Dear Friends, 

If the past year at American Documentary is any indication of the coming decade, I’d say that we have much to be excited about. 

Our organization continued to evolve and push boundaries, during a banner year of signature and new programs. Through POV and America ReFramed, we heralded our own year of the woman with nearly two-thirds of our broadcasts helmed by female directors. We made public media a home for bold and innovative nonfiction when we first launched in POV in 1988 and this year, introduced the world to POV Spark, our ambitious interactive arm exploring the future of documentary. With an exciting slate of projects and programs in the pipeline, we intend to build on that legacy for the next generation of mediamakers. 

All of this couldn’t come at a more important time in media, and the world at large. It’s the age of walls—from paywalls to border walls, we’re juggling between fractured media ecosystems and communities divided by inequality. At AmDoc, we put our resources behind the idea that the best documentaries build bridges that remind us of our shared humanity. The stories we support inspire curiosity and conversation, presenting diverse perspectives that reveal universal experiences: joy, heartbreak, the desire to belong. 

It’s why, in 2020, we’re continuing the high-impact initiative Our America, working with community partners across the country to foster civil civic dialogue around local issues during an important election year. And after a successful pilot, we’re relaunching the Artist Emergency Fund, so that storytellers with unique perspectives aren’t encumbered by the unexpected hardships that have a disproportionate effect on the poor, including health emergencies and natural disasters. 

Because of your support, American Documentary is a leading force for reimagining public media for underserved artists and audiences. For our filmmakers, it’s a trusted national platform to share their stories. For viewers, it’s our unapologetic approach to curation and community engagement that makes these stories accessible to all.

This work can’t be done without your help. Your tax-deductible donation will directly support bold documentaries and documentarians for the public good. Thank you for being a part of our community, and thank you for your crucial support.

Sincerely yours,