★ Coming June 2026 · 6-month campaign
$50K by year's end. Many ways in.
We're raising $50,000 between June and December to keep this place alive — and you'll have plenty of ways to be part of it. Tees + totes this summer. An art dinner in fall. An all-star exhibition this winter. And if just donating's enough for ya, we'll have a one-time gift option too.
★ Why now
$50K keeps a creative home alive in East Austin.
We're kicking off in June 2026 and running through December 31 — six months, one shared goal. Austin's commercial rents have skyrocketed and independent creative spaces are disappearing faster than they can be replaced.
For 23 years, we've held the line — running 100+ classes a year, paying working artists, and keeping studio access affordable for the filmmakers, photographers, and media artists who'd otherwise be priced out. This $50K covers the gap between what we earn and what it actually costs to keep the doors open.
Every gift will be tax-deductible. Every dollar goes back into the work.
★ But why give?
Glad you asked.
Fundraising's the unglamorous part of running a grassroots nonprofit. It's also essential. And giving back? Good for the heart, cool in the punk way, and (let's be honest) makes you a hottie.
★ We're the source. The indie underground kids making the work that shapes what's cool — usually a few years before anyone else catches on. (We don't mind.)
★ Zine energy. More photocopier than glossy. More basement show than billboard. The poets, the artists, the changemakers, the cultural taste-makers, the experimental ones — doing it for the love.
When you give to us, you're funding where the culture actually starts — the messy, magical, behind-the-scenes part.
★ Save the dates
Four moments. Six months.
Tees + totes.
A limited drop of merch designed by our community. Wear the support — every dollar goes back into the work.
Drop coming this summer
Art dinner.
An intimate evening with the artists who make this place run. Limited seats, full bellies, real conversation.
More info coming this fall
Underground all-indie exhibition.
The work the underground built — alumni, artists in residence, experimental voices, and the cultural taste-makers keeping the building lit. Open to all.
Save the date — winter 2026
One-time donation.
If just donating's enough for ya, we'll have a one-time gift portal opening this June. Pick any amount, leave a note, done.
Live June 1, 2026
★ In the meantime
Want to give right now?
Become a monthly donor.
Monthly giving — we call it the Friend of Cinemaker program — is the steadiest way to keep this place running. Predictable income means we can plan further out and take creative risks. Start at any amount. Friends get studio perks too.
Become a Friend → ★ DirectReach out directly.
For larger gifts, stock donations, employer matching, in-kind giving, or just a conversation — email our Executive Director Faiza Kracheni directly. She'll get back to you personally.
Email Faiza →★ Impact at a glance
What your support has built.
★ The fine print
Questions about the campaign.
When does the campaign actually launch?
The 2026 giving campaign opens June 1, 2026 and runs through December 31. The first event drop (tees + totes) hits this summer, followed by an art dinner in the fall and the all-star exhibition in winter. We'll be posting dates and details as each one approaches.
Where does my donation go?
Every dollar goes directly into programs — scholarships, teaching artist contracts, studio access, gear, and facility costs. We run on under $1M annually with every dollar reinvested into artist access, affordable education, and creative workforce development.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Motion Media Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You'll receive a receipt by email immediately after donating.
Can I give monthly instead of one-time?
Yes — and it's actually the most helpful way to support us. Recurring giving through the Friends of Cinemaker program is already open. Predictable income lets us plan further out. Start at any amount.
Does my employer offer matching gifts?
Many do — check your HR portal or company giving program. If they match nonprofit donations, your gift could double (or triple) at no extra cost to you. Email Faiza@austinfilmschool.org if you need any paperwork.
What if I can't give right now?
That's okay. Sharing this page with someone who can is just as valuable — repost on social, forward to a friend, or tell someone who cares about Austin's creative ecosystem. Word of mouth keeps small nonprofits alive.