole Dean and Carole Joyce with From the Heart Productions for over ten years, on several different projects. This company offers a ton of resources, I've learned so much from Carole's classes, her book and all of her articles, as well as her podcast. She is truly an expert in the field, and always brings in phenomenal guest speakers and teachers. What really impresses me is the amount of personal attention I have gotten from both Carole Dean and Carole Joyce. Despite how many filmmakers they work with, I'm always able to get one of them on the phone or get an fast response whenever I need something for a project. My consultations with both of them have been extremely helpful. I highly recommend From the Heart to any independent filmmaker trying to make their film a reality.

Naheed Board Member

Rating: 5

06/04/2025

From the Heart Productions consistently stands out as a truly inspiring non-profit, deeply committed to fostering artistic expression and building meaningful community connections. Their programs are thoughtfully developed and executed, demonstrating a profound understanding of their mission and a remarkable ability to engage and uplift individuals through the arts. The organization's dedication to its cause is evident in every initiative, making a tangible and positive impact on the lives it touches. From the Heart Productions is a beacon of creativity and community spirit, deserving of widespread recognition and support for its invaluable contributions. Naheed Ismail From The Heart Productions!

Previous Stories

Volunteer

Rating: 5

07/27/2016

Outstanding place to Volunteer with "From the Heart Productions Inc". I loved working with everyone.

caroledean23 Board Member

Rating: 5

06/04/2025

From the Heart Productions does wonderful in person events. The next event that they’re doing is the Authentic Global Films Awards in Beverly Hills June 12 and 13th.
Carole Dean and Carole Joyce will be attending and will introduce our filmmakers to industry executives.

Authenticone9 Board Member

Rating: 5

05/31/2025

We love to nurture and support our filmmakers!! Please reach out to From The Heart Productions Inc

CaroleJoyce1 Board Member

Rating: 5

02/07/2024

I’m overwhelmed with the creativity that flows through From The Heart Productions and its filmmakers.
We are so blessed to be helping filmmakers with fiscal sponsorship for over 30 years.
Every donation for every film is so filled with joy and love and gratitude.
God has wrapped its arms around us and the wonderful people that support From the heart, and help us along the way.
Carole JJoyce

1

CJ.123 Board Member

Rating: 5

02/07/2023

As a board member of From The Heart I love working with filmmakers and witnessing their dreams become reality as they make their dreams come true by making their films.
I love filmmaking and I love helping filmmakers.

Carole J.2 Board Member

Rating: 5

01/29/2021

For over 28 years we have helped filmmakers raise money for their friends through our nonprofit!
we love being a witness to their success.

Packard Board Member

Rating: 5

02/20/2020

I’ve been working as a board member with From the Heart Productions for over 27 years !
Every day we get phone calls from beautiful souls that have great visions and goals to create beautiful works of art !
We are full of gratitude when we get to help these filmmakers by becoming their fiscal sponsors.
Our greatest gift is to be a witness to this beautiful works of art that come from these little ideas that one day become award-winning films.
Carole Joyce with fiscal sponsorship with from the heart !

1

msweetfth Board Member

Rating: 5

05/16/2017

A team with a long history of successfully funding and supporting filmmakers. The offerings of various grants throughout the year makes our organization a very attractive funding source. Not only are our grants an option, we also fiscally sponsor filmmakers and have been doing so for many years. As an organization our focus is on ensuring our clients reach their goals. We manage very closely and conservatively our operating funds so as to offer reasonably affordable services to our clients. We take the time required to work with clients to help them complete their projects. It's not about rushing a client to completion. For us it's about making sure the client's project is viable, sustainable and able to reach their target audience.

richka Board Member

Rating: 5

04/10/2016

At From the Heart, all of us are very sorry for the experience the previous writer had with our non-profit that resulted in so many misconceptions about us.

As a proud board member of this great organization, its clear we need to improve explaining who we are, how much we can do for filmmakers, and how dedicated we are to helping them get their films funded.

Founded in 1993, From the Heart is a certified 501(c)3 non-profit. We are registered with the state of California and the IRS. You can find our 990’s on Guidestar.

Our mission is to help filmmakers get their films funded. Through our Roy W. Dean Grant, we’ve given filmmakers over $2 million to date in cash and donated film services. Our fiscal sponsorship program aids hundreds of filmmakers yearly raise money by helping them win grants and giving their donors tax deductible donations. Our Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches filmmakers who are artists the ins and outs of how to get money for their films.

The film community is big, but credible information on our work and references abound. Perhaps it was difficult for them to find because we support so many “underdog” filmmakers. They’ve got unique projects that contribute to society that need to be told, but are facing funding obstacles. It could be either because of the content or lack of filmmaking experience. Many are years in the making.

But, to find out about our work, you can start by checking out our 23 years of grant winners at http://fromtheheartproductions.com/previous-winners/ We’re very proud of them and the awards many of them have won.

Check out our reviews from filmmakers http://www.genbook.com/bookings/slot/reservation/30184015/reviews/

Or, view all the films that we currently fiscally sponsor https://fromtheheartproductions.givecorps.com/

You can also check us out with Indiegogo. https://www.indiegogo.com/partners/fthp We were one of the first non-profits they contacted to partner with them. Since 2011, we’ve helped filmmakers raise over $2 million crowdfunding with them.

Founder and President Carole Dean is hardly unknown. She has devoted her life to aiding filmmakers in their efforts to get their films made. Before From the Heart, she invented an industry by buying back left over film stock from features then reselling it at a discount to independent filmmakers. This enabled many filmmakers in the 70’s and 80’s to actually get their films made.

She started From the Heart after seeing that the filmmakers she worked with had so much trouble and lack of experience raising money for their films. Using her own money, she set up the Roy W. Dean Grant and asked her industry contacts to donate their services.

Carole authored “The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition: Alternative Financing Concepts”. She was invited to teach at New York Film Academy and has appeared on film industry panels as an expert in film funding, independent filmmaking, and crowdfunding. In 2012, she received the lifetime achievement award from Women in Film and Television Showcase (WIFTS).

She also gives every fiscally sponsored filmmaker a free consultation. The project and materials are reviewed beforehand. Speaking with the filmmaker, Carole offers advice on improving their trailer, pitch, and outreach to investors or donors.

I've attached three videos and a photo just in case there is any doubt left at to who we are and our mission.

The first is a video of Carole Dean explaining the benefits of fiscal sponsorship with From the Heart.

The second is Carole Dean's acceptance speech for the lifetime achievement award bestowed on her by WIFTS.

The third is a video of Carole explaining how you can manifest money for your film. This is among the many video Carole has created for filmmakers which can be found at our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWewuxELt6nUDburbM_2PbQ

The picture is one of Carole presenting the Roy W. Dean Grant award plaque to winner Leslie Neale.

To all filmmakers and donors, as well as the writer who was unsure of what we did, check out our website at www.fromtheheartproductions.com. Please call us 805-984-0098 or email us at info@fromtheheartproductions or caroleleedean@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments about us.

We look forward to continue supporting independent filmmakers and helping them get their films made.

Richard Kaufman
Board Member
From the Heart Productions

Review from Guidestar

viridisgraduateinstitute

viridisgraduateinstitute Board Member

Rating: 5

12/16/2012

From the Heart productions, led by film industry legend Carole Dean, has been a powerful voice in the film industry for over 20 years. The Roy W. Dean Film Grant continues to put forth the most significant life-changing, culture-altering films anywhere in the world. This is one film grant that makes a difference in a positive way in our world.

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