Serving as the nexus of entertainment and philanthropy since 1942

EIF was established in 1942. It was originally named the Permanent Charities Committee.

Established by entertainment industry leaders Samuel Goldwyn (pictured), Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, James Cagney, and the Warner brothers, the foundation was meant to serve as a gateway to giving for the entertainment industry to support programs and campaigns that raise awareness and funds for global issues.

Early efforts focused on eradicating childhood polio and WWII efforts, with funds raised through an entertainment payroll deduction program that has lasted decades.

The foundation also funded the first-ever, self-contained bloodmobile for the American Red Cross.

In the 1990s, our focus turned toward cancer, a disease that affects one in two women and one in three men in the U.S.

In 1993, the foundation held one of the country’s largest annual single-day women’s cancer fundraisers—the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women. The event repeated for more than 20 years.

The Permanent Charities Committee officially changed its name to the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).

Katie Couric founded the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance at EIF.

EIF Flagship program Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) was founded by an extraordinary group of women. SU2C has brought about a sea change in cancer research and awareness, with many lives saved as a result. To date, more than $600 million has been pledged to support researches from leading institutions with hundreds of clinical trials treating tens of thousands of patients.

EIF began mobilizing the entertainment community around a groundbreaking initiative called iParticipate, designed to inspire a new era of service and volunteerism.

As part of its launch, the four major broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC – and other cable channels participated in an unprecedented, weeklong television event from October 19-25, with more than 100 shows highlighting volunteerism.

EIF hosted its first television roadblock to raise awareness and funds for those affected by disasters. Telecasts have included HOPE FOR HAITI NOW (2010, Haiti earthquake), SOMOS UNA VOZ (2017, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico), and ONE LOVE MANCHESTER (2017, following a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert).

Stand Up To Cancer’s first telecast aired in 2014.

Under the new leadership of President & CEO Nicole Sexton, EIF reintroduced their fiscal sponsorship services to the creative community to help artists, athletes, influencers, and entertainment companies expand their footprint in philanthropy and leverage their platforms for social good.

EIF launched DEFY:DISASTER to serve as the entertainment community’s collective and immediate response to natural disasters.

EIF launched Delivering Jobs, an inclusion campaign created to forge pathways to one million employment and leadership opportunities for the 81% of adults with autism, intellectual, and/or developmental differences who do not have a paying job.

The PSA garnered over 2 billion media impressions and won two Anthem Awards.

Amidst the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, DEFY:DISASTER and EIF philanthropic partners granted more than $14 million to more than 100 organizations. Of those served, more than 80% were people of color and more than 70% were women.

EIF, the XQ Institute, and the LeBron James Family Foundation hosted a joyful, one-hour roadblock primetime special, GRADUATE TOGETHER, paying tribute to 3 million high school seniors who missed their graduation ceremonies.

The program attracted an audience of 20 million and garnered a Peabody Award nomination.

The EIF Careers Program was launched to build a more diverse pipeline into film and television careers. The program is funded by The James Irvine Foundation and led by a collective of studios, networks, and career pipeline providers focused on entry-level, below-the-line and corporate entertainment careers.

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson established the People’s Fund of Maui at EIF to provide direct cash assistance to survivors of the devastating Maui wildfires.

Within six months, more than $60 million was distributed to 8,200 Maui residents.

Since reintroducing fiscal sponsorship services in 2017, EIF has served more than 40 celebrity-guided funds with diverse missions making significant impact locally, nationally, and globally.