Media. Arts.
Entertainment.
For Good.

About

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The Impact Guild is a professional network for people who create, use, or distribute media, arts, or entertainment for social good or healthy democracy. 

Our mission is to connect, support and activate our Members and their work to address the toughest issues facing our field and the world at large.  

The Impact Guild consists of 19 Peer Groups, each representing specific fields of impact expertise in the media, arts, and entertainment industry and each establishing criteria for membership in their group. 

Members include hundreds of media executives, independent content creators, academics, artists, campaigners, strategists, funders, influencers, and others who share common set of values and promote them through their work.

Impact Guild is sustained by members, sponsors, and foundation grants. We are always looking for new members who are esteemed professionals interested in supporting good and healthy democracy through media arts entertainment. To learn more about joining us to elevate the future of the Guild please connect with us here.

Our values:

  • Media Responsibility: We believe that media, arts, and entertainment can and should be forces of good in society.
  • Diversity & Inclusion: We embrace the power of diversity and inclusion and we treat and represent all people withdignity and respect.
  • Equality: We recognize and are committed to eliminating the inequities and barriers in our industries for women,people of color, LGBTQ people, minority communities of faith, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
  • Civic Participation: We seek to educate our audiences about important issues and encourage civic participation through democracies.
  • Sustainability: We work to protect our natural environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.
  • Accuracy & Authenticity: We fight for accuracy and authenticity in our work product and work places.
  • Global Community: We commit to building and supporting a global community focused on these values; and
  • Common Good: We are here to use the power of our work to act for the common good.

The Impact Guild is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California.

Activities

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The Impact Guild offers programs to its Members and the media they create, use or distribute in four ways:

  • Curate. We bring together an interesting, innovative, and a diverse array of experts, influencers, advocates – as well as resources – to educate, empower and inspire Members to address issues facing the field and the world, at large.
  • Convene. We create spaces online and offline for Members to meet, share insights and experiences, build relationships, and explore collaborations.
  • Connect.  We introduce Members to others who share interests, issues, audiences, strategies, genres, geographies or values.  
  • Catalyze.  We develop mechanisms to elevate and amplify both Members – and the media they create, use, or distribute – in order to maximize the social impact of both.

Specific Impact Guild activities include local networking events and dinners, community experience field trips, rapid-response activations, off-the-record information sessions, a Member project showcase, a private online Member community, and the national annual gathering.

Membership

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If you have experience using media, arts, or entertainment for social good or healthy democracy, you may be eligible for membership in the Impact Guild. 

To join, you must apply to at least one of the 19 different Peer Groups and meet its criteria, agree to our core values, and pay annual membership dues.

Active Members may participate in all Impact Guild activities including networking events and dinners, community experience field trips, rapid response activations, off-the-record information sessions, Member project showcase, private online Member community, and the national annual gathering.

Active Members are also entitled to vote on key Impact Guild issues.  

Before you apply, please review the Peer Groups and their membership requirements to determine which most closely aligns with your experience and interests. The application process takes approximately 6-8 weeks, and is open on a rolling basis; you may apply whenever. In the meantime, please direct inquires here.

About

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About

The Impact Guild is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California, whose mission is to connect, empower, and activate people who use media, technology, and pop culture for social good and healthy democracies.

Currently the Impact Guild network includes more than 700 senior leaders, experts, executives, advocates, and activists around the world who have participated in its programming, including the 2019 Roundtable (hosted by the MacArthur Foundation), the 2019 Forum (hosted at the Sundance Mountain Resort), and more than three dozen virtual gatherings in 2020 that focused on the pandemic, social and racial justice, and the 2020 U.S. elections.

Led by its Board of Directors, the Impact Guild is committed to supporting and growing its membership by providing opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration around the most pressing issues of our time.

Mission

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Mission

Our mission is to connect, empower, and activate people who use media, technology, and pop culture for social good and healthy democracies. 

We support and grow our membership by providing opportunities for networking, learning, and collaborating around the most pressing issues of our time in the United States and around the world.

Values

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Values

  • We believe that media, technology, and popular culture can and should be forces for good in society;
  • We embrace the power of diversity and inclusion and we treat and represent all people with dignity and respect;
  • We recognize and are committed to eliminating the inequities and barriers in our industries for women, people of color, LGBTQ people, minority communities of faith, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups;
  • We seek to educate our audiences about important issues and encourage civic participation;
  • We work to protect and improve our natural environment in all that we do;
  • We fight for accuracy and authenticity in our work product and work places;
  • We commit to building and supporting a global community focused on these values; and
  • We are here to use the power of our work for the common good.

Membership

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Membership

We are excited to launch our formal membership program in the fall of 2022. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more or become a part of the network please fill out this form.

Leadership

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Board of Directors

Alan Gershenfeld

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President & Co-Founder

Caren Yanis

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Chair, Strategic Planning

Casey Acierno

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Media Responsibility Lead, Social Impact

Claudia Bojorquez

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Deputy Director of Programs

Dan Green

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Director, Global Content & Campaigns

Ellen Schneider

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Founding Director

Erika Soto Lamb

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VP, Social Impact

Felipe Cala

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Board Treasurer & Chair, Finance

Deputy Director of Advocacy for Latin America

Jared Ruga

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Co-Founder, Board Co-Chair & Chair, Programming

Founder & CEO

Jeff Boodie

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Jen Humke

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Senior Program Officer

Leah Salgado

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Director, Narrative Strategy

Marianna Schaffer

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Board Secretary

Maurício Mota

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Co-Founder & President

Meesha Brown

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Chair, Membership

President

Noopur Agarwal

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VP, Social Impact

Rene Jones

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Partner & Chief of Social Impact

Sonya Lockett

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Board Co-Chair

Founder & Chief Impact Officer

Next Slate

Ted Richane

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Board Vice Chair

Co-Founder

Consequential

Executive Council of Peer Groups

Platforms

Audio/Podcasting

Casey Acierno

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Media Responsibility Lead, Social Impact

Digital/Interactive

Nonny de la Peña

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Film

Maurício Mota

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Co-Founder & President

Journalism/News

Betsy Bozdech

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Executive Editor, Ratings and Reviews

Performing Arts/Theatre

Annie Hamburger

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Founder/Executive Producer

Performing Arts/Theatre

Ross Manson

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Artistic Director

Philanthropy

John Bare

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Print/Publishing

Mark Leibowitz

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Director/Photographer

Research

Iain Dodgeon

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Founder & Director

Social Media

Brandon Kaufer

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Social Media

Ashlee Marie Preston

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Sports

Jacoria Borders

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Television

Alejandro Villanueva

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Founder & Executive Director

Video Games

Christie St. Martin

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Video Games

Wendy Lecot

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Head of Strategic Alliances

Professions

Academics/Educators

AJ Christian

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Academics/Educators

Mara Einstein

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Professor/Author/Speaker

Artists/Talent

Amy Putman

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Creative Director/Creative Strategist

Communications Professionals

Kristen Grimm

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Founder/President

Community Organizers/Activists

Jovan Paige

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Donor Relations Specialist

Community Organizers/Activists

Jeanine Abrams McLean

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President

Content Creators

Tina Exarhos

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Chief Content Officer

Media Executives

Mario Cader-Frech

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Non-profit Executives

Rona Peligal

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VP Development & Communications

Social Impact Professionals

Marie Groark

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Director of Programs

Key Staff & Personnel

Chad Boettcher

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Co-Founder & President

Founder

Judy Friedman

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General Counsel

Founder & Principal

Audacious Philanthropy

Peter Fajardo

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Marketing Coordinator

Creative Director

Sam Rodriguez

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Program Coordinator

Freelance

Stéphane Glynn

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Operations Coordinator

SVP, Post-production & Operations

Peer Groups

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Contact Us

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