International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is a grantmaking organization that disburses funds to support journalistic projects throughout the world, with a particular focus on “women and nonbinary” journalists. It also provides resources on journalistic best practices, as well as support lines for journalists in need of emergency assistance. 1
In June 2024, IWMF made news for its controversial decision to award its “Courage in Journalism” award to Maha Hussaini, a freelance writer who allegedly shared anti-Semitic cartoons drawn by the winners of an Iranian newspaper’s International Holocaust Cartoon Contest and expressed support for Palestinian terrorism. 2
Activities
The International Women’s Media Foundation primarily disburses grants to journalistic programs. However, it also runs several programs of its own, all of which are designed to “unleash the potential” of women journalists and “transform the global news media,” in a world where readers “demand a diversity of voices, stories, and perspectives.” 1
One of its programs is the IWMF Emergency Fund, established in 2013 to serve as a support lifeline for women journalists who find themselves in crisis. It provides such journalists with psychological care, medical care, temporary relocation assistance, legal aid, and information assistance. It also runs the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund and the Journalists in Distress Network. 3
The IWMF is committed to gender equality and the left-wing principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), stating that it believes “gender does not conform to one notion” and that it is “inclusive of all women, nonbinary and gender non-conforming journalists.” 1
Controversies
In June 2024, IWMF announced that it would award its “Courage in Journalism” award to honor Maha Hussaini, a freelance writer who writes for the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and who allegedly shared anti-Semitic cartoons drawn by the winners of Iranian newspaper Hamshahri’s 2006 International Holocaust Cartoon Contest. She also reportedly wrote “glory to the martyrs” in reference to two Palestinian terrorists who killed two Israeli border officers at the Temple Mount in 2017. 2
Financials
In 2022, the International Women’s Media Foundation reported revenue of $4,479,380, expenses of $5,399,596, and net assets of $5,797,715. 4
Funding
The International Women’s Media Foundation gave special thanks to the Howard G. Buffett Foundation for its support. It also recognizes Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Emerson Collective, Ford Foundation, Foundation for a Just Society, and Luminate for having donated over $500,000. It recognizes Bank of America, Golden Globe Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, New Venture Fund, and the Open Society Foundation for donating over $250,000. 5
Grantmaking
The International Women’s Media Foundation annually gives grants to support journalistic projects throughout the world, with a particular focus on “women and nonbinary” journalists. 1
In 2022, the International Women’s Media Foundation provided grants to Spero Worldwide ($15,440 for “emergency grant for 16 Afghan journalists”), Amnesty International of the USA ($15,000 for “McCain Partnership”), Univision Communications LLC ($13,190 for a “grant disbursement to two employees at Univision”), Lukas Inc. ($13,000 in prize money for the 2022 Courage in Journalism recipient), Feminist Frequency ($11,000 for Games and OH Hotline), New Tech Innovation LLC ($11,000 for Equality Labs’ role in Coalition Against Online Violence (CAOV) Project), Online SOS ($11,000 for its role in the CAOV Project), OSDM LLC ($11,000 for WINN’s role in the CAOV Project), Texas Tribune ($10,000 for its Reproductive Rights Reporting Project), Too Young to Wed ($10,000 for it photo exhibition for “International Day of the Girl”), Narrative Arts ($8,000 for a documentary in North Carolina), Tapahe Inventive Design ($7,645 for its fund for indigenous journalists reporting on “MMIWG2T” (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender People) grantee)), 6 Cathexis Press LLC ($6,000 for Female Agents at Border Patrol Reporting Project), the Home Collective LLC ($10,000 for the Waroa Tribe of Venezuela Reporting Project) and the URL Media Holdings ($215,000 to constitute its fiscal sponsorship of the group). 7
Leadership
The board of International Women’s Media Foundation is co-chaired by Suzanne Malveaux and Linda Douglass. 8
References
- “About.” International Women’s Media Foundation. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.iwmf.org/about/.
- Goodman, Alana. “CNN, NBC Journos To Bestow Award on Hamas Supporter Who Posted Anti-Semitic Cartoons.” Free Beacon, June 18, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/media/cnn-nbc-journos-to-bestow-award-on-hamas-supporter-who-posted-anti-semitic-cartoons/.
- “Emergency Fund.” International Women’s Media Foundation. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.iwmf.org/programs/emergency-fund/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). International Women’s Media Foundation. 2022. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
- “Donors & Sponsors.” International Women’s Media Foundation. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.iwmf.org/about/donors/.
- “Fund for Indigenous Journalists: MMIWG2T Grant (US).” Funds for NGOs. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/fund-for-indigenous-journalists-mmiwg2t-grant-us/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). International Women’s Media Foundation. 2022. Schedule I, Part II, Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
- “Board of Directors.” International Women’s Media Foundation. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.iwmf.org/board-of-directors/.