Veterans In Media & Entertainment

What Veterans In Media & Entertainment does

Veterans In Media & Entertainment (VME) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association founded in 2012 that connects U.S. military veterans to careers in the media and entertainment industry. The organization serves approximately 5,800 veteran members across all 50 states through five chapters located in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington D.C., Charleston, and Cleveland, and operates programming that includes networking events, career workshops, studio tours, and fellowship placements.

VME's core product is the VMEConnect platform, a members-only networking and job placement portal that functions as a searchable directory of veteran talent filterable by location, company, and experience. The platform is supplemented by specialized fellowship and training programs including the AT&T Veterans Media Fellowship, the Bob Woodruff Foundation Veteran Fellowship Program, the Netflix Animation Foundation Program, and the VO Cares voice-over initiative. The technical architecture is described as a standard member portal without disclosed AI/ML components.

The organization's business model is that of a donor-supported nonprofit. Revenue is generated through a mix of corporate and foundation grants (Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Mattel), corporate sponsorships from 30+ entertainment company partners (HBO, Lionsgate, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Disney, ABC, NBC Universal, and others), individual donations, and membership dues. Operations are run with a small core team of 1-10 employees supplemented by contractors and volunteers, with program delivery heavily reliant on studio and network partnerships that provide dedicated internship and job slots for veteran members.

Name

Veterans In Media & Entertainment

Legal name

Veterans in Media & Entertainment

Website

https://vmeconnect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Veterans In Media & Entertainment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association that connects U.S. military veterans to media and entertainment careers through its VMEConnect platform, fellowship programs, and partnerships with 30+ entertainment companies including Netflix, HBO, and Disney.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Professional Association & Career Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)

Keywords

• Veteran talent placement
• Military career transition
• Entertainment fellowship programs
• Professional networking association
• Industry talent pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VME raises revenue through individual donations and institutional grants from entertainment industry partners and foundations (e.g., Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Mattel). EIN: 80-0805473.
2. Membership Dues: Revenue is generated through membership fees for veterans joining VME to access the job board, networking events, mentorship, classes, and the VMEConnect platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Veterans in Media & Entertainment operates a member-facing nonprofit platform and association that connects U.S. military veterans to jobs, internships, fellowships, mentorship, casting opportunities, and educational programming in the media and entertainment industry. Core services are delivered through the VMEConnect online platform, structured fellowship and internship placements with entertainment studios, job placement and casting services, professional classes and screenings, and chapter-based community events in multiple U.S. cities.

Product overview

Veterans in Media & Entertainment (VME) is a 501(c)(3) professional association that operates primarily through its VME Connect Platform—a member-facing digital hub—supplemented by a suite of programmatic offerings. The platform enables veterans to create profiles, search a directory of peers, join industry-specific groups, access a job board, and view events. These digital tools are paired with experiential programs including the Veteran Fellowship & Internship Program (placing veterans at studios and networks), Professional Classes/Workshops/Roundtables, ABC Casting Actor Audition Workshop, Advanced & Premiere Screenings, Guest Speaker Series, Military Appreciation Letters Campaign, AT&T Veterans Media Fellowship, Netflix Animation Foundation Program, VO Cares, and Community Outreach/DEI initiatives. The organization also provides direct Job Placement & Casting Services and maintains a searchable VME Directory. VME is headquartered in Los Angeles with chapters in New York City, Charleston, Cleveland, and Washington, DC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VMEConnect Platform Members-only digital platform connecting U.S. military veterans to jobs, internships, fellowships, mentorship, screenings, and entertainment career resources; includes a searchable talent directory, job board, industry groups, and event listings with LinkedIn profile integration.
• Veteran Fellowship & Internship Program Structured placement program matching qualified veteran members with paid internship and production assistant positions at entertainment companies including HBO, Netflix, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, NBCUniversal, UTA, DreamWorks, and Live Nation, with mentorship and professional development support.
• Job Placement & Casting Services Direct placement services managing over 30 monthly requests for jobs, internships, casting, crew calls, mentorship, and community outreach in entertainment; places qualified veterans into entertainment industry roles with studios, networks, and production companies.
• Professional Classes, Workshops & Roundtables 50+ online and in-person educational sessions per year covering industry skills such as production assistant training, editing, camera work, voice-over, improv, pitching, and career development, delivered to veteran members at no additional cost beyond membership.
• Advanced & Premiere Screenings 50+ screening events per year offering veteran members opportunities to view industry content and network with entertainment professionals, including special nights at The Geffen Playhouse and LA Opera.
• ABC Casting Actor Audition Workshop Annual virtual workshop in collaboration with ABC Casting where selected veteran actors perform live auditions, receive feedback from casting executives, and participate in Q&A sessions.
• AT&T Veterans Media Fellowship Fellowship program sponsored by AT&T providing veterans with media industry training and career opportunities in media and entertainment.
• Netflix Animation Foundation Program Program identifying early creatives from the veteran community for Netflix Animation Foundation animation opportunities, partnering with IllumiNative.
• VO Cares Voice-over training and opportunity program for veteran members to develop and access voice-over work in the entertainment industry.
• Guest Speaker Series Events featuring industry professionals and military guest speakers, including sessions with HBO Westworld producer Athena Wickham, Jon Voight, and Gary Sinise, designed to connect veterans with senior entertainment figures and military leadership.
• Community Outreach & DEI Programs Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and community-building programs serving veteran members across film, television, digital media, theater, music, and gaming sectors, coordinated with industry partner veteran employee resource groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 veterans placed into entertainment jobs, 30 into paid internships, and 100+ cast in TV/film/commercials in one year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Got Your 6 (Bob Woodruff Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Got Your 6, part of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, co-leads the Veteran Fellowship Program with VME. The initiative secured 35 paid Hollywood internships for veterans in its first year. Five of those internships turned into full-time jobs. The program was launched in November 2017.
• HBOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBO is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and participates in the VIP (Veteran Internship Program), allocating internship slots and mentorship opportunities to qualified veteran members. VME members have shadowed writers on CBS Seal Team and worked on sets of HBO series like Westworld and Ballers.
• LionsgatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLionsgate is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. Lionsgate Vets group hosts events including a roundtable Q&A and pitch mentorship session with Grindstone executives.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. Netflix Animation Foundation also partnered with VME in its second year to identify early creative talent from the veteran community for animation programs.
• Paramount PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParamount Pictures is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP, allocating internship slots to qualified veterans. VME members were cast in American Sniper through casting director outreach via VME profiles. Paramount Veterans Network co-hosts the Military Appreciation Letters campaign.
• Sony Pictures EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSony is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. Sony hosted the Society of Camera Operators' Production Assistant 101 workshop on the Sony lot, with Sony executives joining for a meet and greet.
• United Talent Agency (UTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTA is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP, providing internship and mentorship opportunities for veteran members.
• NBCUniversalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBCUniversal is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. NBCUniversal Veterans Network co-hosts the Military Appreciation Letters campaign and provided support for a Coast Guard cutter event.
• ViacomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViacom is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP, allocating internship positions to qualified veteran members.
• CBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBS is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. VME members shadowed writers on CBS Seal Team.
• DreamWorks AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDreamWorks Animation is a founding entertainment partner of the Veteran Fellowship Program and VIP. DreamWorks provided studio tours and mentorship sessions for VME members as door prizes at events.
• Live Nation Entertainment / House of BluescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive Nation Entertainment / House of Blues is a founding entertainment partner of the VIP, providing paid internship positions. Gabriel DiCola completed a 4-month apprenticeship at Hollywood Palladium and was hired as a production assistant with Live Nation / House of Blues.
• American Legion Pacific Palisades Post 283coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPost 283 provided grant support for the Veteran Internship Program, helping fund the placement of qualified student veterans into meaningful internships and production assistant positions.
• Easter Seals Dixon CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEaster Seals Dixon Center creates exclusive opportunities for VME members to work on A-list productions and supports veteran content creators through national PSAs. VME member Jim Fabio directed an Easter Seals PSA starring Rob Riggle.
• The GroundlingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Groundlings partnered with VME to offer exclusive improv classes to veteran members at no cost. Over 50 VME members have benefited from the program, taught by veteran Groundlings instructor Guy Stevenson.
• The Mission ContinuesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mission Continues partnered with VME to provide fellowship program placements where select veterans work for VME while learning the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.
• Society of Camera OperatorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Society of Camera Operators hosted the first VME Production Assistant 101 workshop on the Sony lot, with Sony executives joining for a meet and greet at the end of the class.
• Hollywood CPRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHollywood CPR puts VME members through their accredited certificate program, which leads to union membership (Locals 600, 695, 700, 705, 728, 729, 800) with over 600 hours of training.
• ABC CastingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC Casting partnered with VME to host the annual ABC Casting Actor Audition Workshop for veteran actors, providing virtual workshop sessions with ABC Casting executives and educational auditions.
• Paramount Veterans NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerParamount Veterans Network co-leads the Military Guest Speaker Series and Letter Writing Initiative with VME, facilitating letters of appreciation to deployed service members.
• FOX VetsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFOX Vets co-hosted Military Guest Speaker events including sessions with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery and a submarine event featuring USS Seawolf crew.
• WarnerBros. Discovery SaluteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWarnerBros. Discovery Salute co-hosted the Military Guest Speaker Series event featuring the Air Force Pararescue Team from Alaska.
• National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNALIP partnered with VME to provide scholarships for Latino veterans to attend the NALIP Media Summit, promoting Latino content creators and veteran representation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bob Woodruff Foundation: National nonprofit supporting post-9/11 veterans and their families; co-leads VME's Veteran Fellowship Program, making it a direct peer in veteran-to-career transition services and a recurring partner/funder.
• Women in Film: Nonprofit professional association advancing representation in the entertainment industry; mirrors VME's professional-association-plus-program-services model for a different underrepresented cohort, making it a strong structural analog.
• Easter Seals Dixon Center: Disability and veteran services nonprofit; partners with VME to create A-list production opportunities and national PSAs for veteran content creators, sharing the veteran-support-and-representation mission.
• The Mission Continues: National nonprofit deploying veterans on fellowships and community impact projects; partners with VME to provide fellowship placements to veterans learning the entertainment industry, overlapping on the veteran-workforce-development mission.
• Got Your 6: Veteran advocacy organization focused on veteran reintegration into civilian life; co-developed and co-leads VME's Veteran Fellowship Program and is a core strategic ally serving overlapping populations.
• National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP): Professional membership organization for Latino content creators; partners directly with VME on the Latino Lens scholarships to NALIP Media Summit, sharing the mission of connecting underrepresented communities to media-industry careers.

Broad incumbents

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response nonprofit; comparable nonprofit-membership organization with a similar volunteer-driven operating model and overlapping veteran constituency.
• American Legion: Largest U.S. wartime veterans organization; Pacific Palisades Post 283 directly partners with VME via grants. Broader and more established veteran-services organization with comparable community-organization DNA.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Leading post-9/11 veteran advocacy and services organization; comparable nonprofit-membership model serving the same broad veteran population, though without VME's entertainment-industry specialization.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Major national veteran nonprofit serving wounded post-9/11 service members; comparable scale and donation-funded nonprofit model serving an overlapping veteran demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vmeconnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vmeconnect
• Instagraminstagram.com/vmeconnect

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Veterans In Media & Entertainment