News and Press

Independence Public Media Foundation Announces 2023 Open Call

May 8, 2023

a group of protesters gathered in Philadelphia's Chinatown holding 'no arena' posters

The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) is pleased to announce the 2023 open call for the Community Voices Fund and a call for film proposals through the foundation’s film nomination process.

The $800,000 Community Voices Fund aims to support community-owned media and local storytelling, narrative shift and media for movement building, archives for building community power, and community-centered news and journalism.

IPMF staff and board members played a more active role in the Community Voices open call in previous years. This year, however, a panel of community members with deep community relationships and expertise in the fund focus areas will review and select applications. Their decisions will be final, without influence from the IPMF board or staff.

“Participatory grant-making is one way to put trust-based philanthropy into action and we’re excited to be moving in this direction,” said IPMF Program Officer, Nuala Cabral. “The panel represents folks who have traditionally been excluded from philanthropy while also impacted by harmful media narratives. They understand what is at stake and what is possible in regards to media-making and narrative shift.”

The Community Voices Fund is open through June 2 to 501(c)3 and fiscally-sponsored organizations and projects. Decisions will be announced in July.

IPMF also invites local filmmakers to submit funding applications, through the film nomination process, until August 18. As in previous years, a panel of filmmakers will review proposals and award a total of $500,000 to local film projects. Decisions will be announced in the fall.

Click here to visit the Community Voices Fund page.

Contact Enni Aigbomian for more information, enni@independencemedia.org

###

About Independence Public Media Foundation
Formerly known as WYBE Channel 35, Independence Public Media Foundation was founded in 2018 when WYBE sold its broadcast license as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadcast Incentive Auction and received a one-time payment of $131.5 million. With these funds, IPMF supports Black-led, Indigenous-led, and people-of-color led media organizations and media making projects that help communities build their narrative power for equity and justice.

Author

Enni Aigbomian

Enni uses storytelling and visual media to advocate for disenfranchised communities in the U.S. and abroad. Her work focuses on the African diaspora and Indigenous communities in the Americas, as well as the socio-economic rights of women and children. A communicator for social change, Enni has collaborated with international community media and nonprofits such as World Young Women’s Christian Association, Fundación CEDESOCIAL, Vokaribe Radio, and HOPE Worldwide, Bolivia.

Enni has worked with Philadelphia community media and nonprofits such as the American Friends Service Committee, FunTimes Magazine, and Philatinos Radio. She also served as the first head of communications at Read by 4th, Philadelphia’s grade-level reading campaign managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia. She sits on the board of Shelterforce Magazine, an independent publication that covers the worlds of community development, affordable housing, and neighborhood stabilization.

See Profile