Media Democracy Fund

The Media Democracy Fund (MDF) "is a newly formed foundation and donor collaborative in support of media reform and media democracy. The fund grew out of research conducted by the Ford Foundation, the Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust, and the Albert A. List Foundation on how to increase philanthropic investment in media policy, and is rooted in the belief that freedom of expression and access to information are necessary elements to civil society and basic human rights. MDF is an active member of Grantmakers in Film and Electronic Media's Media Policy Working Group, which offers a range of excellent resources for donors and grantees." Launch Press Release


 * Helen Brunner - Project Director

Initiating Foundations
Accessed March 2008:


 * Albert A. List Foundation
 * Arca Foundation
 * Carnegie Corporation of New York
 * Ford Foundation
 * HKH Foundation
 * Open Society Institute
 * Park Foundation
 * Otto Haas Charitable Trust
 * Quixote Foundation and Individual donors

First Round of Grants
Accessed March 2008:

MDF's 2006 grantees.


 * American Forum - $30,000
 * Center for Rural Strategies - $50,000
 * Ethos Group / Acorn Active Media Foundation - $40,000
 * Federation of State PIRGs / Center for Public Interest Research - $75,000
 * Future of Music Coalition - $40,000
 * New Rules Project / Institute for Local Self Reliance - $30,000
 * Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund - $75,000
 * Main Street Project - $50,000
 * Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) / Media Alliance - $50,000 (matching grant)
 * Progressive States Network - $30,000
 * Rockwood Leadership Program - $25,000 (matching grant)
 * Urban Dreams - $50,000

'''Total: $545,000. An additional $100,000 has been set aside for a Rapid Response Fund.'''

2007 Rapid Response Fund Grants
 * Native Public Media / National Federation of Community Broadcasters - $50,000
 * Prometheus Radio Project - $50,000

Contact

 * Web: