This completely revised and updated version that gives filmmakers the full story on how to get grants and donations from individuals, foundations, goverment agencies, and corporations in the 21st century.
Morrie Warshawski is a consultant who specializes in helping nonprofits with strategic planning. He is also the author of two books on fundraising: SHAKING THE MONEY TREE: THE ART OF GETTING GRANTS AND DONATIONS FOR FILM AND VIDEO, and THE FUNDRAISING HOUSEPARTY: HOW TO PARTY WITH A PURPOSE AND RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE"
Read this in college and just re-read it for an upcoming project. I think it's more useful for a documentarian than someone looking to make scripted work. In general I think there are more useful books which cover general production in addition to fundraising and teach you how to ask for specific things instead of money.
I sort of skimmed this, I must admit, since I'm trying to quickly raise just A LITTLE more money so I can finish a film. A lot of the book is about organizing your filmmaking career in the process of trying to raise funds for a new socially-conscious film. I'm actually toward the end of making a documentary, and just need a few grand to finish editing.
First, this book is way overpriced at $27 for a paperback with a little more than a 100 pages of actual text (the rest is taken up with a proposal example which, presumably, the author did not write.) Second, all of the advice is basic common sense. If you are still curious, just read this one in the bookstore or a library in an hour or two.