MIF Member Spotlight: Albi

Albi is reimagining what narrative infrastructure can look like in one of the most polarized cultural contexts in the world. Through its Film and Television Fund, institute and lab, the organization supports films by and about Israelis and Palestinians that resist binaries and make room for complexity, dissent and human proximity. In this Member Spotlight Q&A, Founder and President Libby Lenkinski reflects on how Albi defines success beyond awards or reach, why audience “encounter” matters more than scale, and what it takes to fund storytelling responsibly in conflict environments. She also explains how the organization’s Protection Hub safeguards filmmakers who are under threat and how the Palestinian Creatives Pipeline is building long-term structural access for emerging storytellers. Media Impact Funders: Albi works on documentaries in one of the most polarized spaces imaginable, where many people arrive with strongly held beliefs. Your goal is to “establish paradigm-shifting narratives.” What are the ways you think about achieving that goal and what are your markers for success? Libby Lenkinski: Albi works from a simple premise. In deeply polarized environments, facts alone rarely change minds. Stories reshape what people believe is imaginable. Documentary cinema is uniquely powerful because it operates simultaneously as… Read More

In just four years, The Carmack Collective has established itself as one of the boldest philanthropic actors in the climate space. To support movement building and cultural change, Carmack invests in a range of media activities, from investigative journalism to comedy, animation, and gaming. Throughout this work, they remain committed to trust-based philanthropy and a belief in the power of storytelling to challenge assumptions about fossil fuel and climate change. In this Member Spotlight Q&A, Carmack’s Founder and Executive Director Jessie Bluedorn and Director Ricky Benavidez share how Carmack is countering industry disinformation, rethinking philanthropy’s role in narrative change, and building a pipeline of creative projects designed to shift culture at scale. Nina Sachdev: I don’t think we can talk about Carmack’s mission of combatting and dismantling the fossil fuel industry without talking about the persistent narratives that the industry uses to maintain its power. Fossil fuel companies have invested heavily in shaping public perception for decades. How is Carmack thinking about countering them through media and storytelling? Jessie Bluedorn: One of the most prolific and harmful false narratives is that fossil fuels are essential and therefore good. For example, we see this narrative pushed by industry via numerous TV ads depicting a… Read More

Chaos and confusion; that about sums up the current U.S. political environment, right? “I think that’s the strategy,” Chicken & Egg Films CEO Jenni Wolfson says. “To unmoor us all.” A longtime MIF member, Chicken & Egg Films is our member spotlight this month. To celebrate their 20th anniversary and their work to support women and gender-expansive documentary filmmakers worldwide, we headed over to their offices to talk to Jenni in person. Reflecting on the current political environment here in the U.S., Jenni shared how Chicken & Egg Films is adapting its strategies to protect and empower filmmakers whose identities and stories are often at the center of ongoing attacks. Operating as a vital intermediary funder, Chicken & Egg is both raising and regranting funds to support, as Jenni says, the storytellers who “represent the world that we live in.” More than just financial aid though, the organization provides crucial mentorship and industry access, enabling filmmakers to craft powerful narratives that remind us of our shared humanity. That reminder is why, despite the chaos and confusion, “Chicken & Egg Films, first and foremost, is staying steady.” Here, Jenni discusses the shifting landscape for both filmmakers and funders,… Read More

Canada’s media landscape includes a unique force for change: the Inspirit Foundation. Not only is Inspirit one of the most active funders in Canada’s journalism and narrative sphere (and the sole Canadian member of Media Impact Funders), it also stands alone with a 100% impact-invested portfolio, all driven by a singular mission: to shift narrative power.  In addition to its grantmaking, Inspirit has dedicated significant time and energy to advocating for increased philanthropic investment in journalism. Recognizing the gap between expressed interest from their funding peers and actual dollars flowing into the sector, Inspirit is actively working to make the case to other Canadian foundations to support media and journalism. That work eventually led to a practical guide, “Funding Journalism: A Guide for Canadian Philanthropy,” which underscores Inspirit’s commitment to bridging the divide between intention and action. Here, I sit down with Inspirit Foundation CEO Sadia Zaman to talk about the work to catalyze philanthropy, reimagine new narratives for Muslims, and the impact of the Online News Act on Canadian journalism.  Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: When and why… Read More

For more than 40 years, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has been at the forefront of defending journalists around the globe, ensuring they can report the truth safely and without fear of persecution. As attacks on the press continue to escalate—both internationally and here in the United States—journalists face mounting threats, including online harassment, physical violence, and legal and regulatory challenges. In this Q&A, we sit down with Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, to explore the organization’s insights on the state of press freedom, the critical role of funding in supporting independent journalism, and the unique threats posed by a shifting political landscape in the U.S. and abroad. CPJ, which joined as a member of MIF in 2024, has also recently announced the Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative, a $1 million effort to provide climate journalists with assistance, safety training, and other forms of support. This conversation comes at a pivotal moment, as the world grapples with the growing weaponization of distrust against the press and an urgent need to bolster the safety and resilience of journalists everywhere. Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: CPJ is an intermediary, and I think… Read More

Since 2006, the Schmidt Family Foundation, established by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, has been at the forefront of supporting climate change communication initiatives. Wendy Schmidt, with her background in journalism, recognized the critical role of clear and accurate information in driving meaningful action. One of the Foundation’s key priorities has been to bridge the gap between complex scientific data and accessible public understanding. After extensive discussions with climate experts and scientists, Wendy was drawn to a groundbreaking idea: the creation of a “bridge” institution that could provide the media with independent, reliable and credible scientific information on climate change. This commitment led to the founding of Climate Central, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering journalists and the public with accurate and accessible climate data. Here, we sit down with Joe Sciortino, the Foundation’s executive director, to explore Schmidt’s approach to media grantmaking, the gaps and opportunities in the field of media funding, and the urgent need for more climate media storytelling. Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: Let’s talk about the evolution of Schmidt’s media grantmaking strategy. What are some of the major takeaways and insights from supporting this kind of work for nearly… Read More

Since its founding in 2019 by Elizabeth Green and John Thornton (founders of Chalkbeat and The Texas Tribune, respectively), the American Journalism Project has awarded $55.3 million in grants to 44 partner organizations across 33 states. Launched with a $20 million, 5-year commitment from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with additional support from Arnold Ventures, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, philanthropist Christopher Buck, Emerson Collective, and the Facebook Journalism Project, the Democracy Fund, and Erin and John Thornton, AJP has also launched four nonprofit news startups in areas severely affected by the disappearance of local news. With five years now under its belt, I sat down with AJP CEO Sarabeth Berman to talk about the wins and losses in the epic quest to build healthy information ecosystems in the U.S.—and what more needs to be done.  Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: Let’s talk about your approach to building the future of local news. For the people reading this who might not yet be funding journalism at the local level, how would you describe what you do? What does it mean to be a venture philanthropy, and why might that be unique… Read More

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, established in 1966 by Hewlett-Packard co-founder William Redington Hewlett and his wife Flora Lamson, has a rich history of media funding, one that’s about as old as the foundation itself. Starting with one of its first media grants to the organization now known as KQED, Hewlett has been supporting media, culture and communications in service to its commitment to high-quality, nonpartisan information for more than 50 years. A member and supporter of MIF since 2015, Hewlett is keen to deepen its understanding of effective media grantmaking outside of a dedicated portfolio. Here, the Hewlett communications team shares its thinking around support for media and information ecosystems, the importance of flexible funding, and the foundation’s role in Press Forward, the new $500 million initiative to support local news. Nina Sachdev, Director of Communications, Media Impact Funders: Let’s talk about the evolution in Hewlett’s media grantmaking strategy. What are some of the major takeaways and insights from… Read More

For the past eight years, Sue Cross, Executive Director and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), has led the organization in its pursuit to build a nonprofit news network across North America that ensures everyone in every community has access to trusted news and information. Since Cross’ start in 2015, INN has grown from a small consortium of nonprofit newsrooms into a growing network with more than 425 independent news organizations. Collectively, these newsrooms send 4,200-plus journalists into the field to tell stories that would otherwise go untold.  By the end of this year, Cross will step down from her role, with plans to continue supporting news reinvention while also pursuing a personal project. Ahead of her transition, Media Impact Funders Executive Director Vince Stehle sat down with Cross to discuss INN’s growth over the past eight years, the impact she’s had on the organization, and insights for funders in supporting the emerging and growing field of nonprofit news. At our annual Journalism Funders Gathering next month, Sue will be presenting tips to funders who want to find and support newsrooms leading the reinvention of news. Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders:… Read More