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Entertainment Industry Foundation

Annual Giving
$82.0M

Entertainment Industry Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $82 million (2020)
  • Total Pledged to Date: Over $1 billion
  • Number of Grantees: 300+ charitable organizations annually
  • Grant Awards: 131 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (US-based with global reach)
  • Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Website: www.eifoundation.org

Phone: 424-283-3600

Email: grants@eifoundation.org

Mailing Address: EIF Philanthropy and Community Relations Department 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90024

Overview

Founded in 1942, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) is one of the leading charitable organizations in the entertainment industry. With over $1 billion pledged to philanthropic initiatives since inception, EIF serves as the entertainment community's trusted partner in philanthropy. The foundation mobilizes and leverages the powerful voices and creative talents of the entertainment industry to build awareness, raise funds, and develop programs addressing critical social issues. In 2020, EIF provided nearly $82 million to 338 nonprofits, marking the first time annual revenue exceeded $100 million. EIF operates through strategic grant programs, high-profile events, and fiscal sponsorship services, with assets of approximately $93.3 million. The foundation is governed by an influential Board of Directors comprising senior executives from major film studios, television networks, talent agencies, unions, and guilds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

EIF awards grants through its national initiatives and fiscally sponsored funds via an invitation-only RFP process. Organizations are identified during the development of each initiative based on their track record and ability to accomplish specific strategic grant objectives.

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)

  • Purpose: Accelerate groundbreaking cancer research and bring new therapies to patients
  • Impact: Over $800 million raised, funding 3,100+ researchers across 210+ institutions
  • Grant Types: Dream Team grants (multi-year, multidisciplinary collaborations), Convergence Grants, Catalyst teams, Innovative Research Grants, Awards & Prizes
  • Hundreds of clinical trials treating tens of thousands of patients

EIF Careers Program

  • Purpose: Increase access to entertainment careers for historically excluded communities
  • Partners: Funded by James Irvine Foundation and Best Buy Foundation
  • Approach: Coalition of strategic partners across the creative landscape providing skills training and connecting candidates with industry employers
  • Platform: Partnership with Crewvie digital hiring platform for entry-level production jobs

Defy:Disaster

  • Purpose: Entertainment community's collective response to natural disasters
  • Impact: Responded to 50+ natural disasters; in 2020 granted $14 million to 100+ beneficiaries
  • Recent: Administered Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson's People's Fund of Maui ($60 million in direct assistance); $2 million to first responders after 2018 California fires
  • Sponsor: City National Bank serves as title sponsor
  • Scope: All phases of disaster cycle including preparedness, real-time response, and long-term recovery

Delivering Jobs

  • Purpose: Create pathways to employment and leadership opportunities for neurodiverse Americans
  • Focus: Leveraging entertainment industry connections

Fiscal Sponsorship Services

  • EIF has sponsored 40+ celebrity-guided funds since reintroducing fiscal sponsorship in 2017
  • Examples: Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp, Olivia Rodrigo's Fund 4 Good, Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project
  • Services: Financial reporting, tax filing, donation processing, strategic support from experienced nonprofit professionals

Priority Areas

EIF programs and funds have raised funds for causes including:

  • Cancer research and health initiatives (diabetes, HIV/AIDS)
  • Disaster relief and emergency response
  • Career access and workforce development for underrepresented communities
  • Social justice and inclusion
  • Economic empowerment
  • Mental wellness
  • Education and youth services
  • Hunger and nutrition

What They Don't Fund

  • The Foundation does not make gifts to individuals or individual families
  • Does not accept unsolicited grant requests through any programs or fiscally sponsored funds

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Nicole Sexton (since 2017)

  • Previously held leadership roles in nonprofit sector
  • Focus on building organizational capacity, impact measurement, operations, and technology

Board Chair: Chris Silbermann

  • Managing Director of ICM Partners (international talent agency)

Board Composition: Senior executives from America's most influential media companies including:

  • Jeff Bader (NBC Entertainment)
  • Dan Harrison (Fox Entertainment)
  • Jack Sussman (CBS Entertainment)
  • Andy Kubitz (Netflix)

Leadership Philosophy: According to President Nicole Sexton, "A fundamental component of leadership for me is trust — trusting instincts, and perhaps most importantly, trusting the team and individual..." The organizational philosophy emphasizes "the causes should stand before the organization."

Key Priority: Sexton stated, "We must substantially grow our team to build capacity and expertise, including new sector knowledge and skills in impact measurement, operations, and technology."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

No Public Application Process

EIF does not accept unsolicited grant requests. The foundation awards grants through an invitation-only RFP process.

Selected organizations are identified during the development of each initiative based on several criteria, including:

  • Organization's track record
  • Ability to accomplish specific strategic grant objectives consistent with EIF program goals
  • Capacity to fulfill the missions of EIF programs and fiscally sponsored funds

According to EIF's website: "While EIF does not accept unsolicited grant requests, they are scholars of impact and are eager to learn about the work of nonprofit organizations making the world a better place."

Grant Monitoring

EIF's monitoring process includes three components:

  1. Pre-grant review and due diligence
  2. On-site review (site visits)
  3. Progress reports detailing agency's progress toward goals and financial accounting

Grant reports can be directed to grants@eifoundation.org

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified due to invitation-only nature of grants. Timelines vary by initiative and program.

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to invitation-only process. In 2023, EIF made 131 awards to organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only process.

Application Success Factors

Since EIF operates through an invitation-only process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to align with EIF's mission should consider:

Demonstration of Track Record: EIF explicitly seeks organizations with proven ability to accomplish strategic objectives. Organizations should document measurable impact in areas aligned with EIF's priority areas.

Strategic Alignment: Selected organizations must demonstrate capacity to fulfill specific missions of EIF programs. This requires clear alignment between organizational capabilities and EIF initiative goals.

Entertainment Industry Connections: Given EIF's unique position as the entertainment community's philanthropic arm, organizations with existing relationships or partnerships within the entertainment industry may be better positioned for consideration.

Capacity for Collaboration: EIF's programs often involve multi-institutional collaborations (such as Stand Up To Cancer's Dream Teams). Organizations should demonstrate ability to work effectively in collaborative environments.

Focus on Underrepresented Communities: The EIF Careers Program and other initiatives specifically target historically excluded communities. Organizations working with diverse populations align with current EIF priorities.

Impact Measurement: President Nicole Sexton emphasized growing expertise in "impact measurement," suggesting organizations with strong evaluation frameworks may be favored.

Fiscal Sponsorship Opportunity: For individuals or groups in the entertainment industry seeking to establish philanthropic initiatives, EIF's fiscal sponsorship services provide an alternative pathway. Requirements include authentic philanthropic goals, vision of real impact, initial financial investment, and spirit of collaboration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted – EIF identifies and invites organizations to apply based on strategic fit with specific initiatives
  • Focus on building visibility – Since EIF states they are "scholars of impact" eager to learn about nonprofit work, maintaining strong public presence and documented impact is essential
  • Entertainment industry alignment – Organizations with connections to or work within the entertainment community may have strategic advantages
  • Track record is critical – EIF explicitly selects partners based on proven ability to accomplish strategic objectives
  • Multiple pathways exist – Beyond traditional grants, EIF offers fiscal sponsorship services for entertainment industry figures seeking to establish philanthropic funds
  • Major giving capacity – With $82 million distributed in 2020 and over $1 billion pledged historically, EIF has significant resources for large-scale initiatives
  • Long-term partnership approach – Programs like Stand Up To Cancer involve multi-year commitments and ongoing collaboration rather than one-time grants
  • Contact for relationship building – While no public application exists, grants@eifoundation.org provides a contact point for sharing organizational information

References

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