Kirsten Schaffer
Chief Executive Officer @Wif
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WORK HISTORY
Chief Executive Officer @Wif
Led a reorganization that resulted in double the budget, triple the staff, and positioned WIF as a leader in achieving equality in film, television and digital storytelling- Managed a merger of two boards, new bylaws, committee charters, and mandate for 50% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) on the board- Aligned staff and board to adopt first strategic plan mandating more women - with an emphasis on BIPOC women - in leadership positions to reflect national statistics (51% women, 19% BIPOC women)- Built leadership with performance metrics, employee surveys, company-wide conversations about culture, and pathways for training and promotion- Championed staff and board collaboration to build racial equity into organizational strategy and culture. • Built best-in-class programs to advance systemic change and career acceleration for women and gender non-conforming people in screen industries- Founded the WIF Sexual Harassment Help Line and launched within 8 weeks of the 2017 New Yorker exposé about entertainment industry sexual abuse. It has connected hundreds of survivors to pro bono lawyers, support groups, and therapists- Codesigned ReFrame, a collaboration between WIF, Sundance Institute, 75 ambassadors, and 50 partner companies utilizing a peer-to-peer approach to bring about systemic change in the industry- Launched career acceleration programs serving participants: WIF Black List writing labs, short form production, mentoring circles, and emerging producers. • Increased fundraising and fiscal management- Secured WIF’s largest corporate gift of $1.5M, quadrupled grants and foundations, launched major gifts program- Created a cash reserve and designed an investment strategy and policy. • Responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic- Moved all programs online in a month; added Black member-only and COVID support groups- Oversaw a nationally televised special that raised $.5M for #hireherback.
EDUCATION
The Evergreen State College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Liberal Arts
Audubon Expedition Institute
Environmental Education
SKILLS
ABOUT KIRSTEN SCHAFFER
Kirsten Schaffer is a nonprofit leader who has created culture-changing strategies that uplift historically ignored voices in media. Throughout her career she has supported thousands of filmmakers in career development and exhibition programs, launched initiatives that foster equity and inclusion, and worked to end harassment and abuse in the screen industries. Some of her accomplishments include:· Founded the WIF Sexual Harassment Help Line and launched within 8 weeks of the 2017 New Yorker exposé about entertainment industry sexual abuse. In three years it has connected hundreds of survivors to pro bono lawyers, support groups, and therapists.· Codesigned ReFrame, a collaboration between WIF, Sundance Institute, 75 ambassadors, and 50 partner companies utilizing a peer-to-peer approach to bring about systemic change in the industry.· Launched Fusion QTBIPOC film festival, showcasing over films in 16 years to audiences of a quarter million.· Cocreated the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project: the world’s largest publicly accessible collection of LGBTQ moving images with items in the archive.· Established OutSet: The Young Filmmakers Project, a mentor program that has supported hundreds of queer youth to write, produce and direct a short film.
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