New Non-Profit Status
What does it mean for the FMA & YOU?
As we kick off the New Year, it’s time for current members to renew and new members to sign on! And it’s time for us once again to tell you why you should.
Plus, why the FMA non-profit status is important to the West Michigan production community.
First, a bit of history: The FMA started in September 2022 with a group of producers in Dave Lowing’s Light & Grip conference room sitting around the table after grabbing a couple beers from his fridge. We set some goals, recruited a great team to manage the “how to” and took off.
Our three goals: Grow Community; Advocate for Media Production Jobs; Professional Development. And our first year has more than delivered:
· FREE quarterly and collaborative Meet & Greets aimed at building professional production teams and networks across previously separate groups.
· Educating our elected representatives in Lansing on the benefits of the new Multimedia Jobs Act that will grow our WM production community.
· Co-sponsored workshops and presentations with Black Pigeon, Mosaic Film Experience, GVSU, and Calvin University to promote professional development.
At the end of 2023, our first official year, we got the attention of the feds – the IRS declared us a tax exempt non-profit! Meaning our mission has been validated by the big boys. So now we get to play an even bigger game: More members equal more muscle, more programs, more growth.
A nonprofit doesn’t operate for profits to shareholders. Rather, we work to improve our community and the public good. Membership fees and contributions are reinvested into the nonprofit to improve services and develop new programs.
Our track record already speaks for itself. If you believe in your career and want to live here to work it, join the FMA and make it happen faster, with more fun and a definite future.