Membership

About GFEM Membership
GFEM is a membership organization comprised of foundations, organizations with a significant funding portfolio and private donors. Our members also include funders who do not fund media but want knowledge of the field to be more effective in their philanthropic work.

How to Apply for Membership
Review the rate schedule, guidelines and policies below. Then fill out GFEM's quick and easy online membership application.

We invite you to join GFEM based on an annual dues structure that corresponds with the size of your organization and/or grantmaking activities.

Your Return on Investment
Your GFEM membership engages you in support of programs that highlight best practices in media philanthropy, explore innovative funding strategies in the field and elevate the practice of media funding as an effective means of improving the human condition.

Other benefits of membership include:

• Discounts to GFEM special events and funder delegations;

• Reduced rates for our funder support services, which include one-on-one consultations and media curating services;

• Dissemination of any media-related print materials your organization generates to our list of over 1200; and

• Feature pieces about your grantmaking on our web site and in our newsletter.

Membership Cycle
GFEM Membership is based on the calendar year: Jan 1 - December 31. Your prorated membership dues will be automatically calculated by the online membership form. Memberships that are initiated after Jan 1 will be prorated accordingly and made effective as of the first of the month following the date the online form is submitted.

GFEM Membership Policy
GFEM is an Affinity Group of the Council on Foundations, however foundations need not be members of the Council to be members of GFEM.

Non-profit and government funders: We welcome not-for-profit funders and government funders as members of GFEM, however, we will ask you to provide documentation that grantmaking is a primary activity of your organization.

Individual donors: Individual donors are eligible for GFEM membership; however, we will need documentation of your grantmaking activities and/or affiliation with a donor network. (Eligible funders who elect not to become a member will still receive our mailings, newsletters, and invitations to our events and activities.)

Grant in Lieu of Membership Fee
We understand that some foundations and organizations are not in a position to pay membership dues but prefer to affiliate with affinity groups by making a grant. If you would like to become a member and require a proposal, please check the appropriate box on the membership form. We will apply for affinity group support accordingly.

Privacy Policy
GFEM respects the privacy of its members and does not share the contact information contained in its mailing list for any reason. For the benefit of the philanthropic community, GFEM does highlight member activities, including programs and grantmaking; these may be featured on the GFEM website, in the e-newsletter or in other forms. Our member list is included on the GFEM website (see below). Please let us know if your organization wishes to remain anonymous.

Submit membership application online.

GFEM thanks its members and donors for their leadership and support of media philanthropy:

Africa Grantmakers Affinity Group
Arabella Advisors
Artist Trust
Barbara Pyle Foundation
Benton Foundation
Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation
Chicken & Egg Pictures
Communications Network
Creative Capital Foundation
Michael Cummings
Denver Area Educational Consortium
Robert W. Deutsch Foundation
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Fetzer Institute
Ford Foundation
Fledgling Fund
French American Charitable Trust
Glaser Progress Foundation
Grantmakers for Children Youth & Families
Grantmakers in the Arts
Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund
Hartley Film Foundation
Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trusts
Heinz Endowments
Karen Helmerson (NYSCA)
Independent Television Service (ITVS)
Instructional Telecommunications Foundation
Jerome Foundation
Johnson Family Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Kentucky Foundation for Women
Latino Public Broadcasting
LEF Foundation       
Leichtag Family Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Media Democracy Fund | Proteus Fund   
Microsoft Corporation       
Nathan Cummings Foundation
National Black Programming Consortium
Native American Public Communications
Open Society Institute   
Pacific Foundation   
Park Foundation   
PBS Foundation   
Playboy Foundation   
Portland Regional Educational Telecommunications Corporation
Quixote Foundation   
Renaissance Journalism Center
Rockefeller Foundation
Skoll Foundation    
Surdna Foundation
Twin Cities Schools Telecommunications Group
Wallace Foundation
Wallace Global Fund
William Penn Foundation   
ZeroDivide