FUMI KITAHARA MEMBERSHIP
Get Involved > WIA Membership Fund
Applications are now open
The Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for creators and professionals who may face financial barriers. It’s a direct investment in their dreams, allowing them to access necessary resources and support.
Apply by clicking the button below. Keep reading for qualifications and additional information about the fund. Â
WHAT IS THE FUMI KITAHARA MEMBERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND?
Our industry’s current challenges highlight the importance of creating equity and opportunity and removing obstacles that can hinder growth and success. In 2023, WIA launched the Membership Fund raising funds to support 600 community members with a 12-month WIA Creator Level Membership at no cost. This fund provides opportunities for aspiring creators who may face financial barriers. It’s a direct investment in their dreams, allowing them to access necessary resources and support.
In 2025, it was reimagined as the Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship fund in honor of longtime WIA friend and board member, Fumi Kitahara. It was also a way to recognize the impact she had on the members of WIAÂ through her hard work over the years.
DO I QUALIFY?
The Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund meant for:
- Those facing financial hardship, including anyone displaced or experiencing significant loss of income due to a recent natural disaster
- New WIA members who have not previously joined
- WIA members who have not donated at any level in the past year.
WHEN CAN I APPLY?
Applications are now open.Â
As of July 2024: We successfully raised more than $50,000Â in 2024 through our Year End Appeal and continue to accept donations to help us provide as many Creator-level memberships as we can for those in need in 2025
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
Application deadline is March 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
HOW CAN I HELP SUPPORT THE WIA MEMBERSHIP FUND?
Donations to the Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund can be made at any time. By contributing to the Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund, you are actively participating in creating a more inclusive and vibrant animation industry. Your generosity supports diversity, equity, and access within our community. The impact of your donation goes beyond financial support. It helps strengthen the WIA community, fostering connections, mentorship, and collaboration among creatives.
HOW YOUR GIFTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
$25: Provides essential resources for a new member joining our community.
$50: Covers the cost of a Creator-level membership, unlocking a year of opportunities for an aspiring animator.
$100 or more: Multiplies the impact, supporting not only memberships but also the programs and initiatives that make Women in Animation a hub for creativity and collaboration
Your contribution to the Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund is more than a donation; it’s an investment in the future of animation.