What are the best means through which (indie) animation and comics people can acquire funding?

Hi. As I have pointed out in other threads, I am interested in producing my own animation and comics, and I'd like to showcase my material online, with the intention of capitalizing off of it.

I have a degree in animation, and I would like to further my training so I can learn how to properly and professionally produce my own cartoons and comics.

I would like to take some refresher courses in animation, take some courses pertaining to comic production - illustration, writing, etc. I would also like to learn how to voice act professionally for my own cartoons, and hire a few pro voice actors to voice my characters with me.

I am still somewhat interested in self-publishing my own comics also.

Of course, all of this costs money. I also need money for tools, equipment, resources and materials.

I recall a couple of years ago, I was looking into getting funding for comic book creators, writers and artists, etc. and animation creators, writers, artists, etc. and funding for writers and artists in general.

I never really kept up with it though.

There are grants, awards, and other monies out there for such these things.

I know off-hand the Xeric Foundation used to offer and award self-publishing grants to comic book creators:

http://www.xericfoundation.org/index.html

They stopped doing that after May 2012.

I know there are competitions for comic creators in which people can win money, like these:

https://www.lezhin.com/en/contest/2018
http://comicssociety.org/prizes/

There was this one:
https://superdames.org/contest

But this ended a couple of years ago.

There's comic script contests, like:
http://www.newsarama.com/29062-break-into-comics-the-darby-pop-way-with-new-contest-for-writers-comics.html

There are comics-related grants and awards out there for writers and artists:
http://www.writersandeditors.com/awards__grants__fellowships_57698.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_comics_awards#American_awards

There's an organization similar to the Xeric Foundation that's offering awards for comic book creators:

http://creatorsforcreators.org/submissions/

DC Comics used to have Zuda Comics competitions in which people could win cash prizes:

http://www.keithcchan.com/blog/archive/2007_09_01_index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuda_Comics#Competition_mechanics

The Foundation Center offers foundation grants to individuals:

https://grantstoindividuals.org

There are foundation grants for writers and artists listed on there. I recall copying info about this from their website. I never really followed up on this- I didn't have enough time to do so.

I recall writing to and emailing certain foundations about potential funding for writers and artists- I asked them if they offer any such funding that comic book creators, writers and artists could use. If I remember right, these foundations said "no".

I know there are crowdfunding platforms out there- Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon, for example. I know a lot of people these days start crowdfunding campaigns through Patreon. There are a handful of indie animators I know of who get financial support through Patreon.

I recall telling someone online I know from a certain chat site that I was going to contact Hero Initiative, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Sequential Artists Workshop, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to ask them about potential funding, and that I was going to ask comic book creators, writers and artists about acquiring funding.

I recall asking questions about acquiring funding for comic creators, writers and artists and funding for animation creators, artists, writers, etc., if I am not mistaken, on other Q-and-A sites.

At the time I was doing this research, I was more interested in getting funding for producing and publishing comics. I am interested in getting funding for producing animation.

My mother suggested I contacted philanthropists who give away money to help individuals- people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. A lot of these philanthropists run charitable foundations.

I recall seeing a list of said philanthropists and their foundations, and copying it, but I don't recall what I did with that list.

What are the best means through which (indie) animation and comics people can acquire funding?

I know this is performance art-related, but I'd like to think there are grants, awards and other monies out that that voice actors can use.

According to this:

https://www.jmcvoiceover.com/giving-back/

There's the VO Atlanta Unicorn Grant, which I know nothing about. I want to contact Mr. Collins and ask him about this.

I registered for a course in comic book creativity at a local art school a number of years back. I asked the man teaching the course about funding for comic book creators/writers/artists and asked him what grants, awards and other monies did he use to fund his projects. He told me he didn't know anything about such funding and he paid out of his own pocket to produce his projects.

I recall asking others about how to approach comic book industry pros- creators, writers, artists, etc. at Comic Con and other comic book conventions about acquiring funding for your own projects. I don't recall what I was told, or if anyone responded, or if I ever got any satisfactory responses to this.

I recall asking what are the best ways to get funding for comic book creators/writers/artists here:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20170315031125AAdM5LM

and here:

https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-ways-to-get-funding-for-independent-comic-book-creators-writers-artists

I don't know too much about animation-related funding, especially funding for indie animation people. I am interested in looking into this.

I've asked in another thread how many visual artists, which includes cartoonists, and writers are on this site, besides myself, here:

https://able2know.org/topic/526449-1

I would like to know if there are any visual artists, including cartoonists, and writers who can please help me out with info about this stuff. I would like to know if any visual artists, including cartoonists, and writers who know anything about this stuff. comic book creators, writers and artists, etc. and animation creators, writers, artists, etc. Comic book creators, writers and artists, etc. and animation creators, writers, artists, etc.

I would also like to know if there are any voice actors here who can please help me out with info about this stuff, and know anything about this stuff.

Please help and please respond soon. Thank you.