Games Making Impact: MindLight, Never Alone, and Zoo U

By Games for Change Video games have proven to be extremely impactful media, both in sheer scale, and in the breadth of topics they address — from politics, to health, to cultural preservation and beyond. In 2014, the games industry generated $72 billion revenue globally and in the U.S. alone, two-thirds of the population plays video games. Read More

‘Social good’ games can do so much — from teaching players about issues such as poverty, civic participation and the environment, to helping them become creative problem solvers or make healthy choices. The opportunities to engage audiences are as varied as the types of games available, and funders are increasingly interested in supporting game-based elements in their work. On February 25, Media Impact Funders and Philanthropy New York presented a special preview session of the annual Games for Change conference to learn about how game developers and funders are working together. This year, Games for Change has partnered with the Tribeca Film Festival (April 22-26), reflecting the increasing interconnection between film, games, and social issue campaigns. Media Impact Funders Executive Director Vince Stehle moderated this vibrant discussion — see  the Storify from the event for a sense of the in-person and online buzz. Afterwards, Stehle reflected further on how nonprofits use games to connect more viscerally with audiences in a column for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. “For grant makers and media makers alike,” he writes, “the power of games may be the deeper engagement they deliver.” During the event, we heard… Read More