Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media (GFEM) is an association of grantmakers committed to advancing the field of media arts and public interest media funding. GFEM serves as a resource for grantmakers who fund media content, infrastructure, and policy, those who employ media to further their program goals as well as a collaborative network for funders who wish to learn more about media.

GFEM members have a broad range of interests and approaches, but share the view that electronic media is a vital form of human expression, communication and creativity, and plays a key role in building public will and shaping civil society. (For more information on becoming a member see our Membership page.)

GFEM seeks to increase the amount and effectiveness of media funding by foundations and other funders, to increase the use of media in grantmakers' and grantees' work, and to raise the broader foundation community's understanding of current media policy and trends as they affect funders' work in the larger grantmaking community.

GFEM's aim is to deepen the field of media funding by providing programs and services for colleague grantmakers. GFEM facilitates collaboration and idea sharing among media grantmakers and leaders in the field and works to increase the amount and quality of data available on trends in media funding.

Programs and Services include:

• Our Website, www.gfem.org, and the GFEM Update, a monthly e-newsletter with news, upcoming events and other resources of interest to grantmakers concerned with media.
• The Media Policy Working Group (MPWG) which focuses particular attention on the key policy issues that collectively have a major impact on the media environment (both noncommercial and commercial) and provides funders with tools and learning to effectively address issues essential for an informed democracy.
• Grantmaker Briefings & Conference Sessions that present key issues in the field, illustrate model projects and put forward exemplary thinking about the dynamic nature of present day media. GFEM also offers sponsored delegations to unique events allowing funders to better assess the current state of media and fosters opportunities for informal idea sharing among grantmakers. GFEM members are invited to participate in designing program sessions and identifying key issues and activities to explore.
• Foundation & Affinity Group Support Services featuring a curating service providing filmographies of particular media content for colleagues to use in support of their program areas, one-on-one consultations with funders to develop and implement media grants and to identify filmmakers that would best illustrate their program’s issue, and additional tools and workshops such as half or full day presentations for foundations or affinity groups on funding media or on media policy issues.

• Screenings & Discussions of compelling media projects, including the Council on Foundations Film and Video Festival which GFEM co-sponsors. Screenings take place at the COF's three national conferences each year. (For more information on the Festival, go to www.fundfilm.org.)
• Publications on media funding such as Democracy, Social Justice and Media Reform: A Baseline Study of the Emerging Field of Media Policy, Why Fund Media (co-published with the COF) which features examples of a range of media projects, how they were funded and how they furthered the program priorities of the grantmakers involved, and The Funders Guide to Media Policy. GFEM also provides support to publish and disseminate resources and tools produced by our members that are of value to the field.
• Research Projects to provide in depth data about trends in media funding.

Confidentiality Policy: GFEM will not share its membership or mailing list for any reason. Member programs or activities may be featured on the GFEM website, in the e-newsletter or in other forms, with permission of the member in question.

Solicitation and Fundraising: GFEM is committed to working with the broader media field; however, it is not able to provide direct assistance to organizations or individuals seeking funding. GFEM does not assist grantseekers in contacting or soliciting our members. GFEM encourages open sharing of ideas and innovative projects; however, GFEM events or publications may not be used for fundraising solicitations.

GFEM is an affinity group of the Council on Foundations.

For information on GFEM or the Media Policy Working Group
please contact:

Info at gfem dot org