irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $251KEDUCATIONAL SERVICES NYWIFT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MOVING IMAGE INDUSTRY AND SUPPORTS WOMEN IN EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS. NYWIFT ENERGIZES FILMMAKERS BY ILLUMINATING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, PRESENTING TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF PEERS.
- #2 $805KFILM AND VIDEO PROJECT SPONSORSHIPS NYWIFT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MOVING IMAGE INDUSTRY AND SUPPORTS WOMEN IN EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS. NYWIFT ENERGIZES FILMMAKERS BY ILLUMINATING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, PRESENTING TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF PEERS.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Designing Women Awards
Annual event recognizing excellence in costume design, makeup artistry, and hairstyling in film and television
From Script to Pre-Production (FS2P)
Six-month intensive program helping women writer-directors develop pitch packages for independent low-budget features
Muse Awards
Annual awards luncheon honoring women in film and television for vision and achievement, including the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award and the Nancy Malone Directing Award
The Writers Lab
Annual retreat and development program for women screenwriters over 40, funded by Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey
Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories
Annual screening series showcasing films by immigrant and first-generation women directors, with workshops and community engagement
Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF)
Initiative dedicated to preserving and screening films by women directors, including Second Wave Feminist films
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 2 activities
- Awards grants and scholarships to support women in filmFunds scholarships and grants for women in the moving image industry, including support for film students in New York City, restoration and preservation of early works by female filmmakers, and projects administered through the Women’s Film Preservation Fund. Administered over $300,000 in fiscal sponsorship grants during fiscal year 2013.
- Supports film preservation through dedicated funding and partnershipsAdministers the Women’s Film Preservation Fund, which awards grants to restore and preserve early works by female filmmakers, and has co-presented curated programs of preserved feminist films internationally, such as at the Barbican Centre in London.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Advocates for gender equality and inclusion in mediaAdvocates for gender equality, inclusion, and safety in the film and television industry through public summits, panel discussions, and participation in coalitions such as ReFrame. Hosted the first NYWIFT Summit on Inclusion, Equality and Safety in 2019 with speakers from government, nonprofits, and media organizations.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Develops educational media content with social impact focusDeveloping an educational documentary series in partnership with the Malala Fund, Catharsis Arts Foundation, and Kids Rock For Kids, highlighting teen musicians in NYC collaborating with girls in Afghanistan attending underground schools amid bans on music and girls' education.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Hosts co-presented film screenings and festivalsCo-presents film screenings at major festivals including the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City and online, and has presented preserved Second Wave Feminist films at the Barbican Centre in London. Also supports premieres of documentaries by women filmmakers, such as The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony at the Tribeca Festival.
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
- Offers training and mentorship programs for filmmakersProvides multi-part virtual and in-person masterclasses, workshops, and training programs such as the NYWIFT Masterclass Series, From Script to Pre-Production (FS2P), and comedy writing and episodic storytelling courses. Mentors over 25 young people annually through internships and offers career development guidance via The Writers Lab fellowships and other initiatives.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Presents awards and honors to women in entertainmentHosts the annual Muse Awards for Vision and Achievement, a flagship fundraising event attended by 1,200 industry leaders, celebrating women of vision and achievement in the entertainment industry. Also presents awards to filmmakers at festivals in the New York area.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Produces annual programs and special events for women in film and televisionProduces over 50 programs, seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and special events annually, including the Muse Awards gala luncheon, Designing Women, Masterclass Series, Finance Institute, Creative Workforce Initiative, and networking mixers such as NYWIFT Night Out. These events serve the New York City media community and attract industry executives from major studios and networks.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Provides access to film screenings and industry resourcesOffers members over 60 free advance screenings annually and supplies above and below-the-line talent to New York City’s film and television industry, supporting workforce development and professional visibility.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.07M
Contributions & grants$1.69M82%
Program service revenue$433K21%
Investment income$57K3%
Other revenue$-111K
expenses
Total expenses$1.79M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$534K
Grants paid out$68K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.55M
Cash$2.16M
Investments$60K
Liabilities$1.14M
Net assets$1.41M
Liquid reserves14.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -9.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYNTHIA LOPEZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CEO | 50 | $205K |
board members · 16
- AMENYA MAKUKU — DIRECTOR
- AUDREY ROSENBERG — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTINA KIELY VICE PRESIDENT — OF ADVOCACY EDUCATION
- EMELYN STUART — DIRECTOR
- GRETCHEN McGOWAN — TREASURER
- JOYCE PIERPOLINE — SECRETARY
- KIA BROOKS — DIRECTOR
- KIM JACKSON — PRESIDENT
- KUYE YOUNGBLOOD — DIRECTOR
- NEYDA MARTINEZ — DIRECTOR
- OKEMA T MOORE — DIRECTOR
- SHRUTI GANGULY — DIRECTOR
- SIBYL SANTIAGO VICE PRESIDENT — OF SPECIAL EVENTS
- SIRAD BALDUCCI — DIRECTOR
- TONI ISREAL VICE PRESIDENT — OF DEVELOPMENT
- ZENAIDA MENDEZ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- 100 Women in Finance Partner — Co-hosted the Finance Her panel series to bridge the gap between filmmakers and financiers.
- AMC Networks Partner — Co-presented the panel “Women on the Front Lines: Changing the Game” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
- Asian CineVision Partner — Co-presents film screenings at the Asian American International Film Festival.
- BAFTA Government — Joyce Pierpoline chairs the Board of BAFTA North America and serves as a Trustee of BAFTA UK, reflecting a high-level institutional relationship.
- Catharsis Arts Foundation Partner — Partnering on the development of an educational documentary series involving youth collaboration across cultures.
- Company 3 Partner — Co-presented in-person and virtual masterclasses on post-production processes and technologies.
- ESSENCE Festival of Culture Partner — Collaborated on coverage of cultural programming, including Disney’s Tiana’s Joyful Celebration exhibit, at the 2026 festival.
- Final Draft Partner — Collaborated on a masterclass focused on using Final Draft 13 software for screenwriting.
- Hellenic Film Society Partner — Partners on film screenings including at the NY Greek Film Expo.
- IRIS Partner — Partnered to create The Writers Lab for women screenwriters over 40.
- Kids Rock For Kids Partner — Co-developing an educational documentary series focused on music and education access for girls in Afghanistan.
- Malala Fund Partner — Collaborating with Christina Kiely on an educational documentary series connecting teen musicians in NYC with girls in Afghanistan.
- NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Partner — Co-presents the “Made in NY” Award as part of the Muse Awards.
- Network of more than 60 Women in Film organizations worldwide Network — NYWIFT is part of a global network of Women in Film organizations representing over 15,000 members.
- ReFrame Partner — Co-presented the panel “Women on the Front Lines: Changing the Game” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
- SAG-AFTRA Partner — Recognizes Rebecca Damon, Chief Labor Policy Officer and New York Local Executive Director of SAG-AFTRA, with an award.
- The Actors Fund Partner — Partnered with Women in Film (WIF) LA to bring WIF’s Sexual Harassment Hotline to New York with expanded East Coast services.
- The Playwright’s Realm Partner — Amenya Makuku serves as Film/TV advisor for this theatre incubator, indicating a cross-sector creative partnership.
- The Women’s Network of The New York Times Company Partner — Co-hosted the Finance Her panel series to connect filmmakers with financiers.
- The Writers Lab Partner — Amenya Makuku mentors for The Writers Lab fellowships, reflecting a professional partnership in supporting women screenwriters.
- Third World Newsreel Partner — Provided instructors for the media production workshop in the Women Directors: Immigrant Stories Series.
- Tradeswomen of Local 52 Partner — Jointly honors electrician Glynis Burke for her contributions to the field.
- Tribeca Festival Partner — Partnered to highlight documentary storytelling, including The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony, at the 2026 festival.
- Walt Disney Imagineering Partner — Covered the immersive exhibit Tiana’s Joyful Celebration, produced by Walt Disney Imagineering, at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
- Women Make Movies Network — Neyda Martinez serves on the board of Women Make Movies, indicating organizational affiliation and collaborative alignment.
- Women in Film (WIF) LA Partner — Co-presented the panel “Women on the Front Lines: Changing the Game” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020 and partnered to bring WIF’s Sexual Harassment Hotline to New York.
- Women in Film Finishing Fund Partner — Collaborates to secure in-kind contributions for film finishing support.
- corporate partners Partner — Corporate partners are eligible to have their businesses listed in the NYWIFT Resource Guide.
- network of more than 60 women in film organizations worldwide Network — NYWIFT is part of a global network of women in film organizations.
strategies · 4
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.
- Advocacy for Gender Equality in Media Industry Structuresmethodology: gender-equality-advocacyBy advocating for gender equality within the moving image industry, NYWIFT creates systemic conditions that support women’s career development, because structural change is necessary to dismantle barriers to leadership and opportunity.
- Film as a Tool for Social and Cultural Impactmethodology: film-for-social-impactBy supporting films that explore emotional, social, and political themes—such as human rights, mental health, and gun violence—NYWIFT amplifies stories that drive cultural reflection and change, because cinema serves as both a mirror and catalyst for societal transformation.
- Peer and Professional Development Ecosystemmethodology: professional-development-and-peer-supportBy offering professional development workshops, peer networks, and recognition platforms, NYWIFT increases visibility, career advancement, and retention of women in film and television, because sustained engagement across career stages strengthens industry presence and resilience.
- Targeted Talent Development for Underrepresented Writersmethodology: targeted_talent_developmentBy focusing on women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40 through dedicated lab programs, NYWIFT addresses systemic age and gender gaps in screenwriting, because targeted support for marginalized creators yields greater representation and narrative diversity.