About Brave New Foundation…

The vision of Brave New Foundation is an open democratic society that encourages rigorous debate, opportunity and justice for all.

Our mission is to champion social justice issues by using a model of media, education, and grassroots volunteer involvement that inspires, empowers, motivates and teaches civic participation and makes a difference.

Thanks to the support of our donors, viewers, and staff, it has been a banner year for Brave New Foundation. Since we started two years ago, the Foundation has significantly increased its staff, resources, reach, and impact. Advances in new media have further increased our capacity to engage diverse groups and address a range of social justice issues.

When we launched our Issue Campaigns in April, our lofty goal was to have them viewed 2 million times – a high number compared to other advocacy videos. In fact, however, by year’s end, our campaigns had been viewed over 10 million times. They also resulted in action – on issues including the Iraq War, Economic Disparity, Government Corruption and Equal Rights.

Much of my time is spent talking with leaders of groups across the country to help get their messages out. This past year we worked with a record number of new groups and a total of 112 organizations. Strategic partners such as Sierra Club, Center for Social Inclusion, Media Matters and ColorofChange.org, worked closely with us to get the word out and turn awareness into advocacy and activism.

This was the second year of the program which has now been dubbed the Brave New Fellowship. While learning progressive media, four Fellows were paid stipends (including health and dental benefits) through a fund established by a few of our generous donors. Two have stayed on to become full-time employees. I am happy to report that the program has been fully funded for another year!

This year we developed the Iraq War Memorial, and Brave New Theaters continued to help documentary filmmakers distribute their social justice films. We also continued to support high school and college education programs with media materials. All of this work could not have been done without the generous contribution of individual donors and foundations alike. Thank you for supporting us this past year. We look forward to continuing to make a difference by bringing important issues to light throughout 2008.