Non-profit

Alliance for Women in Media

Location:

LEXINGTON, KY

Tax ID:

52-1193933

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $691,042
Expenses: $648,101
Assets: $475,995

Executive Director:

Becky Brooks

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM) is designed to the encourage participation of women in radio, television, and digital media. AWM supported the 2017 Women’s March and has advocated FCC regulatory action to increase the ownership of radio stations by women.

AWM is the parent organization of the Gracie Awards. The Awards have been in operation for 45 years and recognize creative programming by women in media or entertainment. 1

History

Alliance for Women in Media was originally known as American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). AWRT was founded in 1951 when the National Association of Broadcasters discontinued its division for women. 2

In 1951, a convention of 282 women formed AWRT, with key founders being Agnes Law, Edythe Meserend, and Jane Barton. AWRT was headquartered in Grand Central Terminal in New York until 1969 when it moved to Washington, D.C. In the 20th Century, AWRT provided input on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules regarding radio owners and female employment, the 1963 Equal Pay Act, 1974 Women’s Educational Equity Act, the Child Support Amendments to the 1975 Social Security Act, 1976 Day Care Act, 1978 Pregnancy Disability Act, and the 1986 Age Discrimination Act. 3

In 1992, AWRT supported allowing the owners of radio stations to exceed the limit of 18 radio stations, set by the FCC, in exchange for a program that encouraged “inclusion of women as beneficiaries of these programs.” 4

In 1960, the American Women in Radio and Television founded a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (FWRT), that later became the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM). 5

In 2010, the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television changed in’s name to the Alliance for Women in Media. 6

Gracie Awards

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation provides “Gracie Awards” to recognize creative programming by women whose primary role is in media or entertainment. 7

The Gracie Awards have been in operation for 45 years. The Gracie Awards highlight radio, television, and online interactive media created by women. In 2020 sponsors for the 45th annual Gracie Awards were Crown Media, CBS, CNN, Katz Media Group, NCTA, Beasley Media Group, and Cox Media Group. Ziploc Brand was also a sponsor of the event. 8

The Gracie Awards are named after the comedian Gracie Allen. The award has been presented to women in media since 1975. 9

In May of 2020, the 45th annual Gracie Awards honored stories like “Am I Next? Trans and Targeted?” by ABC NEWS “Nightline,” “Periods! Why These 8th-Graders Aren’t Afraid To Talk About Them” by NPR, and “With Abortion Restrictions On The Rise, Some Women Induce Their Own.” 10

Present Activities

In 2011, AWM opposed proposals to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting calling the elimination of funding “a disservice to all Americans.” 11

In 2013, as president of the Alliance for Women in Media, Erin Fuller, eliminated membership dues as part of a “radical inclusivity” approach. 12

In 2017, the Washington, D.C. chapter of AWM held a panel on the Women’s March. The panel featured Janaye Ingram, Co-Chair of the Women’s March; Arnold Fege of Public Advocacy for Kids; Cynthia McCabe; Dia Bui; Kersha Diebel of Planned Parenthood; and Angelo Franco-Gulick. 13

In 2020, AWM officially endorsed the left-wing Women’s March to “recognize, to support, and to raise awareness of the immense contributions made by women to our country.” 14

Scholarships and Funding

The AWM provides scholarships to media students at the start of their careers. The scholarships are open to female students studying media at a college or university. 15 For example, in 2021, the Ford Motor Company Fund is providing funds for the “Emerging Voices” Scholarship for “two promising female undergraduate or graduate students” to provide content for AWM. Each student selected receives $3,000 with the runner-up receiving $1,000 paid for by the sponsor. The student selected also receives a ticket to the Gracie Awards. 16

In 2010, Ford Motor Company also supported AWRT’s “Empowering America” program that provided educational material to girls at middle schools across America. 17

AWM is funded by paid memberships to the organization. In 2013, the AMW had 7,000 members. 18

References

  1. TEGNA’s WUSA9 Wins Five Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Gracie Awards. (2020, May 13). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200513005582/en/TEGNA%E2%80%99s-WUSA9-Wins-Alliance-Women-Media-Foundation
  2. American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) records. (2004). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/517
  3. Slavin, S. (1995). American Women in Radio. In U.S. women’s interest groups: Institutional profiles (pp. 67-70). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=It0XSBZz2wEC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=%22Foundation+of+American+Women+in+Radio+and+Television%22&source=bl&ots=rZ61IVi4p_&sig=ACfU3U06I3G3Jai5THpwCg2KJTF96XNa_Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHgvqhsPPpAhWchHIEHS9bAzIQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Foundation%20of%20American%20Women%20in%20Radio%20and%20Television%22&f=false
  4. Slavin, S. (1995). American Women in Radio. In U.S. women’s interest groups: Institutional profiles (pp. 67-70). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=It0XSBZz2wEC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=%22Foundation+of+American+Women+in+Radio+and+Television%22&source=bl&ots=rZ61IVi4p_&sig=ACfU3U06I3G3Jai5THpwCg2KJTF96XNa_Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHgvqhsPPpAhWchHIEHS9bAzIQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Foundation%20of%20American%20Wmen%20in%20Radio%20and%20Television%22&f=false
  5. Slavin, S. (1995). American Women in Radio. In U.S. women’s interest groups: Institutional profiles (pp. 67-70). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=It0XSBZz2wEC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=%22Foundation+of+American+Women+in+Radio+and+Television%22&source=bl&ots=rZ61IVi4p_&sig=ACfU3U06I3G3Jai5THpwCg2KJTF96XNa_Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHgvqhsPPpAhWchHIEHS9bAzIQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Foundation%20of%20American%20Women%20in%20Radio%20and%20Television%22&f=false
  6. Austin Alliance for Women in Media “About Us”. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://awmaustin.org/about.php
  7. TEGNA’s WUSA9 Wins Five Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Gracie Awards. (2020, May 13). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200513005582/en/TEGNA%E2%80%99s-WUSA9-Wins-Alliance-Women-Media-Foundation
  8. 45th Annual Gracie Awards Winners Announced By The Alliance For Women In Media Foundation. (2020, May 20). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.looktothestars.org/news/19739-45th-annual-gracie-awards-winners-announced-by-the-alliance-for-women-in-media-foundation
  9. Rozario, L. (2020, May 13). NPR Wins Three Gracie Awards. Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/05/13/854256613/npr-wins-three-gracie-awards
  10. Here’s The Complete List of 45th annual Gracie Award Winners. (2020, May 13). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.rbr.com/heres-the-complete-list-of-45th-annual-gracie-award-winners/
  11. Public Broadcasting Would Get More Money Under Obama’s Proposed Budget. (2011, February 11). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/87349/public-broadcasting-would-get-more-money-under-oba
  12. The Innovators: Alliance for Women in Media Embraces Free Membership. (2013, February 01). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://associationsnow.com/2013/02/the-innovators-the-big-embrace/
  13. Lewis, D. B. (2017, March 14). Alliance for Women In Media – National Capital Area Chapter Women’s March: Now What. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Alliance-for-Women-in-Media-DC-Chapter-Presents—Women-s-March–Now-What–.html?soid=1113399799101&aid=-6sdLBpzoGc
  14. Alliance for Women in Media Announces Support for Women’s March in Washington, D.C. on January 21. (2018, June 26). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alliance-for-women-in-media-announces-support-for-womens-march-in-washington-dc-on-january-21-300392995.html
  15. American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) records. (2004). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/517 Slavin, S. (1995). American Women in Radio. In U.S. women’s interest groups: Institutional profiles (pp. 67-70). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
  16. AFWM Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/scholarships-for-women/afwm-ford-emerging-voices-scholarship/
  17. AWRT, Ford Continue ‘Empower America’ Campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://testprd.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/70642/awrt-ford-continue-empower-america-campaign?ref=search
  18. The Innovators: Alliance for Women in Media Embraces Free Membership. (2013, February 01). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://associationsnow.com/2013/02/the-innovators-the-big-embrace/
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1980

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $691,042 $648,101 $475,995 $344,665 Y $138,692 $538,291 $14,059 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $627,688 $678,317 $392,693 $304,304 Y $86,000 $527,108 $14,580 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $540,007 $645,338 $399,556 $260,538 Y $133,938 $346,575 $15,073 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $626,376 $693,564 $412,877 $168,528 Y $169,935 $437,883 $15,544 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $687,100 $672,704 $466,139 $154,602 Y $192,455 $486,234 $1 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $682,830 $674,959 $398,621 $101,480 Y $269,070 $398,504 $15 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $710,369 $809,480 $401,315 $112,045 Y $264,127 $436,405 $19 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Alliance for Women in Media

    2365 HARRODSBURG RD STE A325
    LEXINGTON, KY 40504-3366