2020 IGDN Diversity Sponsorship
The IGDN Diversity Sponsorship is back for its seventh year! For 2020 we’re doing things a little differently. Due to the international health crisis, we are moving to an online-focused mentorship and networking event for this year’s recipients.
This year the program will have a more global reach with the removal of travel considerations like passports, travel visas, childcare, and time off of work. Because these barriers are removed, we will be widening the scope of the sponsorship to include more international designers. We will also be able to work with mentors who normally can't be found at Metatopia.
Where will the funds raised this year go since there won’t be any travel expenses? Directly to the winners. Your donation will allow designers from all segments of analog gaming to further their projects. All monies raised will be divided equally between the eight winners. We are raising $5000 here on GoFundMe, the IGDN provides $1000, and the rest we will seek from industry sponsors. If we reach our goal quickly, we will increase the goal and continue to raise funds. The more we raise, the more of an impact we have on their games!
Designers can apply to the Sponsorship here: https://forms.gle/dAP1dyxP324Bf7aW8
Your donations create an opportunity for designers to invest in themselves, their projects, and most importantly reinforcing the understanding that these are capable people who understand their own needs. They will have mentors, industry experts to consult with, networking opportunities, and the full support of the IGDN through the process.
Our goal this year is to provide each designer with $1000 in financing for their work plus:
* An IGDN member to serve as a mentor for a minimum of three months.
* One-on-one meetings with several well-known industry professionals of their choosing from across the analog game industry including Shanna Germain of Monte Cook Games, Banana Chan of Game and a Curry, and Eric Lang recently of CMON.
* An organized playtest of their game
* One-year free membership to the IGDN if they choose to apply and are accepted.
* Social media support and promotion of the creators’ work.
We will be adding in more resources as they become available.
Your donations can pay for things like:
$25: a simple spot illustration
$50: one hour discussion with a sensitivity or cultural consultant
$75: a professionally printed board game prototype
$100: basic copy editing of 30 manuscript pages
$150: 1500 words of game design/writing
$200: a detailed, one page, color map
$250: basic graphic design and layout for 30-50 manuscript pages
$300: Larp space rental
$500: a detailed, full color book cover or box front illustration
Past winners:
2019: Avraham Yosef Baez, Amr, Olivia Montoya, India Weston, Fertessa Scott, Nina Henderson, Ash Cheshire, and Mary A. Georgescu
2018: Jabari M. Weathers, Iris Xie, Mabel Harper, Sarah Saltiel, Alastor Guzman, Orion Black, Mariam Ahmad, and Omari Akil
2017: Jessie Yaternick, Justin Rogers, Jeeyon Shim, Jefferson Kwan Lee, Miguel Angel Espinoza, Camdon Wright, Jack Beckwith, and Victoria Caña
2016: J. Derrick Kapchinsky, Darcy Ross, Kiel Chenier, Vivian Paul, Krissy Bullock, Jeremy Alva, and Roe Nix
2015: Alex Helm, Kimberly Lam, André la Roche, and Jay Sylvano
2014: Sarah Doom
Our 2019 cohort!
Group photo: Avraham, Olivia, Fertessa, Nina, Amr, India, and Mary. Missing: Ash
India, Nina, and Olivia talk through game design.
Ash runs their game Famous Last Words for playtesters including IGDN President Kate Bullock
