Women In Media

What Women In Media does

Women In Media (WiM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The organization provides networking, professional development, training, grants, and advocacy for women and gender non-conforming film and entertainment professionals, with primary emphasis on below-the-line crew such as cinematographers, gaffers, camera operators, producers, and art department staff. It operates a community-led model that connects individual members with production companies and studios seeking diverse hiring pipelines, anchored on a searchable professional directory (CrewList), an online community platform (WiM Lounge), and a recurring calendar of in-person events held at Los Angeles-area venues such as Hotel Sofitel Beverly Hills, The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, and Solar Studios Glendale. A secondary customer segment includes production companies, studios, and employers seeking qualified women and gender non-conforming candidates to meet diversity hiring commitments.

The organization's product surface spans roughly fourteen distinct programs and initiatives. Core offerings include the CrewList directory, WiM Lounge online community, technical training programs (CAMERAderie & New Tech and Illumination Training, the latter including DaVinci Resolve instruction), grant programs (Developing Filmmaker Fellowship and Short Form Film Finishing Grants), networking events (Sip N Swap, Holiday Toast, Networking & Writers Group Live), the annual Altitude Awards recognizing cinematography excellence, and advocacy initiatives (#HireTheseWomen and #ParityInAction pledge). Member benefits include access to a Productionhub Jobs Board and partner discounts. Technology is not positioned as a differentiator; the platforms function as community infrastructure rather than proprietary IP.

WiM generates revenue through three streams: recurring annual membership subscriptions across Pro and Student tiers, event ticket sales priced between $20 (Networking + Writers Group Live) and $250 (Holiday Toast Premier Tickets), and tax-deductible donations including a monthly recurring giving program via Donorbox/Zeffy. Corporate sponsorships (Keslow Camera, Angenieux, SmallHD, Creamsource, ZEISS, Sigma, Greenberg Glusker LLP, Peninsula Hotel, The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood) supplement operations primarily through in-kind prizes and event underwriting. The organization does not disclose revenue figures, has no traditional equity ownership, and has no external funding rounds. It is governed by a board, led by Executive Director Tema Staig, and operates with a small staff of 1-10 people. Geographic focus is regional (West Coast/Los Angeles entertainment hub), with virtual programming extending reach nationally.

Name

Women In Media

Legal name

Women In Media

Website

https://womennmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women In Media is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates a professional community, training programs, grants, and advocacy initiatives for women and gender non-conforming film and entertainment professionals, founded in 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entertainment Industry Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAJ

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYMPADAFAI

Casting & Talent Services (Casting, Background, Talent Holding)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Production Services (Crew, Equipment Rental, Locations)

SECONDARYEDAMAAAJ

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

Keywords

• Film industry networking
• Filmmaker professional development
• Entertainment industry advocacy
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Gender parity initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to CrewList profile, industry partner discounts, #HireTheseWomen Lunches, event discounts, and exclusive access to Productionhub Jobs Board.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue from paid events including networking mixers, workshops, training programs, and award ceremonies. Ticket prices range from $20 to $250 depending on event type and membership status.
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting gender parity in entertainment. Monthly giving program available. Also likely includes grant funding for specific initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women In Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides networking, professional development, training, advocacy, grants, and recognition programs for women and gender non-conforming professionals working in the film and entertainment industries. Its core offerings include a searchable professional directory (WiM CrewList), an online community platform (WiM Lounge), annual awards (Altitude Awards), technical training workshops (CAMERAderie & New Tech, Illumination Training), networking events (Sip N Swap, Holiday Toast), and grant programs for filmmakers.

Product overview

Women In Media operates as a platform-plus-community model offering a suite of interconnected programs and services. The core platform consists of the WiM CrewList directory and WiM Lounge community, which together provide a professional database and online networking space. These are supported by training initiatives (CAMERAderie & New Tech, ILLUMINATION TRAINING), networking events (Sip N Swap, Holiday Toast), grant programs (Developing Filmmaker Fellowship, Short Form Film Finishing Grants), and advocacy initiatives (#HireTheseWomen, #ParityInAction). The Altitude Awards provides recognition for cinematography excellence, while member benefits including the ProductionHub Jobs Board and Member Discounts offer ongoing professional support. All programs are unified by the organization's mission to promote gender balance in film and entertainment through networking, professional development, and direct advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Altitude Awards: Annual awards program celebrating exemplary women and gender non-conforming cinematographers, gaffers, and camera operators
• CAMERAderie
• WiM Lounge
• WiM Writers Group
• #HireTheseWomen
• #ParityInAction
• #ProudlyWiM

Products and services

• Women In Media Membership Annual subscription membership for women and gender non-conforming film and entertainment industry professionals, providing access to CrewList directory, training, events, networking, and member benefits.
• WiM CrewList

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Keslow CameraminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing a camera package worth $15,000 as a top prize for winning cinematographers, gaffers, and camera operators.
• AngenieuxminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing an EZ-2 lens worth $12,500 as a prize for winning participants.
• SmallHDminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing an Ultra 7 monitor worth $3,099 as a prize.
• CreamsourceminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing a Vortex4 light worth $2,899 as a prize.
• ZEISSminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing a one-week rental of either ZEISS Nano Primes or ZEISS CP.3 lenses worth $2,500.
• Peninsula HotelminorOthers · 5 February 2026Prize sponsor for the Altitude Awards 2026, providing a restaurant gift certificate worth $200.
• The Godfrey Hotel HollywoodminorOthers · 5 February 2026Venue partner for Sip N Swap events and prize sponsor for Altitude Awards 2026, providing a two-night hotel stay worth $350-$700.
• Greenberg Glusker LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026Platinum sponsor for the Sip N Swap Spring 2026 event. Major entertainment law firm providing financial support for Women In Media programming.
• SigmaminorOthers · 5 February 2026Silver partner for Women In Media events and programs.
• Hotel Sofitel Beverly HillsminorOthers · 6 December 2025Venue partner for the Holiday Toast 2025 event at 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles.
• California Film CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Collaborative partner for the Cinemagical Halloween event. CFC Deputy Director Leah Medrano and DEIA Manager Fanshen Cox presented on CA tax credit programs, with the goal of increasing representation for projects that apply.
• Solar StudiosminorOthers · 29 October 2025Venue partner for the Cinemagical Halloween event at 3909 San Fernando Rd, Glendale.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Color of Change: Large racial justice advocacy organization with significant entertainment industry programming. Adjacent to WiM through shared diversity-in-hollywood advocacy goals, but operates at a much larger scale and broader social justice mission rather than direct member services.

Direct peers

• Alliance of Women Directors: Nonprofit organization supporting women directors in film and television through mentorship, networking, and advocacy. Comparable to Women In Media in serving women above-the-line film professionals, though AWD focuses specifically on directors while WiM covers a broader crew spectrum.
• Women in Film: Los Angeles-headquartered nonprofit founded in 1973 dedicated to advancing gender equity in the entertainment industry. The most direct peer, offering membership, networking events, awards, and advocacy programs targeted at women in film and media — directly overlapping with Women In Media's mission and audience.
• Women Make Movies: Nonprofit media arts organization that distributes films by and about women and provides production support. Comparable nonprofit mission serving women filmmakers, though Women Make Movies emphasizes distribution while WiM emphasizes networking and crew hiring.
• Free The Work: Nonprofit talent-discovery platform connecting diverse directors, writers, and producers with production opportunities. Closely comparable to WiM's CrewList in functioning as a hiring infrastructure for underrepresented film talent, with a focus on showcasing work for employer discovery.

Broad incumbents

• Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media: Research and advocacy nonprofit founded by Geena Davis focused on gender representation in media. Operates at a broader, industry-wide level rather than serving individual members; comparable in mission but differentiated by approach (research/policy vs. member services).
• International Documentary Association: Larger nonprofit serving documentary filmmakers through networking, events, and advocacy. Comparable in mission and nonprofit structure, but with a documentary-only focus, making it an adjacent peer given WiM's Doc Talk Series and broader film/TV scope.
• Film Independent: Nonprofit that supports independent filmmakers through fiscal sponsorship, education, and events including the Spirit Awards. Comparable nonprofit structure and filmmaker-services model, though larger in scale and not gender-specific in mission.

Emerging players

• The Black List: Platform for screenwriting talent discovery and industry connection. While not gender-focused, it serves a comparable function of connecting underrepresented writers and creators with industry opportunities, overlapping with WiM's Writers Group and broader member-services mission.

Regional players

• New York Women in Film & Television: Long-standing nonprofit for women in the entertainment industry, based in New York. Directly comparable membership/networking/advocacy model but serves the NYC production hub rather than Los Angeles, making it a regional peer to WiM's LA-centric model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/womennmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/WomenInMediaInc
• Instagraminstagram.com/womeninmediainc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Women In Media