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

Impact Guild curates a dynamic mix of virtual and in-person programming designed to educate, connect, and facilitate collaborations among our members. Whether you’re looking to network, learn from industry experts, showcase your work, or collaborate on impact-driven storytelling, our events provide meaningful engagement opportunities throughout the year. All Impact Guild programming and events abide by the Chatham House Rule so attendees may speak freely, but members can still share their learnings with colleagues and friends outside of the Guild.

In-Person Gatherings. There’s no substitute for connecting face-to-face and one-on-one; the Guild has a series of in-person events designed to maximize member engagement:

• Annual Forum (members only). Our flagship two-day convening brings together storytellers, funders, and media changemakers annually during November in Los Angeles for learning, networking, and collaboration, including industry-specific workshops, high-profile keynotes, and curated working groups.

• Peer Group Mixers (members only). Every Peer Group hosts at least one in-person event per year to foster stronger professional relationships and field-building collaborations among peers in the various Guild sectors.

• Industry & Festival Meetups (members only). The Guild organizes member gatherings at major film festivals, conferences, and industry events, from Sundance to SXSW.

• Salon Series (members only). These invite-only funder and industry roundtables and mixers in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago platform high-level conversations between funders, creatives, and impact strategists.

Virtual Programming. We offer three virtual events every month to keep members connected, informed, and engaged—wherever they are in the world:

• First Fridays (open to all). Expert-led and member-moderated panel discussions on timely topics that span all sectors of media, arts, and entertainment, with self-selected audiences that get to know each other in the chat box. They are a great space to discover new collaborators, funders, and creative partners. Members also gain access to the vast amount of resources and information gathered during past First Fridays.

• Member Mondays (members only). A spotlight event for members to share their latest work keyed to the First Friday topic. From film projects to social impact campaigns, Member Mondays feature presentations from three Guild members, followed by live feedback from attendees, Q&A sessions, and networking/collaboration opportunities.

• Third Thursdays (members only). Hosted by a different Peer Group on the Third Thursday of each month, these keynote conversations with industry luminaries focus on emerging trends and pressing issues across all sectors of the Guild.

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.
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To join, you must apply to at least one of the 10 different Peer Groups and meet its respective criteria, agree to our core values, and pay annual membership dues of $250.
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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 showcases, our private online Member community, and the annual Impact Guild Forum.
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Active Members are also entitled to vote on key Impact Guild issues.
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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 4-6 weeks, and is open on a rolling basis; you may apply whenever. To request the application link, please contact us here.

If you have questions about Impact Guild and would like to get in touch, please fill out this form: