Independence Public Media Foundation is now the People’s Media Fund
PHILADELPHIA, November 6, 2025—The Independence Public Media Foundation is proud to reintroduce itself as the People’s Media Fund (PMF) to its grantees, funding partners, and the Greater Philadelphia communities the fund supports.
The fund worked with Message Agency, a local digital agency, to develop its new brand and name change. The name “People’s Media Fund” captures the organization’s goal of being a foundation for the people. A practice reflected in the ways the fund aims to democratize philanthropy and media through community-led grantmaking and by supporting community-owned and -led media and media-making that fuel movements.
“The People’s Media Fund affirms our commitment to transparency and fostering spaces of belonging, collaboration, and imagination as we all work toward a liberatory future,” said PMF President Molly de Aguiar. “Our new name holds us accountable to our responsibility to share power with communities whose stories have too often been overlooked or suppressed, and whose calls for justice and equity demand to be heard.”
Click here to read the full press release: https://www.peoplesmediafund.org/news/independence-public-media-foundation-now-peoples-media-fund
Click to discover how our new name and brand serve as a call to action to center the communities we support in a conversation between PMF’s Board Chair and staff: https://www.peoplesmediafund.org/news/becoming-peoples-media-fund
Independence Public Media Foundation Announces $3.6 million in Grants to 32 Organizations and Projects
The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) announces $3.6 million in renewed grants to 32 organizations and projects supporting community-led and owned storytelling and media for movement building throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
IPMF’s Key Partners grant cycle provides ongoing operation and project support to grantees aligned with the foundation’s strategic vision for a local media ecosystem fueled by historically marginalized and oppressed communities who produce and distribute their own media narratives for liberation, joy, memory, and accountability.
Read more about the grants: independencemedia.org/news/independence-public-media-foundation-announces-36-million-key-partner-grants
Read IPMF Learning and Networks Officer Samíl Jimenez-Magdaleno’s essay about how IPMF supports its Key Partners during times of uncertainty: independencemedia.org/news/building-better-future-supporting-key-grantee-partners
Independence Public Media Foundation Welcomes Two New Staff Members
The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) is pleased to welcome two new additions to its staff: Grants Associate Lorraine Jabouin and Program Officer Melissa Hamilton.
Lorraine Jabouin is a mission-driven relationship builder and strategic innovator with a passion for uplifting marginalized communities in need of socio-economic and political prosperity. Before joining IPMF, Lorraine served as a program manager at Compass Working Capital, a nonprofit focused on financial services and economic mobility. As Grants Associate, Lorraine will support the management of IPMF’s grants database, grant application process, maintain records, and assist with data analysis.
Melissa Hamilton is an artist, organizer, and Philadelphia native who has supported changemakers and organizations in social and cultural sectors for over fifteen years. Before IPMF, Melissa was deputy director at the Leeway Foundation, a grantmaker that supports women and trans artists working at the intersection of art and social change. As Program Officer, Melissa will collaborate with IPMF’s program team to shape and implement the foundation’s grantmaking, evaluation, and capacity-building efforts in support of our program strategies and mission.
Learn more about Lorraine and Melissa: independencemedia.org/news/ipmf-welcomes-2025-new-staff
Independence Public Media Foundation Announces $500,000 in Grants Awarded to Local Independent Filmmakers
The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) announces $500,000 in grants to support Greater Philadelphia’s emerging and professional independent filmmakers. The grants will support the development of their films and the expansion of their skills. A total of 30 film projects received funding through IPMF’s community-led grantmaking process.
Each year, the foundation partners with a panel of local filmmakers and film advocates to select the grant recipients. This process aligns with the foundation’s commitment to shift power to communities harmed by systems of oppression and media erasure. The panel’s grantmaking decisions are final and are not influenced by the IPMF board or staff.
Along with a grant, the Local Filmmaker Fund offers a 12-month cohort experience that provides filmmakers access to workshops and convenings to build their industry knowledge and networks within the region’s filmmaker community. Filmmakers also have the opportunity to screen their projects at IPMF’s annual Fall Film Screening to gain more public interest and following.
Here is the list of 2025 Local Filmmaker Fund grant recipients: https://www.independencemedia.org/news/independence-public-media-foundation-announces-500000-grants-awarded-independent-filmmakers
Also, check out IPMF Program Officer Nuala Cabral’s Essay on Local Filmmakers Using Film to Shift Policy on Carceration and Amplify the Experiences of Justice-Impacted Communities: https://www.independencemedia.org/news/lifting-carceral-narratives-film-archive-and-advocacy
Independence Public Media Foundation Welcomes Seven New Board Members
PHILADELPHIA, February 4, 2025 – The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) welcomes seven new members to its board of directors. The new board members bring a wide range of skills and expertise including media-making, strategic coalition-building, nonprofit governance, public relations, and philanthropy. They will join IPMF’s seven other board members in support of the foundation’s mission to move resources for media and media-making owned and led by communities harmed by systems of oppression and media erasure.
“As an organization that’s reimagining traditional philanthropic processes, we’re constantly examining ways to make all aspects of our organization, especially governance, more equitable, accessible, and accountable to our communities,” said IPMF President Molly de Aguiar. “Using an open call search for new board members, rather than an invitation-only process, is one way we’re trying to live our values.”
IPMF, through its first-ever board open call, invited community members to apply and join its board. This aligns with the foundation’s ongoing commitment to share power with communities typically excluded from philanthropy. Over 60 applications were received, and the seven new board members were selected through a three-step interview process that included conversations with the IPMF board and staff.
“As we become more established as a foundation, it’s essential to have a board and staff continuously committed to advancing philanthropic processes, policies, and decisions that promote equity and justice in our communities,” said Jamila Medley, IPMF board chair. “The new board members possess the qualities needed to do that work—and the local expertise, leadership, and creativity.”
Click to view the seven new board members: independencemedia.org/news/ipmf-welcomes-new-board-members
