The Caucus Foundation, a not-for-profit 501[c]3 charitable organization, was established in the year 2000 to promote diversity in the entertainment industry, in terms of both content and personnel behind the camera. The Foundation works towards this goal by helping to launch the professional careers of student filmmakers (television, film and streaming) from groups currently underrepresented in the industry. The Foundation provides these women and minority students with a range of services, including awarding grants that defray the costs of completing their student (undergraduate and graduate) “portfolio” films, securing in-kind contributions for these projects, and offering intensive mentoring services by industry professionals who are also Caucus Foundation members.
The Caucus Foundation also provides a Television/New Media Award that is conferred on one representative submission by a university/college cinema/television department based on one submission of either a Pilot, a Series Episode or a Webisode from an Internet series. The award will be presented to the institution to distribute to the Producer, Writer and Director of the submission.