named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Career Support
Includes the BGDM Talent Directory, bi-weekly jobs board, craft workshops, and professional development resources to support career advancement in the documentary field
Community Network
Private social network offering peer connection, resource sharing, mentorship, and in-person and digital meetups for BIPOC women and nonbinary documentary practitioners
Craft & Skill Building Workshops
Offers training in areas such as budgeting, proposal writing, impact campaigns, and other essential documentary production skills
Scholarships, Grants & Discounts
Provides members with access to fellowships, grant opportunities, discounted festival passes, industry event access, and subscriptions to film platforms
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 4 activities
- Deliver craft and skill-building workshops for membersHosts workshops such as the Collective Lens Impact Producing Sessions and BGDM Fellows’ Masterclasses to train and advance the skills of BIPOC women and nonbinary individuals in documentary filmmaking.
- Maintain public talent directory to increase visibility and hiring of diverse filmmakersOperates a publicly searchable Talent Directory that connects nonfiction filmmakers and industry stakeholders with opportunities for hiring, collaboration, grantmaking, and speaking engagements.
- Operate member-exclusive job and funding opportunity boardManages the BGDM Jobs Portal, a verified job board exclusively available to members, listing employment, freelance, fellowship, and funding opportunities in the documentary field.
- Support creative development and professional advancement of BIPOC filmmakersProvides programming and infrastructure to support the growth and career progression of BIPOC women and nonbinary individuals in the documentary industry, as stated in IRS filings and organizational mission.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 3 activities
- Organize film showcases to highlight member workHosts the BGDM Shorts Showcase and other film screenings to present member short films on the big screen and virtually, compensating selected filmmakers and supporting the screening of over 24 member projects at events like the BlackStar Film Festival.
- Provide professional development and industry access opportunities for membersOffers travel stipends, discounted passes, subsidized housing, and networking event invitations to support member attendance at film festivals and conferences; hosts BGDM in the Mix events for members to practice pitches and connect with industry professionals.
- Support member project production and industry participationProvides resources and support enabling member involvement in the production of 52 films screened at DC/DOX 2026 across roles including directing, producing, editing, and impact producing; participated in hosting the event "Beyond the Film: Building the Documentary Ecosystem" at DC/DOX 2026.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Design and implement strategic initiatives to shift power in documentary storytellingDevelops and runs bold initiatives including the Talent Directory, Industry Access Program, Pay Transparency Project, and Pause & Play to transform the documentary ecosystem and advance inclusive storytelling.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Facilitate global network and community engagement for BIPOC women and nonbinary documentary filmmakersOperates a private online community on Mighty Networks and supports dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and connection among over 4,500 global members; shares member achievements, film announcements, and stories through a regular newsletter and member profiles.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Offer fellowships and grants for member supportProvides member-exclusive fellowships and grants that offer personal and project-based financial support to BIPOC women and nonbinary documentary filmmakers.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advance pay transparency and compensation equity in documentary industryCo-launched The Pay Transparency Project with The Video Consortium to collect and share data on industry compensation and promote pay parity for nonfiction video professionals.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$439K
Contributions & grants$350K80%
Program service revenue$85K19%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$668K
Program expenses44%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising28%
Salaries & benefits$521K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$394K
Cash$63K
Investments$0
Liabilities$16K
Net assets$378K
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +97.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIVEDITA DAS | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $127K |
| IYABO BOYD | FOUNDER AND CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $126K |
board members · 4
- DENAE PETERS — PRESIDENT
- NICOLE TSIEN — SECRETARY
- TRACY NGUYEN-CHUNG — TREASURER
- URSULA LIANG — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Adam Neuhaus Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, providing mentorship and strategic guidance
- Alex Lieberman Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, providing film finance and production expertise through Bright West Entertainment
- American Documentary Partner — Co-hosted the event "Beyond the Film: Building the Documentary Ecosystem" at DC/DOX 2026.
- Anurima Bhargava Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, offering strategic advisory grounded in justice, dignity, and narrative change
- Carol Paik Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, bringing experience in creative direction and branded content for major media networks
- Christie Marchese Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, offering leadership in tech-enabled film distribution and impact strategy through Kinema
- Daniel Chalfen Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, providing film production and creative consultation expertise
- Documentary Accountability Working Group Partner — Co-hosted a community mixer with BGDM during the BlackStar Film Festival.
- Gina Duncan Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, bringing leadership in film curation and institutional programming with a focus on underrepresented voices
- Jess Devaney Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, contributing producing experience and leadership in queer and social justice documentary storytelling
- Kickstarter Partner — Collaborated with BGDM members at events, as indicated by shared branding in event imagery.
- Konsonant Partner — Collaborates on the Konsonant Music Film Seminar for member professional development.
- Marángeli Mejía Rabell Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, contributing cultural organizing and festival leadership focused on Latinx and Afro-Latinx representation
- Opal H. Bennett Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, contributing expertise in documentary production and artist development
- Rosie Garthwaite Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, contributing executive production experience in investigative documentaries and global storytelling
- Sundance Film Festival Partner — Hosted a public unveiling and strategic planning session with 60 members in 2018.
- The Video Consortium Partner — Co-launched The Pay Transparency Project to provide insight into industry compensation and parity practices.
- Wendy Ettinger Partner — Member of the BGDM Capacity Council, offering expertise in financing and producing films by women through Gamechanger Films and Chicken & Egg Pictures
- collectives Partner — Works with filmmaker collectives to build community and expand access to resources.
- cultural institutions Partner — Partners with cultural institutions to develop programs that promote inclusive documentary storytelling.
- festivals Partner — Collaborates with film festivals to create programming and support documentary filmmakers.
- not specified Partner — Partnerships not explicitly named in the source text
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Amplification Through Power Relinquishmentmethodology: amplification_through_power_relinquishmentBy stepping back from power and transferring opportunities to BIPOC women and nonbinary professionals, the organization drives representation and shifts industry equity, because lasting change requires dominant groups to actively redistribute access and visibility.
- Community-Led Infrastructure for Power Buildingmethodology: community-led_infrastructureBy building independent platforms and networks, the organization creates access and power for women and nonbinary people of color in documentary film outside traditional gatekeepers, because systemic exclusion requires self-determined ecosystems of support and distribution.
- Peer-Driven Community and Holistic Supportmethodology: peer_networkingBy integrating peer networking, mentorship, and personal-care support, the organization fosters professional sustainability, because filmmaker resilience is strengthened through relational trust and holistic development beyond technical skills.
- Rest and Wellness as Sustained Resistancemethodology: rest_as_resistanceBy centering rest, joy, and wellness practices like meditation and community processing, the organization sustains filmmakers against burnout and systemic precarity, because long-term change requires resilient, emotionally supported creators.
- Transparent Impact Reporting as Leverage for Systemic Changemethodology: impact_transparency_as_leverageBy using transparent measurement and reporting of impact, the organization demonstrates the capabilities of BIPOC filmmakers and pressures the industry to change, because visibility of success challenges dominant narratives and justifies equitable investment.