What UnionDocs does

UnionDocs is a nonprofit Center for Documentary Art founded in 2004 and headquartered at 352 Onderdonk Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, New York. The organization operates a community-led model that presents, produces, publishes, and educates around documentary and experimental nonfiction filmmaking, serving two principal audiences: practicing documentary filmmakers and artists who participate in labs, fellowships, and collaborative production cohorts, and documentary-enthusiast members of the general public who attend screenings, workshops, and conversations. Core programming includes the year-round Collaborative Studio (CoLAB) production program, Summer Documentary Labs (Early Production and R&D tracks), the UNDO Fellowship for collaborative research, Audio & Performance and Pod-Pod Audio Labs, the "Artistic Differences" breakout initiative, and ongoing film productions such as "Living Los Sures" and "Carceral Screens and the Abolitionist Imagination." The organization also provides fiscal sponsorship services, enabling independent documentary projects to receive tax-deductible donations and grants through UnionDocs' 501(c)(3) infrastructure.

UnionDocs monetizes through a tiered membership subscription model — Monthly ($7), Annual ($75), discounted Local/Artist/Student/Senior Annual ($60), and Annual Editions ($200, including publications and merchandise) — distributed via the membership.uniondocs.org streaming platform and an iOS app available on the Apple Store. Secondary revenue streams include donations (including a public 20th Anniversary gift registry for a permanent headquarters and artist residency renovation in Ridgewood), UnionDocs Editions publications and merchandise, and fees associated with fiscal sponsorship. Distribution is hybrid: in-person screenings, workshops, and exhibitions at the Ridgewood venue (free for members) plus global digital streaming via the membership platform and mobile app. The technology stack is standard content-distribution infrastructure (WordPress website, custom membership platform, native iOS app) without proprietary AI/ML components.

The organization is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors led by Board President Noah Landow, with founder Christopher Allen serving as Executive Artistic Director and jenny miller as Co-Artistic Director. Operating footprint is concentrated in NYC, though digital channels extend reach globally. The 20th Anniversary period (2024-2026) marks a phase of physical and programmatic expansion, with an active renovation of permanent headquarters and continued program launches, supported by an active Director of Development function.

Name

UnionDocs

Legal name

UnionDocs

Website

https://uniondocs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UnionDocs is a nonprofit Center for Documentary Art in Ridgewood, Queens, operating a community hub for documentary filmmakers and audiences through membership subscriptions, workshops, labs, fellowships, screenings, and fiscal sponsorship services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Arts and Nonprofit Cultural Programming

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Workshops (EDAMAMAC), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Documentary film programs
• Arts education workshops
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Documentary streaming membership
• Artist fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly and annual membership subscriptions providing access to in-person events, online streaming content, workshops, artist talks, and event conversations. Includes free access to in-person events and online viewing of documentary films.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support their work, including a 20th Anniversary gift registry for their headquarters and artist residency renovation.
3. Publications and Merchandise: UnionDocs Editions - annual subscription providing publications, merchandise, and special objects for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UnionDocs is a nonprofit Center for Documentary Art that presents, produces, publishes, and educates around documentary film through ticketed memberships, in-person screenings, hands-on workshops and labs, year-long collaborative studio cohorts, and a fellowship program. It sells access via subscription memberships (monthly and annual tiers) that unlock streaming, events, and community programming, alongside one-time publications and donations. Its audience includes documentary filmmakers, artists, students, and documentary enthusiasts seeking alternative nonfiction cinema and creative practice support.

Product overview

UnionDocs operates as a Center for Documentary Art offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and memberships. The core offering is the UnionDocs Membership (Monthly at $7, Annual at $75), providing unlimited access to documentary films, workshops, artist talks, and event recordings via their iOS app. Supporting programs include the UNDO Fellowship for collaborative research, the year-long Collaborative Studio for co-produced documentary works, Summer Documentary Labs (Early Production and R&D tracks), Audio & Performance Lab, and Pod-Pod Audio Lab. Additional offerings include Fiscal Sponsorship services, the Living Los Sures documentary project, and UnionDocs Editions publications available through the Annual Editions Membership tier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNDO Fellowship: A fellowship program bringing together artists and writers for collaborative research in documentary art.
• Collaborative Studio (CoLAB)
• Summer Documentary Labs
• Pod-Pod Audio Lab

Products and services

• UnionDocs Membership Monthly and annual subscription memberships (Monthly at $7/month, Annual at $75/year, discounted at $60/year for locals/artists/students/seniors, and Annual Editions at $200/year) granting unlimited access to in-person events, online streaming of documentary films, workshops, artist talks, and event conversations. Designed for individual documentary filmmakers, artists, students, enthusiasts, and the general public interested in documentary arts.
• Documentary Film Streaming Library On-demand streaming collection of documentary films from visionary artists pushing nonfiction storytelling forward, available to members via the membership platform and iOS mobile app. Targets documentary enthusiasts and members seeking curated, artist-driven nonfiction cinema.
• Workshops & Labs Hands-on educational workshops and labs offering in-depth sessions on documentary filmmaking, led by artists pushing the boundaries of nonfiction practice. Includes Summer Documentary Lab (Early Production and Research & Development tracks) and other specialized labs. Targeted at filmmakers and artists seeking skills development.
• Conversations & Events Recorded in-person screenings, filmmaker talks, and artist conversations held at the Ridgewood, Queens venue, available to members via the streaming platform and iOS app. Targeted at documentary audiences and members seeking engagement with artists.
• UNDO Fellowship Fellowship program pairing artists and writers for collaborative research into documentary art practices, including study groups and public-facing presentations such as Break Out symposia. Targeted at selected documentary artists, filmmakers, and scholars.
• Collaborative Studio (CoLAB) Year-long collaborative production program bringing together selected artists to research and create documentary works collectively in annual cohorts (e.g., COLAB 2019 Take The L, COLAB 2020 Unmute Please). Targeted at selected documentary artists and filmmakers.
• Pod-Pod Audio Lab Podcast-focused lab program for developing audio documentary skills and producing nonfiction audio work. Targeted at filmmakers and audio creators working in documentary podcasting.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Fiscal sponsorship services providing organizational infrastructure so documentary projects can receive tax-deductible donations and grants through UnionDocs' nonprofit status. Targeted at independent documentary projects seeking funding.
• UnionDocs Editions Annual subscription offering of publications, merchandise, and special objects created by UnionDocs, bundled with the Annual Editions Membership tier. Targeted at members seeking premium physical products and publications.
• UnionDocs iOS Mobile App iOS mobile application distributed via the Apple Store that enables members to stream UnionDocs documentary programs and access member-exclusive content on iOS devices. Targeted at individual members and documentary enthusiasts.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• WKCR 89.9 fmminorOthersThe Commons Radio was a monthly series broadcast on WKCR 89.9 fm in 2005, representing an early partnership for radio programming.
• MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)minorOthersFeatured in MoMA programming context; James N. Kienitz Wilkins opened First Look at MoMI (Museum of the Moving Image) with 'The Misconceived' on April 23.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnionDocs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UnionDocs