HELP US BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATORS

Nerdmaker is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations, grants, and sponsorship help provide hands-on media training, real studio equipment, and career-launching workforce opportunities for emerging creative talent.

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WHAT YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS

WHY WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER: Unlike traditional classroom exercises, Nerdmaker participants build functional, published media and technology projects. Your investment ensures they leave our lab with verified portfolio pieces and direct professional credentials.

HOW YOU CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT SOMEONE'S CAREER: Every contribution directly supports practical learning environments where students create tangible portfolio pieces with real companies. Whether through funding, resources, or mentorship, help us empower the next wave of creative technologists.

SUPPORT + ACCESS

Workforce development: training that helps participants move from education into internships, paid work and creative careers
Accessibility: interpreters, captioning, adaptive technology, accessible materials and other accommodations
Travel: transportation, lodging and travel costs connected to programs, production experiences, conferences and field work
Meals: food and refreshments for students, participants, instructors and program activities

TECHNOLOGY + SUPPLIES

Technology: computers, cameras, software, 3D printers, fabrication tools, editing systems and emerging-media equipment
Supplies: production materials, printing, fabrication materials, props, prototyping supplies and classroom resources
Facilities: classrooms, studios, production spaces, workshops and event locations

MENTORSHIP + FACULTY

People: instructors, mentors, program staff, administrators, artists, technicians and other professionals who make our programs possible
Student support: stipends, scholarships, transportation assistance and other support that can reduce barriers to participation
Public programs: screenings, exhibitions, workshops, showcases, game jams and community events

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WAYS TO SUPPORT US

Nerdmaker can accept support through:

One-time donations
Recurring monthly donations
Major gifts
Corporate contributions
Foundation grants
Program sponsorships
Equipment and technology donations
Matching gifts
In-kind professional services

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WHY UNRESTRICTED
DONATIONS MATTER

Unrestricted donations give Nerdmaker the flexibility to fund whatever the organization needs most.

That can mean paying an instructor, purchasing a piece of equipment, feeding students during a production day, covering transportation, paying an accessibility professional or keeping a program running between grant cycles.

A $500 gift may buy materials.
A $5,000 gift may equip a student production team.
A $25,000 gift may help fund an entire training cohort.
A larger philanthropic gift can help us build sustainable programs, hire staff, purchase technology and create long-term opportunities for emerging creators.

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FOR FOUNDATIONS AND GRANTMAKERS

Fund a program.
Build a workforce.

Nerdmaker seeks partnerships with private foundations, family foundations, corporate philanthropy programs and government agencies supporting:

Arts and media education
Workforce development
Film and television production training
Digital media and technology education
Accessibility and disability inclusion
Neurodivergent learners
College-to-career pathways
Creative-industry workforce development
Upstate New York economic development
Emerging technology
Games and interactive media
Public humanities and cultural storytelling

Our flagship initiative, the Empire State Media + Technology Lab, is being developed as a pipeline connecting education, hands-on creative training and paid professional opportunities across New York's media industries.

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