Our Events The Media Impact Forum

Our annual gathering brings funders from across the country together with media makers and analysts to share insights about the field’s most influential projects and trends.

Media Impact Funders has been hosting the Media Impact Forum since 2013.

Each year, we come together for a day of inspiring media presentations and dialogue, and the chance to network with peers to deepen learning and spark collaboration.

Are you interested in sponsoring our 2020 Media Impact Forum? Email Courtney Eshleman, MIF’s director of development & member engagement, at courtney@mediafunders.org.

Funder feedback

"Informative and well-organized. I learned so much."

2019 Media Impact Forum attendee
Funder feedback

"It's so nice to have a diversity of perspectives and to watch brilliant people in conversation with one another."

2018 Media Impact Forum attendee
Funder feedback

"Excellent mix of sessions. The day was energetic and inspiring!"

2018 Media Impact Forum attendee

The 2019 Media Impact Forum

Off the Walls: How Art Museums Are Reaching People Where They Are Valerie Gay, Deputy Director, Audience Engagement & Chief Experience Officer, Barnes Foundation (red top) Barbara Wong, Director, Community Engagement, Barnes Foundation (straight black hair) Kalela Williams, Director of Neighborhood Library Enrichment, Free Library of Philadelphia (short sleeve top) Cultural organizations are increasingly relying upon film and digital media to strengthen their programming onsite and to reach a broader audience online and in their communities. Innovative figures at museums and other arts organizations are leading the way, with significant support from philanthropy. And more and more arts and culture organizations are using these tools and resources to spark civic engagement, beyond traditional educational and aesthetic functions of their organizations. Among media forms and formats, radio is seeing a resurgence in reach and impact, driven in part by the explosion of interest in podcasts and other streaming media experiences. Taken together, this year's Media Impact Forum will explore the intersection between the arts, culture and media, and will focus on the impact of creative expression through media. In particular, we'll take a close look at the connection between radio and community, and how this format continues to promote civic dialogue to the broadest audiences possible. for Media Impact Funders The American Philosophical Society May 23, 2019

The 2019 Media Impact Forum paid special attention to the role of radio and audio in creating and sustaining crucial connections with communities. Radio might be one of our oldest platforms, but in terms of reach and and impact, it is also one of the most innovative—and philanthropy is playing a vital role in its resurgence. Grantmakers and the cultural organizations they fund are investing in audio and media across traditional broadcasting, podcasting, and on-site properties in order to foster greater context, reach, and conversation with constituencies.

Watch the 2019 Media Impact Forum

Learn more about our previous Media Impact Forums here.

Upcoming events

As an event-driven organization, we’re constantly bringing changemakers together, whether in-person or online, to make strategic connections with like-minded professionals. Browse through our upcoming events.

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Supporting local journalism during the pandemic

With the rapidly changing situation caused by COVID-19 and its far-reaching economic disruptions, local journalism needs our support more than ever. Please join us for a funder-only discussion on these pressing issues and more.

April 2, 2020

Covering the 2020 elections: How can newsrooms be more inclusive and reflective?

The news media’s coverage of the 2016 presidential campaign was overwhelmingly negative and lacked in-depth explanations of the candidates’ policy positions. Misinformation ran rampant, and widespread disinformation campaigns successfully sowed doubt among citizens, which left them confused about who and what to trust.

April 23, 2020

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Become a member

Join our growing network of funders who care about effective use of media.
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Our story

Media Impact Funders—formerly Grantmakers in Film, Video & Television—began on a volunteer basis in 1984 as an affinity group for funders interested in the power of film to highlight social issues.
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The field of media funding

Funders, media makers and nonprofits are working together to unleash the power of media to move the needle on important social issues.
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