MembershipMembership FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Media Impact Funders?
Media Impact Funders (MIF) is a network of grantmakers strengthening media in the public interest through convenings, research, and a highly collaborative community. We work across silos to bring together funders from a broad array of issue areas, program sizes, and levels of experience to expand the resources, reach, and resilience of our information ecosystem. By connecting the dots across a diverse field, MIF helps funders learn from one another, discover aligned opportunities, and invest in media that informs, engages and inspires.
What are the benefits of becoming a member of MIF?
Membership is the most powerful way to plug into the full breadth of the media philanthropy field. MIF helps members save time, avoid duplication, find partners and make stronger media investments—whether media is your primary focus or simply a lever in your broader strategy.
Members receive:
● Strategic clarity: Curated guidance, briefings and resources to help you understand what’s happening across journalism, documentary, technology and narrative change—and how those trends intersect with your priorities.
● Access to a trusted community: Peer learning with funders who are navigating similar questions, challenges and opportunities.
● Member-only insights & tools: A new resource library, funder guides and playbooks, research, and member-only events designed to help funders invest more effectively.
● High-touch support: Access to our staff and network to help you identify collaborators, surface best practices and make informed decisions.
● Visibility & influence: Opportunities to shape the field through working groups, peer sessions, content and convenings.
We only fund documentaries/local journalism/investigative work etc. What is MIF’s focus?
Our greatest strength is our ability to work across silos. Much of our work addresses structural challenges facing media grantmakers grappling with a rapidly changing landscape. Based on member feedback, we also offer specialized programming to meet particular concerns and needs for certain areas. Whether your grants focus on a specific platforms or issue areas or you fund broadly, you’ll benefit from resources, peer learning and research that allows you to act with confidence.
My foundation doesn’t have a “media funding” giving area. Is MIF still a good fit for us?
Yes! Media remains a relatively new funding area for many of our members and many don’t have a dedicated media portfolio. MIF membership is a great option for any funder thinking about media strategies, whether they’re considering how to support healthy media ecosystems at a critical moment or they’re incorporating media investments into a core funding area like education or healthcare. In fact, MIF membership can be especially valuable for those who aren’t in a position to hire dedicated staff for media grantmaking. MIF can serve as your subject-matter expert and back office support as you consider how to engage with media grants.
I want to spend money on impact, not memberships. Why should I consider MIF?
Joining MIF will help you make smarter, faster and more ambitious media grants. Through an MIF membership, you’ll access research, analysis and peer networks that will help your investments be more effective and more impactful. Our events offer both high level strategic frameworks and tactical advice and opportunities. MIF membership offers a multiplier effect for your grant dollars.
I’m not looking to socialize. How is MIF different from a “donors’ club”?
Our programming and resources are designed for serious funders who want credible intelligence, informed perspectives, and practical pathways to engage in media philanthropy. Our members engage in different ways; some rely on us for research and field guidance, some prioritize our in-person events and others look for opportunities to connect with peers and collaborate. We make sure that across our work, we keep the conversation grounded, collaborative and focused on learning and problem-solving!
Who is eligible to join MIF?
MIF membership is open to foundations, private donors and organizations that designate philanthropic resources to support media and journalism in the public interest. Funders are supporting media in a variety of ways, through a program area or a dedicated media portfolio.
You’re eligible for membership if:
You’re making grants to support nonprofit news, public media, documentary film, narrative change efforts, access to civic information, arts and cultural expression, and other media in the public interest. (Here’s a thorough list of media activities).
You’re a grantmaker at a foundation that makes a small number of media grants in a larger portfolio of grantmaking activity.
You’re a media organization with a significant endowment that enables you to deploy funds for a charitable purpose.
You’re an operating foundation that is engaging in media activities.
You’re NOT eligible for membership if:
You are a media company that is engaging in media activities, but also not deploying any funds in a philanthropic fashion.
You are a nonprofit organization that is raising funds for its own activities but does not deploy those funds in a philanthropic fashion.
Are you designating philanthropic resources to media and journalism in the public interest but not sure if you’re eligible for membership? Let’s chat! Email Shannon Thomas, Manager of Member Engagement, at shannon@mediafunders.org.
I don’t currently fund much, if any, media or I’m only just beginning to consider it. Is this the right place for me?
Absolutely! MIF is built for both experienced funders and those just beginning to explore media. We regularly orient new funders to the field of media philanthropy through 101-level guidance and through connections with funders who have walked the same path. Many MIF members join us as they look for a place to start.
I’m an individual or a family office. Is Media Impact Funders only for foundations?
We know philanthropy can look very different in different places and we’re flexible to a wide range of needs and structures. MIF serves foundations, family offices, individual donors and donor-advised funds. Check out our membership tiers and find what’s right for you or email our manager of member engagement, Shannon Thomas, to discuss further.
Is MIF the same as Press Forward? What’s the difference?
MIF and Press Forward are complementary but totally separate distinct organizations and we play different roles in the field.
● MIF is a philanthropy-infrastructure organization (PIO). We do not make grants. We support funders across all forms of media, including journalism, documentary film, narrative change, technology platforms, and more.
● Press Forward is a major funding initiative specifically focused on local news that operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Miami Foundation.
Can MIF introduce me to funders or help me raise money?
Media Impact Funders is not a fundraising intermediary or matchmaking service, and we do not make unsolicited introductions to funders for the purpose of seeking grants. Any direct introductions occur only with explicit permission from all parties involved. MIF does, however, create opportunities for members to share their work and engage funders through convenings, learning sessions and peer exchanges. These spaces are designed to support learning and alignment—not pitching—and to allow relationships to develop organically based on mutual interest.
What if I need more support?
We’re here to help! If you need deeper, ongoing support, we can help determine whether your needs fit within membership or require a more customized approach. Email info@mediafunders.org to inquire further.