Alliance of Women Directors

What Alliance of Women Directors does

Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by alumnae of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. Headquartered in Valley Village, California, AWD operates an inclusive membership community of more than 800 professional women and gender-expansive directors and allies working in film, television, commercials, and new media. The organization addresses persistent gender disparity in entertainment directing through a searchable director database used by producers and production companies, structured career advancement programs, fellowships, mentorship, and advocacy.

AWD's commercial activity is organized around two paid membership tiers: Director Membership at $125/year (requiring verified directing credits and inclusion in the searchable database) and Ally Membership at $50/year (open to all supporters). Revenue is supplemented by donations (including stock donations via the Infinite Giving platform), branded merchandise sales ($9-$45 items), and a 5% fiscal sponsorship fee applied to member projects seeking charitable funding. The organization's program portfolio spans the STARZ x AWD Creative Leadership Lab, Rising Director Fellowship, Black Directors Advancement Initiative, #MentorLatinaDirectors Fellowship, Directing the Actor Lab, the annual BACK TO SET intensive (launched September 2025), Virtual Readings, Works in Progress, the AWD South regional branch, and the ICON-VERSATIONS podcast. Operations are supported by a lean staff of two — Interim Executive Director Kylie Eaton and Operations Coordinator Nikki Braendlin — alongside a 16-member Board of Directors.

AWD's strategic value is anchored in its network of 30+ corporate and institutional partners across major studios (STARZ, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Disney, Paramount, AMC, Lionsgate, Lifetime, Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal, TriStar), technology vendors (Scriptation, Shotdeck, IMGN.AI), film festivals (Sundance, Pan African, Atlanta), and government funders (LA County Arts & Culture). The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its core distribution asset is the searchable director database that converts member relationships into a direct hiring pipeline. Multiple Icon Members received 2026 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Directing, reinforcing the organization's brand visibility and member outcomes.

Name

Alliance of Women Directors

Legal name

Alliance of Women Directors

Website

https://allianceofwomendirectors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alliance of Women Directors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an 800+-member community of women and gender-expansive film, television, and new media directors, offering paid memberships ($125/$50), a searchable hiring database, fellowships, and career advancement programs in partnership with major studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Director Members ($125/year) and Ally Members ($50/year) provide primary revenue stream for organizational operations, event costs, and programming.
2. Donations and Contributions: One-time and recurring donations from supporters, including stock donations through Infinite Giving platform. Donations support general fund and programmatically sponsored projects.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel, drinkware, bags, hats, and accessories. Products range from $9 to $45.
4. Fiscal Sponsorship: AWD offers Fiscal Sponsorship at 5% rate to Directing Members, enabling projects to secure funding through the organization's nonprofit status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AWD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization that supports women and gender-expansive directors in film, television, commercials, and new media. It sells individual Director and Ally memberships, provides a searchable director database used by producers and studios, runs fellowship and lab programs for career advancement, hosts the BACK TO SET symposium, and offers fiscal sponsorship services for member-led projects.

Product overview

Alliance of Women Directors operates as a nonprofit membership organization offering a suite of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include Director Membership ($125/year) and Ally Membership ($50/year), which provide access to a searchable director database, career advancement programs, fellowships, workshops, and industry events. The portfolio spans career development initiatives (Rising Director Fellowship, STARZ Creative Leadership Lab, Directing the Actor Lab), targeted support programs (Black Directors Advancement Initiative, #MentorLatinaDirectors Fellowship), professional community events (BACK TO SET annual symposium, Social Sundays, Virtual Readings, Works in Progress), creative resources (AWD Book Club, ICON-VERSATIONS podcast), fiscal sponsorship services, and a merchandise shop. The organization also maintains a monthly newsletter and curated research hub. These services collectively serve to increase opportunities for women and gender-expansive directors through professional support, industry relationships, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Director Membership Annual membership ($125/year, with 20% student discount) for women and gender-expansive directors working in film, television, commercials, and new media. Includes database listing, access to fellowships, events, and community resources.
• Ally Membership Annual membership ($50/year) for non-director allies such as producers, executives, casting directors, agents, and crew who support AWD's mission.
• Searchable Director Database Online directory of AWD member directors accessible to producers, studios, networks, and casting professionals seeking diverse directing talent for film, TV, commercials, and new media projects.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Program 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship service for member-led film and media projects, charging a 5% administrative fee to enable projects to receive tax-deductible donations.
• Career Advancement Program Multi-faceted program including the Career Advancement Program, Directing the Actor Lab, Rising Director Fellowship, Black Directors Advancement Initiative, #MentorLatinaDirectors Fellowship, STARZ x AWD Creative Leadership Lab, Virtual Readings, and Works in Progress, designed to advance member directors' careers.
• BACK TO SET Symposium Annual flagship symposium event bringing together member directors, industry executives, and partners for networking, panels, and career-advancing programming.
• AWD Podcast Podcast featuring conversations with member directors and industry figures, distributed on streaming audio platforms.
• AWD Merchandise Shop Online store selling branded merchandise to members and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ members
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• STARZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTARZ partners with AWD on the Creative Leadership Lab, a professional development program supporting women and gender-expansive directors transitioning to episodic television leadership. The program provides mentorship, industry access, and public recognition at BACK TO SET.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix collaborates with AWD on diversity initiatives and supports the Rising Director Fellowship through executive mentoring sessions with fellows.
• NBCUniversalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBCU partners with AWD on studio partnerships, panels, mixers, and workshops for members. NBCU Launch program supports AWD initiatives.
• Disney (ABC Television Group, Disney Channel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney collaborates with AWD on programming partnerships, industry panels, and diversity initiatives across Disney's television networks.
• Paramount PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParamount Pictures partners with AWD through studio partnerships and supports the Rising Director Fellowship with executive mentoring.
• AMC NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMC Networks collaborates with AWD on industry partnerships, panels, and programming supporting women directors.
• LionsgatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLionsgate partners with AWD on studio partnerships and industry initiatives supporting women and gender-expansive directors.
• LifetimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifetime network collaborates with AWD on programming partnerships and industry events supporting women directors.
• Warner Bros. DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner Media partners with AWD on industry diversity initiatives and supports AWD programming and events.
• Universal PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal partners with AWD on Rising Director Fellowship executive mentoring, providing access to studio executives for program fellows.
• Sundance CollabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSundance Institute partners with AWD on programming partnerships and supports Rising Director Fellowship with executive access.
• IlluminarcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIlluminar sponsors AWD and supports Rising Director Fellowship and other AWD programs and initiatives.
• FOTOKEMsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFOTOKEM provides in-kind support and sponsors AWD programming and events.
• ScriptationsupportingTechnology or IntegrationScriptation provides technology integration and sponsors AWD events including BACK TO SET and Rising Director Fellowship.
• ShotdecksupportingTechnology or IntegrationShotdeck provides visual reference platform technology sponsorship and supports BACK TO SET and Rising Director Fellowship.
• IMGN.AIsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIMGN.AI sponsors BACK TO SET and provides $5,000 production grant to one filmmaker through AWD's AI-powered preproduction platform partnership.
• First Entertainment Credit UnionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Entertainment partners with AWD to offer $50 VISA gift card to BACK TO SET attendees who open new credit union membership.
• Front Row InsurancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFront Row Insurance sponsors BACK TO SET and Rising Director Fellowship as insurance partner.
• Sundance Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSundance Institute collaborates with AWD through Sundance Collab platform and festival partnerships supporting women directors.
• LA County Arts & CulturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA County Arts & Culture partners with AWD as regional government arts supporter.
• GalateaTVsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalateaTV collaborates with AWD on industry partnerships and programming.
• CinegearsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCinegear Expo partners with AWD and sponsors industry events and programs.
• Turner Classic MoviessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCM partners with AWD on studio partnerships and industry programming.
• African American Film Critics AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAFCA collaborates with AWD on industry partnerships and programming supporting diverse directors.
• BackstagesupportingTechnology or IntegrationBackstage partners with AWD on Rising Director Fellowship sponsorship and industry resources.
• New Filmmakers Los AngelessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewFilmmakers LA collaborates with AWD on industry events and programming.
• Pan African Film FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAFF partners with AWD on festival programming and director opportunities.
• Atlanta Film FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta Film Festival collaborates with AWD on festival partnerships and director development.
• TriStar PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTriStar partners with AWD on Rising Director Fellowship executive mentoring sessions.
• PictureShopsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPictureShop sponsors Rising Director Fellowship providing post-production support for fellows.
• Fade InsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFade In magazine/pro software sponsors Rising Director Fellowship.
• Chemical WeddingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerChemical Wedding sponsors Rising Director Fellowship.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Film Independent: Major nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers with fellowships, lab programs, and the Spirit Awards. Overlaps with AWD in career-advancement programming and indie filmmaker development, but broader in mission scope.
• Sundance Institute: Established nonprofit supporting independent storytelling through labs, fellowships, and the Sundance Film Festival. Already a named AWD partner; comparable in mission-tier peer organizations serving filmmakers with development programs.

Direct peers

• Free The Work: Nonprofit talent directory and advocate for underrepresented directors and creators in film/advertising. Most directly comparable to AWD's searchable director database with a market overlay for diverse talent identification.
• New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT): Regional NYC-based nonprofit for women in film/TV offering mentorship, networking, and advocacy. Comparable peer organization with the same membership/association model but East Coast geographic focus.
• Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI): The largest international nonprofit dedicated to gender parity in entertainment. Directly comparable to AWD as a membership-based professional organization running fellowships, film festivals, and industry connection programs for women filmmakers and directors.
• ReFrame Stamp (ReFrame): Industry coalition that awards a gender-parity stamp to productions meeting hiring benchmarks. Complementary to AWD's mission of increasing women director hires; comparable as an industry-aligned DEI initiative.
• Women in Film (WIF Los Angeles): Long-standing LA-based nonprofit advocating for women in the entertainment industry, with overlapping member benefits including mentorship, networking, and career advancement programs. Comparable mission and member-facing offerings.

Others

• Color of Change: Civil rights advocacy organization with campaigns in Hollywood representation. Adjacent to AWD's mission of diversifying hiring pipelines in entertainment; comparable as a nonprofit influencing industry DEI practices.
• Black List: Industry platform for screenwriters, with a similar talent-discovery and database model that AWD uses for directors. Tangentially comparable as a talent-marketplace intermediary in entertainment.

Emerging players

• Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media: Research and advocacy organization focused on gender representation in media. AWD references their research in its resource hub; comparable as a DEI-focused nonprofit in entertainment/media with research-driven advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AWD_Directors
• Instagraminstagram.com/awd_directors
• Facebookfacebook.com/allianceofwomendirectors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance of Women Directors