Alliance of Women Directors

What it reported doing in 2025

Career Advancement Programs (CAP)Alliance of Women Directors provides year-round Career Advancement Programs designed to support women and gender-expansive directors at all stages of their careers. These programs include workshops, masterclasses, panels, Directing the Actor Lab, and Works in Progress (WIP) sessions that offer structured peer and industry feedback on projects in development and post-production.In 2025, AWD served approximately 700+ members and additional public participants through dozens of events. These programs provide critical access to industry knowledge, creative feedback, and professional networks, helping directors strengthen their craft and advance sustainable careers in film, television, and new media.Back to Set: Working Directors Intensive (BTS)Back to Set is AWDs annual two-day symposium focused on advancing directing craft and career sustainability. The program features hands-on workshops, panels, and masterclasses led by established directors, executives, and industry leaders, covering topics such as directing actors, episodic television, pitching, and on-set leadership.In 2025, Back to Set served approximately 200 attendees and featured 10+ sessions and keynote speakers. The program provides direct access to high-level industry professionals and practical training, equipping directors with the tools, confidence, and connections needed to succeed in a competitive industry.Program 3: Fiscal Sponsorship ProgramAWDs Fiscal Sponsorship Program supports independent film and media projects directed by women and gender-expansive directors by providing a nonprofit structure through which filmmakers can raise funds. The program enables projects to receive tax-deductible donations, access institutional funding, and build financial credibility during development and production.In 2025, AWD fiscally sponsored 20 projects and facilitated over $1M in donations to supported films and media projects. This program expands access to funding for underrepresented directors and helps bring new, diverse stories to audiences.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 83.5%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 93.6%; rating input score 94
• Fundraising efficiency: $36.19 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.8%; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.27; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.7%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 46% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 33.7% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.2% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings