The Global Forum for Media Development is funded by our members and through the core and programmatic funding from public and private donors.
If you are interested in supporting GFMD please contact our Director of Operations, Biba Klomp, bklomp@gfmd.info
Membership fees
The GFMD is financially supported by fees from our members. Membership fees make up roughly one-third of GFMD’s income.
GFMD revenue streams 2021
Membership fees are set depending on the staffing numbers of each organisation.
GFMD’s donors and funders
Core funders:
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
NED is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world.
The Open Society Foundations (OSF)
Founded by George Soros, OSF are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.
Programmatic funders:
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
SDC is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
FCDO is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom.
BBC Media Action
Formerly known as the BBC World Service Trust, BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity, funded independently by external grants and voluntary contributions
International Media Support (IMS)
Is a non-profit organisation working to strengthen the capacity of media to reduce conflict, strengthen democracy and facilitate dialogue.
Partners
The Global Forum for Media Development engages with a number of coalitions and partners in order to fulfil our mission.
If you are interested in partnering with GFMD please contact our Executive Director, Mira Milosevic, director@gfmd.info
GFMD’s observer status
In July 2018, GFMD was formally granted special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
In June 2022, GFMD was granted observer status at UNESCO. GFMD is an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO (consultative status).
Media development donors and partners
Media Freedom Coalition
The MFC is a partnership of countries working together proactively to advocate for media freedom, online as well as offline, and the safety of journalists and media workers, and hold to account those who harm journalists and severely restrict them from doing their job.
Journalism Funders Forum (JFF)
JFF is an open community of philanthropic organisations that are supporting media and journalism in Europe. It acts as a hub for overarching collaboration and knowledge management among journalism funders and is changing how philanthropists and journalists engage with one another. Through engaging case studies, unseen research and open discussion, its network and events explore key editorial, ethical, financial and technological questions with world-class experts. JFF aims to build trust and provide a blueprint for future collaboration.
Donor meetings organised with CIMA.
CSOs & Safety and freedom of expression, media freedom organisations
ECPMF, IFEX, RSF, CPJ, ACOS Alliance, Rory Peck Trust
Organisations, and foundations focusing on gender and diversity
IWMF, Coalition for Women in Journalism, Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network
Research & academic institutions
CIMA, IAMCR, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, CMDS at CEU, University of Sheffield, Columbia University
Inter-Governmental Organisations
UN, UNESCO, EU & committees of the EP, OSCE (Office of Representative on Freedom of the Media), Council of Europe United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Coalitions/networks of NGOs
The Global Network Initiative
GNI is a non-governmental organisation with the dual goals of preventing Internet censorship by authoritarian governments and protecting the Internet privacy rights of individuals.
Christchurch Call Advisory Network
Christchurch Call Advisory Network membership has been drawn from interested civil society groups, who represent a range of perspectives, including human rights, freedom of expression, digital rights, counter-radicalization, victim support and public policy.
Hold the Line Coalition
#HoldTheLine is an international coalition that has come together in support of Maria Ressa. It consists of more than 80 groups led by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Defenders in Development Coalition
The Defenders in Development Coalition engages in capacity building and collective action to ensure that communities and marginalized groups have the information, resources, protection and power to shape, participate in, or oppose development activities, and to hold development financiers, governments and companies accountable.+ Media Freedom and International Financial Institution (IFI) Coalition,
Design 4 Democracy Coalition
The Design 4 Democracy serves as a coordination mechanism between groups of democracy and human rights organizations around the world that are working at the forefront of technology and democracy issues.
EU DisinfoLabs Disinformation Action Group
EU DisinfoLab is an independent non-profit organisation focused on tackling sophisticated disinformation campaigns targeting the EU, its member states, core institutions, and core values.
Forum on Information and Democracy
The Forum on Information and Democracy is a non-profit entity led by civil society organisations and mandated to implement democratic principles from the International Partnership on Information and Democracy.
International Civil Society Organization on the Safety of Journalists Coalition
The ICSO SoJ Coalition is made up of 17 international and regional civil society organizations and aims to strengthen coordination to promote the safety of journalists and fight against impunity.
Media Freedom Coalition Consultative Network
MFC-CN is a partnership of countries working together proactively to advocate for media freedom, online as well as offline, and the safety of journalists and media workers, and hold to account those who harm journalists and severely restrict them from doing their job.
Dynamic Coalition on the Sustainability of Journalism and News Media
DC Sustainability aims to address key policy challenges that impact the sustainability of journalism and news media in the digital age.
Ukraine information sharing group
Since March 2022 GFMD has run an information-sharing group for organisations involved in media assistance tor Ukraine.
GFMD was awarded a certificate of appreciation from NUJU for solidarity and significant assistance to journalists in Ukraine during the war