Equitable Future Funding Consortium |
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4A’s Foundation launches Equitable Future Funding Consortium to Support MAIP and High School Programming
New York, NY - June 17, 2024 - The 4A's Foundation, the 4A's (American Association of Advertising Agencies) non-profit that equips, celebrates and connects a community of diverse talent to educational and professional advancement opportunities, today announced the creation of Equitable Futures Funding Consortium, which will bring together agencies and other industry organizations to support and underwrite key Foundation programs, including High School Education Programs, and MAIP (the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program), the largest and longest running national diversity talent pipeline in the advertising industry today. Consortium partners will each invest $100,000 over two years. “To kick-start this new initiative, the 4A’s is proud to be investing $100,000 in the Equitable Future Funding Consortium. The positive impact the Foundation’s programs have had on our industry for decades is undeniable,” says Marla Kaplowitz, CEO of the 4A’s. “We invite other industry leaders to join us in making an investment in our collective future.” |
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The Consortium has a $1 million fundraising goal. Joining the 4A’s in their $100,000 pledge is lead consortium partner Google, a longtime supporter of 4A’s Foundation programs.
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“Google has partnered with the 4A’s Foundation’s education and talent development initiatives over the years, and we are proud to be among the first to invest in the Equitable Futures Funding Consortium” says Marta Martinez, Google Managing Director Data, Technology and Measurement, and 4A’s Foundation board member. Through MAIP, over 4,500 diverse college interns have been placed at agencies since the program’s inception, with 87% of our college fellows having been hired full-time and MAIP Fellows earning a combined $1.2 Million via their 2023 fellowship summer salaries. Through our Career and Technical Education high school programs, 4A’s Foundation achieves a 90% graduation rate. Programs within these schools prepare students from under-resourced backgrounds with skills building, experiential learning and career exposure to the advertising and marketing fields. The 4A’s Foundation supports curriculum development, and offers opportunities for agency leaders to directly connect with students via our ReACT (pitch) competition, Career Days, and Immersion Days at agencies. While progress has been made for underrepresented youth, significant barriers remain, and the Consortium aims to close that gap. Consortium investment will help drive equitable representation, economic empowerment and sustainable advancement for diverse, under-resourced talent in creative industries. “The mission and impact of the 4A’s Foundation is of critical relevance to advertising and all creative industries where culture is being shaped,” says Tangie Murray, SVP of the 4A’s Foundation. “Investment in the Consortium is a direct investment in our shared equitable future, and the lives and livelihoods of the diverse talent we champion.” The 4A’s Foundation invites industry leading organizations who are committed to creating equitable futures, to join us in ensuring that future generations of diverse leaders thrive in industries powered by creativity. |
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About the 4A's Foundation:
Since 1997, the 4A's Foundation has helped equip, develop, and deliver the best-in-class diverse talent to the marketing industry through pipeline programs, scholarships, grants, and training for a more equitable industry future. Through MAIP, VANGUARD, Dear Black Talent and our High School Education programs with Manhattan Early College for Advertising (MECA) and the School for Innovation in Advertising and Marketing (iAM), the Foundation has impacted the lives of over 4,500 professionals by providing the platform to launch and sustain their careers while offering a place for community. About the 4A's:
The 4A's was established in 1917 to promote, advance, and defend the interests of our member agencies, employees and the advertising and marketing industries overall. We empower and equip our members to confidently navigate the ever-changing ecosystem of the agency world. We ensure they remain relevant, are positioned to compete, and have the resources to thrive and grow. With a focus on advocacy, talent and creating impact, the organization serves 600+ member agencies across 1,200 offices, which help direct more than 85% of total U.S. advertising spend. The 4A's includes the 4A's Benefits division, which insures more than 160,000 employees; the government relations team, who advocate for policies to support the industry; and the 4A's Foundation, which advocates for and connects multicultural talent to the marketing industry by fostering a culture of curiosity, creativity and craft to fuel a more equitable future for the industry. |
